“The Fargo Police Department strives to provide the citizens of Fargo quality service and a secure community. We are committed to the professional growth of our offices and department in order to better create and preserve a positive partnership with the community we serve. ”
The Field Services Division is the largest division within the department with approximately 75% of the department’s personnel. The department has four patrol districts in the city each commanded by a patrol lieutenant. Within each district there are three beats each supervised by a patrol sergeant. Officers are assigned to one of three patrol shifts (days, evenings, and nights) each with geographic beat responsibilities.
The assignments within the division vary from patrol officers, school resource officers, traffic safety officers, a truck regulatory officer, downtown resource officers, a cultural liaison officer, community services officers, and new for 2015, two community trust officers. In 2015, the department was authorized 156 sworn officers, but due to the increased city growth, community needs, and increased calls for service we received seven additional officers. However, four of these sworn positions won’t be authorized until implementation of the 2016 budget. This brings our total department authorized strength to 163 sworn officers, with 124 sworn officers assigned to the Field Services Division.
Our focus for 2015, was not only to reduce crimes within the city, but to also increase our community engagement through various strategies. These strategies included, but weren’t limited to, community events, police/community meetings in various neighborhoods, positive police involvement with local youth, and simply getting officers out into the community to interact with citizens.
In 2015, the canine unit reached another record high in total number of deployments: 464. The unit also saw a significant number of criminal apprehensions, narcotic seizures and participated in a number of public demonstrations. The unit is comprised of three canines: Earl (10), Falco (4), and Bali (4).
Canine Bali tracked and apprehended a suspect after a two to three mile track for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Bali located a male suspect hiding in a vehicle in a farm yard and as the male attempted to take the vehicle Bali was used to extricate the suspect from the vehicle. Bali was assaulted by the suspect, sustaining cuts to his face, but was able to prevail by taking the suspect into custody without further injury to the public or the officers involved.
Canine Falco helped locate three suspects who fled from a stolen vehicle and was able to locate narcotics that were thrown by one of the suspects prior to apprehension. Canine Falco, also alerted to a vehicle containing a pound of marijuana resulting in the seizure of the vehicle.
Canine Earl sniffed out several multiple pound drug seizures at the post office resulting in arrests. One package Earl alerted to contained approximately 25 pounds of marijuana.
All three canines received awards from the United States Police Canine Association during 2015. Canines Bali and Earl each won a “Case of the Quarter” award. This award is given to the canine that had the most impressive street deployment in that given quarter. Canine Earl won the first place trophy for best narcotics vehicle search at the 2015 certification event where over 80 canine teams participated.
In 2015, the Traffic Safety Unit had four officers who focused on traffic violations, traffic analysis, crash reduction, public education and public relations. These officers typically utilize unmarked squad cars in the winter and inclement weather, and motorcycles during the warm months. Due to staffing issues, two officers were reassigned to patrol for half of 2015. The two full time traffic safety officers also covered beats on various days. During 2015, the four officers still managed to write 7,076 citations.
The Fargo Police Department was awarded grant money to operate extra enforcement details focused on distracted driving. A total of 21 extra details were conducted, resulting in 158 citations and 93 of those citations were for texting while driving.
We were awarded grant money to operate extra enforcement details focused on seat belt enforcement, “Click It or Ticket.” A total of 46 details were conducted, resulting in 322 citations and 173 of those citations were for seatbelt and child restraint device violations.
We were also awarded grant money to operate extra enforcement details focused on impaired driving enforcement, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” A total of 50 extra details were conducted, resulting in 175 citations and 32 of those were Driving Under the Influence arrests.
In 2015 the Personal Crimes Unit was assigned 744 cases throughout the city. This was highlighted by a number of complex and high profile cases that provided for numerous challenges for the team.
In May, we had our first murder in 2015. Joey Gaarsland was beaten by a group of men outside Speck’s Bar and died several days later. Four suspects were arrested and are currently being prosecuted by the Cass County State’s Attorney Office.
In June, Clarence Flowers and Samuel Traut were murdered by Ashley Hunter within a 12 hour period of time. Flowers was killed in his home in the 300 block of 12th Ave. N., and Traut was killed in his home in the 1100 block of 12th St. N. Flowers and Hunter knew each other at the time of Flowers’ murder, but Traut had no previous connection to Hunter prior to his murder. Detectives worked tirelessly at both crime scenes for more than two days. Hunter has been charged with both murders and awaits trial.
In September, detectives began a month long investigation into armed robberies at several local businesses. The investigation led to information related to a burglary in which firearms were stolen and then later used in the commission of the armed robberies. Numerous search warrants, interviews and information gathering took place in these cases that resulted in multiple arrests. Also, in September Casey’s General Store and a Holiday convenience store were robbed by a lone suspect. The investigation led to the arrest of a suspect who was not related to the other robberies.
