2018 Annual Report - Williston Police Department

2018 Annual Report

David Peterson Chief of Police

Annual Report

2018

Mission Statement The Williston Police Department is committed to the citizens of Williston to provide fair and equitable law enforcement to all persons.

We pledge to treat all persons with dignity and respect, and will continually strive to meet their needs.

We will provide a professional, effective, and timely response to the needs of the community regarding law enforcement issues, and other community issues.

We will operate the Williston Police Department with fiscal prudence, and yet maintain a professional well-trained staff to provide the highest level of service and protection to the community.

Annual Report

2018

Letter from the Chief of Police First, thank you for the opportunity to serve the Williston Community as the Police Chief. It is truly my honor to serve this community. I serve alongside many outstanding men and women that make up the Williston Police Department. We take tremendous pride in our partnership with this community. It is through this partnership that the high quality of life and safety can be preserved for those that live and work in Williston, and for those that visit our excellent community.

Our men and women are highly educated, well trained, and extremely devoted to the highest standards of integrity, morals, and ethics. Each member of the Williston Police Department is devoted to work with our community to solve crime and keep our neighborhoods safe. We pride ourselves on having tremendous community support, which assists us in hiring and retaining the best police officers we possibly can.

As a department, we have initiated many different programs to provide education and promote community relations. Some of these programs include Citizens Police Academy, DARE, Neighborhood Watch, Bike Rodeos, Safe Bank Instruction, Mayor’s Task Force on Elderly Exploitation, and many others.

Thank you for visiting for allowing us to serve you. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please contact us. We would be happy to hear from you.

Sincerely,

David A. Peterson Chief of Police

Annual Report

Table of Contents Organizational Chart

1

Years of Service

2-5

Criminal Investigations

7-9

Action Taken by Police

10-12

Animal/Code Compliance

14

Municipal Court Docket

15

9-1-1 Report

17

Crime Prevention

18-21

Narcotics Task Force

22-27

SWAT

28-29

Negotiations

30-31

Officer and Employee of the Year

Back Cover

2018

Annual Report

2018

Organization Chart

Police Commissioner

Chief of Police

Deputy Chief Administrative Captain

Investigations Captain

Patrol Captain

Administrative Lieutenant

Detective Lieutenant

Patrol Division

Office Administrator

Detective Sergeants

Admin. 911 Supervisor

Lieutenants

Records Administrator

Detectives

Dispatch Shift Supervisors

Sergeants

Communications Specialists

Officers

Animal Control

Code Compliance

Criminal Records

School Resource Officer

Evidence Technician

Detective Admin.

Assist.

