Great Falls Police Department, Montana
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 7, 1994
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 167
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 7, 1994
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Senior Officer Shane Chadwick was shot and killed while responding to a noise complaint in an alley behind the Leland Apartments on 8th Street, between 1st Avenue North and Central Avenue, at about 4:30 am.
The subject was a mentally ill man known locally as the "Birdman." He was shoveling birdseed to hundreds of birds causing them to make lots of noise. As Officer Chadwick approached the subject the man suddenly turned and shot at him with two 9 mm handguns in an ambush. The man was later shot and killed by a police sniper.
Officer Chadwick had served with the Great Falls Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and son.