08/03/2026
Today, we pause to remember……
On August 2, 2011, our community was forever changed. Officer James Ryan McCandless and Officer Nick Armstrong were fatally wounded, and Officer Tim Doyle was critically injured when a suspect, Daniel Tiger, pulled a .357 and opened fire—before the officers even had a chance to draw their weapons.
In the wake of this unimaginable loss, Dustin Calhoun and Jason LaHaie—best friends of fallen officers Nick and Ryan—turned grief into purpose. In 2018, they founded Black Hills Badges for Hope to honor the memory of Ryan and Nick, and to do everything in their power to ensure a tragedy like this never devastates our community again.
Their mission is built on hope, healing, and connection. Through outreach, mentorship, and community-based activities—specifically with local youth—Black Hills Badges for Hope is dedicated to strengthening the relationship between first responders and the communities they serve.
This is more than a tribute. It’s a promise—to never forget, and to build a safer, stronger community in their honor.