911 Coordinator

Parking Enforcement

1

Annual Report

2018

Years of Service Sworn Chief David Peterson

10Years 4 Months

Deputy Chief Steven Armstrong

1 Years 1 Month

Det. Lt. Daniel Dery

5 Years 11 Months

Det. Sgt. Dustin Celander

7 Years 8 Months

Det. Sgt. Danielle Hendricks

4 Years 8 Months

Det. Sam Aide

7 Years 2 Months

Det. Amber Koehn

3 Years 6 Months

Det. John Roggenkamp

7 Years 4 Months

Det. Alexius Enget

2 Years 1 Month

SRO Heather Cook

4 Years

SRO Ashley Celander

3 Years 1 Month

Admin. Lt. Randall Haugenoe

15 Years 7 Months

Lt. Michael Wilson

19 Years 2 Months

Lt. Walter Hall

10 Years 6 Months

Lt. Rodney Dickerson

7 Years 2 Months

Lt. Travis Martinson

8 Years 4 Months

Sgt. Dustin Bertsch

11 Years 10 Months

Sgt. Hugh Benzen

6 Years 4 Months

Sgt. Kristiina Ravaska

4 Years 9 Months

Sgt. Jacob Hendricks

6 Years 5 Months

Sgt. Jacob Koehn

3 Years 6 Months

Patrol Michael Isenhower

7 Years 10 Months

Patrol Jason Barten

6 Years

Patrol Jonathan Holter

5 Years 4 Months

Patrol Aaron Kurtenbach

5 Years 2

Annual Report Patrol Justin Pelzl

5 Years

Patrol Travis Peterson

4 Years 7 Months

Patrol Nicholas Nelson

4 Years 5 Months

Patrol Craig Ware

3 Years 5 Months

Patrol Brett Flesness

3 Years

Patrol Nicholas Satermo

3 Years

Patrol Shawn Holm

2 Year 2 Months

Patrol Bryce Dahl

2 Year 1 Month

Patrol Michael Licciardi

1 Year 7 Months

Patrol Cody Miller

1 Year7 Months

Patrol Jeffrey Olson

1 Year 7 Months

Patrol Beau Jacobson

1 Year 6 Months

Patrol Robert Van Winkle

1 Year 5 Months

Patrol Theodore Vangrinsven

1 Year 3 Months

Patrol Zachary Schwartz

1 Year 3 Months

Patrol Joshua Mahlum

1 Year 3 Months

Patrol Jennifer Willard

1 Year 2 Months

Patrol Jeremiah Lachner

1 Year 1 Month

Patrol John Pagano

1 Year 1 Month

Patrol Martin Burch

1 Year 1 Month

Patrol Anthony Mann

1 Year

Patrol Evan Johnson

1 Year

Patrol Jesse Weicht

1 Year

Patrol Jesse Cruise

10 Months

Patrol Gregory Oster

10 Months

Patrol Charles Stafford

8 Months

Patrol Jory Forsberg

8 Months

Patrol Eric Keyes

8 Months

2018

3

Annual Report

Patrol Lucas Brinkman

8 Months

Patrol Matthew Aberle

5 Months

Patrol Alexis Haggerty

4 Months

Patrol Erica Davis

4 Months

Patrol Mia Lefever

3 Months

2018

4

Annual Report

2018

Years of Service Non-Sworn Records Admin. Linda Granbois

49 Years 8 Months

Records Admin. Chelsea Fossen

6 Years 2 Months

Det. Admin. Asst. Crystal Schaubel

11 Years 5 Months

ACO Susan Moeller

6 Years 7 Months

Evidence Tech Megan Peterson

4 Years 11 Months

CCO Amber Pelzl

3 Years 1 Month

PA Cindy Kopac

2 Year 9 Months

Admin. Clerk Kevin Craft

13 Years 5 Months

