Tom Bolton is currently the Fire Chief for the Town of Walkerville, a position he’s held since February of 1992 and the Director of Training for the Butte Silver Bow Fire Training Center. After a 25-year career with the Montana Department of Corrections Tom retired in July of 2022. He started his career as a Correctional Officer promoting to a Housing Unit Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Training Specialist, DOC Emergency Manager and then for last 5 years Tom went back to doing what he most enjoyed, Training as a Public Safety Training Specialist.

Employment in the Montana Department of Corrections afforded Tom many opportunities. In 2001, he was selected as a member of the DOC Crisis Negotiation Team. In 2011, he was given the role as the Assistant Team Leader and in 2015, promoted to the Team Leader position. At the time of Tom’s retirement, he was one of two qualified Negotiation Instructors in the State of Montana. His extensive training includes a Basic SWAT Certification, Vistelar Tactical Communication Instructor, Verbal Judo, Tactical Communication Instructor, Fatigue to Fulfillment Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Group Crisis Intervention, Line of Duty Death Crisis Intervention, Investment in Excellence, American Indian Cultures and Customs, First Aid / CPR / Narcan and AED Instructor and Interpersonal Communication Skills with Offenders.

Throughout Tom’s later years in Corrections, he noticed that many Offenders returned to the facilities. He began to think about what can we do as an institution to help lessen the return rate. Through offering suggestions to the Management Team and encouragement of all staff, Tom emphasized the importance of communication, encouragement and positive reinforcement leaving all new staff with this final thought, “Who do you want to live next door to? The individual who took accountability for their actions or the person who turned their nose up and did nothing to better themselves?” Tom has joined Butte SPIRIT Homes’ team to empower the residents to accept just such accountability, not only from the staff, but from their peers as well.