MHP Trooper Wade Palmer regains consciousness

Havre Daily News staff

Montana Highway Patrol reported Tuesday that Trooper Wade Palmer, hospitalized after receiving multiple gunshot wounds March 15, has regained consciousness and that his condition has been upgraded from critical to stable condition.

"We are immensely grateful for Trooper Palmer's progress," Col. Tom Butler, chief of the Montana Highway Patrol, said in a release issued this afternoon. "We remain hopeful as we see Wade continue to heal and make positive strides, however, we are fully aware that he has a long journey ahead of him. "We will be with him and his family every step of the way and we thank the public for their continued support and prayers."

Palmer, who was stationed in Havre as his first assignment before being stationed in Missoula, was shot in the neck, face, and head while near the Evaro Bar and Casino north of Missoula after locating the suspect involved in an earlier shooting that injured two and killed one in Missoula.

Palmer was transported to Saint Patrick Hospital in Missoula in critical condition and eventually flown to Salt Lake City where he continues to be treated.

The Highway Patrol release said he has been moved from the University of Utah Hospital's Neurological Critical Care Unit to the Neuro Acute Care Unit. All of his interactions have been non-verbal, but he has shown recognition of certain people and commands. He is scheduled for reconstructive surgery for jaw injuries Thursday.

Montana Highway Patrol has created a webpage at https://dojmt.gov/highwaypatrol/wade-palmer/ with information about the Palmer shooting. The page features:

• Updates on Trooper Palmer as they become available

• A list of all approved fundraisers that will continually be updated

• A synopsis of events

• Thank yous

• Photos integrated into the site from the "Back the Blue Wear the Green" campaign.