Detectives assisted the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations with the two officer involved shootings that occurred in June and September. Both of these events were very complex and time consuming. The detectives worked extremely hard to assist our partner agency in these complex and emotional cases.
Detectives from the Crimes against Children Unit investigated 234 mandatory reporting cases, and worked with a variety of partners to better assist children in our community.
In 2015 the Property Crimes Unit was assigned 1,002 cases to include several storage unit burglary arrests. Two separate arrests were made when suspects broke into the same storage unit that was being used by the Fargo Police Department for a storage burglary reduction project. We also arrested two other suspects for stealing property out of another storage unit under the same project. These projects were initiated because of the large number of storage unit burglaries.
In January, detectives worked on the “Operation Homeless” check cashing fraud. The suspects would hire homeless people to cash fake checks in the area. Two separate groups came through Fargo and members of each group were arrested by our department for their involvement in the crime. The members of both groups were all from the southeastern part of the United States.
Our financial crimes detective worked on a large scale credit card cloning case. The suspects had been traced to California and several of them were identified. Most of the suspects in the case were Chinese citizens and we believe they worked at various restaurants in the area where they cloned credit cards from customers. The suspects cloned cards throughout a wide area across the country.
During the months of August and September, a suspect was committing multiple burglaries. During the follow-up investigation, a detective noticed some stolen property at an apartment. Based on the information, a search warrant was executed at a south Fargo apartment building. Multiple burglaries and thefts were solved, and we were able to arrest the responsible male. Most of the stolen property was returned to the rightful owners.
In the fall, we were having a lot of thefts from vehicles on the north side of the city. We applied for and were granted a search warrant for a residence. The search resulted in two suspects being arrested, and 15 cases were solved. The majority of the stolen property was given back to the rightful owners.
In January, detectives executed a search warrant based on information regarding a large marijuana dealer. A small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia were recovered, and $25,010 was seized. The subsequent investigation firmed up the seizure case, and it appeared the suspect hid the remaining marijuana he had in a neighboring apartment. Detectives were also investigating a human trafficking case involving a 15 year old victim being trafficked in Fargo. The “pimp’ in this case has been identified and is in custody on unrelated charges. This case has been adopted for Federal prosecution.
In February, detectives assisted Patrol with a traffic stop where approximately 12 ounces of methamphetamine were found. Paraphernalia, a vehicle and $8,572 were also seized. This case was adopted by the DEA and will be charged in Federal Court. Detectives, also, executed a search warrant that month and recovered approximately two pounds of marijuana, 78 tablets of ecstasy and $4,000.
In March, detectives worked a joint operation with the street crimes unit at a local hotel in an effort to address crimes at the hotel. Detectives wrote a search warrant for a room at the hotel, and approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine and $2,281 was seized. Detectives also wrote a search warrant related to an armed robbery, using narcotics as a way to gain entry into a suspect’s apartment. They also wrote a follow up search warrant for the garage after a suspect was discovered to be hiding inside.
In April, detectives wrote a search warrant at a local hotel and recovered 1,679 hydrocodone pills, five ecstasy tablets and $1,180. This case was related to the hotel interdiction work detectives had been doing with the street crimes unit. The pills were later determined to be counterfeit pills made to look like hydrocodone.
In May, detectives assisted patrol with a package recovered at a local package delivery service. The business had opened the package to be inspected because it was being shipped internationally. They found what they believed to be marijuana in the package. Detectives later obtained a search warrant for the package and determined it contained approximately 12 ounces of marijuana.
In June, detectives assisted the Moorhead Police Department with a drug buy at a local hotel in Moorhead where two ounces of methamphetamine were recovered. A subsequent investigation led to a successful controlled purchase of one ounce of methamphetamine, and two more ounces of methamphetamine were recovered from a hotel room in Fargo. While search warrants were being obtained for the two residences, the suspect who had sold the methamphetamine left the residence and was detained a short distance later. A subsequent search of their vehicle recovered another 21 ounces of methamphetamine. Two follow up search warrants were executed on residences involved in the case where another 10 ounces of methamphetamine were recovered and a vehicle was seized. Overall, approximately two and a half pounds of methamphetamine were recovered. This case will be prosecuted federally, and is a fine example of teamwork across several agencies leading to a successful outcome.
In July, detectives wrote a search warrant for a residence in North Fargo. Patrol officers had responded to a medical at the address where two people had reportedly overdosed on “spice”, a type of synthetic marijuana. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of drug paraphernalia, as well as some suspicious unmarked pills.
In September, detectives conducted a controlled purchase of synthetic marijuana in Countryside Trailer Park. A follow up search warrant was conducted where drug paraphernalia and medications were located. One child was placed into protective custody.