Admin Dispatch Sup. Joleen Tinker

13 Years 8 Months

Shift Sup. Laura Woltjer

5 Years 1 Month

Shift Sup. Jasmine Collins

2 Years 2 Months

Shift Sup. Sarah Hilton

1 Year 6 Months

Dispatch Cindy White

3 Years 6 Months

Dispatch Elizabeth Olson

3 Years 2 Months

Dispatch Mikaela Skalicky

2 Year 8 Months

Dispatch Georgia Hollembeak

1 Year 11 Months

Dispatch Caitlin Estrada

1 Year 6 Months

Dispatch Julie Kirkpatrick

10 Months

Dispatch Yulissa Jimenez

8 Months

Dispatch Patricia Potteiger

3 Months

Dispatch Carli Wade

3 Months

Dispatch Heather Drewelow

3 Months

5

Annual Report

2018

6

Annual Report

2018

Criminal Investigations Group A Offenses

5 Yr. Avg.

2017

2018

Murder

1

1

0

Suicide

4

5

8

Attempted Suicide

40

62

60

Kidnapping/Abduction

6

10

7

Rape

16

15

15

Sodomy

1

1

0

Sexual Assault w/ Object

1

1

0

Fondling

31

35

33

Robbery

5

7

2

Aggravated Assault

82

75

126

Simple Assault

252

272

334

Intimidation

61

35

81

Stalking

2

5

1

Arson

4

8

0

Burglary

120

127

103

Pocket-picking

3

0

0

Purse-snatching

2

1

0

Shoplifting

138

131

182

Theft from Building

47

31

16

Theft from Coin Machine

1

1

0

Theft from Motor Vehicle

105

68

90

Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts

16

5

11

All Other Larceny

341

270

318

7

Annual Report Motor Vehicle Theft

130

70

83

Stolen Property Offenses

26

22

17

Counterfeit Money

64

57

75

Vandalism

273

217

260

False Pretenses

31

40

51

Credit Card/ATM Fraud

27

21

12

Impersonation

41

48

64

Welfare Fraud

0

1

1

Wire Fraud

3

3

3

Identity Theft

1

3

1

Hacking

0

1

0

Embezzlement

4

5

3

Drugs

260

235

254

Drug Paraphernalia

222

195

225

Pornography/Obscene Material

7

13

17

Prostitution

2

0

1

Promoting Prostitution

1

0

0

Weapon Law Violations

45

27

49

Animal Cruelty

3

6

9

2018

Group B Offenses

5 Yr. Avg.

2017

2018

Disorderly Person

5

10

9

DUI

4

11

8

Intoxicated Person

1

0

2

Prowler

0

1

1

Trespassing

2

7

3

8

Annual Report

2018

Group C Offenses Domestic

5 Yr. Avg.

34

2017

2018

Missing Person/Child

13

25

26

Runaway

14

26

30

Custody Dispute

1

3

2

Ambulance

6

16

3

Welfare Check

9

19

15

Lost or Found

1

1

3

Loud Music/Noise

0

1

1

Mental Subject

1

5

2

Unattended Death

12

23

23

Vehicle Check

1

2

0

Suspicious

8

13

18

Pursuit

7

10

16

Accident - Fatality

1

1

0

Accident – Hit and Run

1

0

2

Accident - Injury

1

1

1

Accident - Property

2

1

3

Outside Agency Assist

4

10

9

DUS/DUR

5

7

14

Wanted Person

10

13

22

63

79

9

Annual Report

2018

Arrests Made 5 Yr. Avg.

