On March 17, 1990, the small town of Fairview, Montana, was shaken by the tragic death of its respected Chief of Police, Orville Sharbono, a 60-year-old Caucasian male. On that fateful day, Chief Sharbono was tasked with serving civil papers, a duty he reportedly approached with some apprehension. Shortly after a lunchtime conversation with friends where he mentioned the warrant he was about to serve, the community was devastated by the news of his death.
While attempting to serve the papers, Chief Sharbono was ambushed by a man named James Allen. Allen flanked the chief from a side door and shot him in the lower back. Despite his injury, Chief Sharbono was able to return fire and wound his assailant. However, as the chief lay wounded on the ground, Allen walked over to him and fatally shot him in the head.
The act cut short the life of a man known for his great integrity and kind soul, a man who was loved by the community he served.
The perpetrator, James Allen, was apprehended following the murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Chief Sharbono. Allen remained incarcerated until his death in prison on May 6, 2020. The loss of Chief Sharbono, who was survived by his wife and three grown children, left a lasting scar on the community of Fairview, a place where he was remembered not just as a law enforcement officer, but as a good friend and a role model.