In November, detectives executed a search warrant at a residence where patrol officers had responded to several loud party complaints and received very little cooperation. An ounce of marijuana wax, approximately five ounces of marijuana, methadone, LSD, and $1,169 were seized.
In December, detectives took part in a multi jurisdictional human trafficking operation. Several contacts were made with suspected prostitutes in an attempt to gain information from them about human trafficking.
The Office of Professional Standards investigated 15 personnel complaints involving 17 officers.
• Three complaints regarding vehicle operations; all sustained dispositions
• Two work performance complaints; resulting in one sustained disposition and one closed disposition (resigned from the training program).
• Two motor vehicle crash complaints; both resulting in one sustained disposition and one not sustained disposition.
• One complaint for a violation of the pursuit policy; resulting in a sustained disposition.
• One conduct unbecoming complaint; resulting in a sustained disposition.
• Six complaints for failing to report for duty; two resulting in sustained dispositions while the remaining four resulting in counseling by a supervisor
The Office of Professional Standards conducted 75 incident reviews, involving 96 officers, of response to resistance incidents, officer involved crashes, and motor vehicle pursuits
• Officers used force to overcome resistance in 49 incidents; all incidents were determined to have been within policy.
• 25 officer-involved crashes (involving 26 officers) were reviewed; 24 were determined to have been preventable with two resulting in personnel complaints and two crash reviews are pending.
• Two motor vehicle pursuits involving 10 officers were reviewed; resulting in four personnel complaints.
The Administrative Services division oversees a number of support services within the department to include the records department, evidence processing and safekeeping, crime prevention, training, recruitment + hiring, budget management + human resources issues.
In 2015, the department trained for a total of: • 1,486 hours of firearms training • 820 hours of defensive tactics training • 136 hours of Active Shooter training
We hired 26 recruits who trained with a training officer for a total of 19,500 training hours.
Our Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator, Deb Tellinghuisen, put on four landlord training program classes and conducted 4,960 criminal history checks—an increase of 230 from 2014!
Our evidence + property unit took in 8,457 pieces of evidence.
Our records unit conducted 1,604 criminal backgrounds, took 870 criminal reports, fingerprinted 1,897 individuals and transcribed 12,158 reports + supplements completed by officers.
Chief David Todd Promoted on 10|12|15
Lieutenant William Ahlfeldt Promoted on 1|5|15
Lieutenant Shannon Ruziska Promoted on 9|14|15
Sergeant Ryan Nilson Promoted on 1|9|15
Sergeant Collin Gnoinsky
Promoted on 9|14|15
Sergeant Travis Moser Promoted on 10|26|15
Any officer or civilian employee recognized for outstanding service, professionalism, and contribution to the department for the preceding year.
Todd WahlSworn officers who distinguished themselves during an encounter with an adversary armed with a deadly weapon, in which the officer’s life was directly and significantly threatened.
Sworn officers who distinguished themselves with an act which significantly benefited the department or community.
Officer Todd Wahl Officer Matt Niemeyer Officer Patrick Thomas
Sergeant Travis Stefonowicz
Officer
Officer Michelle Voeltz
civilian
contributedto the
savingof a person’s life. Officer Joe Johnson Officer Chris Bergem Officer Zach Messmer Officer Richard Nechiporenko Officer
Sworn officers and civilian employees who distinguished themselves with an act that exemplifies the goals, values, and mission of the department.
Certificate of Commendation
Sworn officers and civilian employees who perform a credible act.
Officer Brent HalversonCitizen’s who provide assistance to the department which involves risk to the citizen’s life, or where the citizen contributes to the saving of another person’s life.
Ronald Thomas Gary Jorgensen Robert Hinnenkamp Joshua Marvig
The Fargo Police Department was issued a Movember challenge to raise money for Officer Alex Schilke with the East Grand Forks Police Department who was going through treatment for cancer. Officers were allowed to grow beards and mustaches if they donated money toward this challenge for the month of November. As you can see, we had a lot of fun with the challenge while at the same time supporting a brother in blue. I'm proud to say the men and women of the Fargo Police Department raised $9,681.63 which speaks to their generosity. We hope this contribution helps with the expenses incurred during his fight.
Left to Right: Chief Todd and Alicia Lovejoy; Officers Rued + Maahs; Officers Santangelo + Valenti ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on Law Enforcement Day.
Helping make Santa Keaton’s Make A Wish come true!
“Swing into Summer Safety and Fun” is an annual event put on by the Metro Sports Foundation and the Fargo Police Department every spring to help educate parents and children in the community about various safety topics prevalent during the summer months such as child safety, water and food safety, when to call 911, fire safety and more.
The Fargo Police Department held its first ever “Cocoa with a Cop” to help create connections and trusting relationships with the youth of our community.
