Retired Yellowstone County deputy remembers deceased Arizona police officer

Late Arizona police officer and 2020 Billings West High School graduate Joshua Briese will be honored and remembered at Rockvale Cemetery on Wednesday.

He will be buried next to his father, David Briese, who was also killed in the line of duty in 2006.

Officer Briese’s casket was transported from Billings Logan International Airport to Dahl Funeral Chapel on Monday evening.

The casket will remain there until Wednesday morning and will then be taken to MetraPark.

In the meantime, a deputy will be on duty.

Family and friends honored Briese, who was killed June 1 while on duty with the Gila River Police Department in Arizona.

Officers remained with Josh Briese’s body in the so-called Overwatch case.

“The symbolism is that he is not alone,” said Clay Hackbarth, a retired Yellowstone County Sheriff’s deputy. “They are proud to guard him until tomorrow.”

Hackbarth worked the same patrol shift as Josh’s father, Deputy David Briese, who died in the line of duty on November 3, 2006.

“Dave was a real shot, you know, very strong,” said Hackbarth.

Hackbarth was pallbearer for David Briese.

“It’s so funny when you think about what a great guy he was,” Hackbarth said of David Briese. “He would just giggle and laugh. He was a nice guy. He wasn’t a bully or anything.”

Hackbarth remembers seeing seven-year-old Justin Briese and five-year-old Josh Briese at David’s funeral at MetraPark in 2006.

“Although I haven’t seen Josh since then, my memories always come from him as a little five-year-old at his father’s funeral,” Hackbarth said.

In 2017, Hackbarth saw Josh, who would later serve at the Big Horn County Detention Center and then as an officer with the Gila River Police Department.

Hackbarth also spent time at Josh’s coffin on Tuesday.

“I just prayed with him,” Hackbarth said. “I lost touch with Josh for a couple of years and wish I had kept in touch with him down in Arizona.”

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Josh’s funeral proceedings will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning with a public viewing at the Metro Park, Montana Pavilion.

The guard of honour and motorcade will begin a procession to Rockdale Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. The graveside funeral service will begin around noon.

“We still miss Dave and now of course we have to miss Josh too,” said Hackbarth.