2017

2018

AA Felony

5

7

5

A Felony

6

14

7

B Felony

30

71

21

C Felony

306

415

367

A Misdemeanor

173

235

171

B Misdemeanor

715

935

1,059

Infraction

1

0

1

Other

11

11

23

Traffic

5,416

Non-Traffic

Citations Issued 3,672

5,816

3,308

4,155

3,912

Traffic Warnings

411

696

1,069

Non-Traffic Warnings

396

215

267

Accidents

1,375

1,145

1,264

Accident Fatalities

3

3

3

Prisoners Jailed

1,512

Criminal Arrests 1,384

1,588

Group A Offenses

5 Yr. Avg.

2017

2018

Animal Cruelty

3

6

9

Arson

0

8

0

Aggravated Assault

42

69

75

Simple Assault

155

250

216

Intimidation

16

12

22

10

Annual Report Stalking

0

1

0

Burglary

18

37

11

Counterfeiting/Forgery

8

12

4

Vandalism

30

24

30

Drugs

197

230

229

Drug Paraphernalia

71

63

71

Embezzlement

0

1

0

False Pretenses

4

5

10

Credit Card/ATM Fraud

1

0

1

Impersonation

3

3

1

Welfare Fraud

0

1

0

Wire Fraud

1

3

0

Hacking/Computer Invasion

1

1

0

Gambling

0

0

0

Promoting Gambling

0

0

0

Murder

1

1

0

Manslaughter

0

0

0

Human Trafficking

0

1

1

Commercial Sex Acts

0

1

1

Kidnapping/Abduction

3

2

8

Pocket Picking

0

0

0

Purse-Snatching

0

0

0

Shoplifting

125

131

160

Theft from Building

5

8

1

Theft from Coin Machine

0

0

0

Theft from Motor Vehicle

12

15

8

Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts

0

0

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

17

17

12

2018

11

Annual Report Pornography/Obscene Material

1

1

3

Prostitution

0

0

0

Promoting Prostitution

0

0

0

Robbery

3

7

0

Rape

3

4

3

Fondling

3

6

4

Incest

0

1

0

Statutory Rape

1

0

2

Stolen Property

19

13

17

Weapon Violations

19

7

21

2018

Group B Offenses

5 Yr. Avg.

2017

2018

DUI

293

211

212

Curfew

21

29

39

Disorderly Conduct

167

199

199

Liquor Law Violations

83

75

87

Trespassing

15

13

9

Alarms Answered

716

Bank Alarms

Alarm Calls 545

445

10

11

124

Burglary

203

151

309

Hold Up

2

2

13

Motion

4

1

11

Panic

2

4

19

False Alarms

526

516

363

Responding Officers

1,025

1,168

1,152

12

Annual Report

2018

13

Annual Report

2018

Animal and Code Compliance Animal

Animals in Pound

2017

2018

478

605

282 190

330 252

Pound Fees Paid

$12,380

$6,719

Calls Answered

2,366

2,324

Animals Destroyed

22

15

Animals Adopted

133

152

Citations Issued

132

125

Code Compliance

2017

2018

• •

Dogs Cats

Parking Tickets

622

625

Impounded Vehicles

120

110

Impound Fees Paid

$10,300

$30,975

Auction Revenue

$45,063.67

$83,151.42

Parking Authority

2017

2018

Parking Tickets • •

Lot Street

1,283

900

124 1,159

66 834

14

Annual Report

2018

Municipal Court Docket January

2017

2018

$63,450.50

$80,095.00

February

$79,311.54

$80,501.88

March

$88,420.55

$55,045.88

April

$50,905.25

$71,373.40

May

$63,153.25

$84,521.41

June

$64,460.03

$72,486.27

July

$66,818.75

$63,004.10

August

$58,429.89

$87,656.83

September

$51,704.41

$66,662.75

October

$72,107.47

$86,429.35

November

$60,192.77

$68,029.39

December

$39,091.55

$74,776.34

Totals

$748,045.96

$890,582.60

Bonds Receipted

850

766

Victim Service Fees

44

105

Criminal Cases

3,235

2,822

Animal Cases

148

127

Traffic Cases

3,345

4,905

15

Annual Report

2018

9-1-1 Statistics

16

Annual Report

City

2018

County

Crimes in Progress

2,033

896

Ambulance

1,702

512

Fire

632

403

Other 9-1-1

5,731

1,262

Total

10,098

3,073

Cell Phone Calls

45,217

9-1-1 Cell Phone Calls

10,436

9-1-1 Text Calls

22

9-1-1 Training Hours

443

Actual 9-1-1 Calls

12,414

Radio Calls

54,511

17

Annual Report

2018

Crime Prevention

Programs D.A.R.E

Crossing Guard Alcohol Server Training Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Checks Seatbelt Safety Law and Justice High School Presentations Bike Rodeo Crime Stopper Events Press Releases Community Policing Presentations Neighborhood Watch Safety Talks 18

Annual Report

2018

Presentations Talk

Students Adults 430

30

Hours

Media

412

0

0

400

Department Tours

25

450

40

22

Safety Talks

10

175

100

8

Grant Meetings

2

0

0

10

Community Meetings

35

300

1,000

80

Bank Robbery

1

0

150

4

School Presentations

45

630

150

45

Alcohol Server Training

5

0

140

12

Other Classes

4

100

100

40

Bike Rodeo

10

250

100

40

National Night Out

1

1,500

1,500

25

Alice Training

20

0

500

60

Marketplace for Kids

10

300

50

1

Totals

675

4,135

3,860

842

Year

Students

Counteract

95

Adults

95

Totals

2018

4,135

3,860

7,995

2017

5,555

2,534

8,089

2016

6,280

1,445

7,725

2015

3,543

1,107

4,650

2014

4,514

948

5462

5 Year Average

4,805

1,979

6,784

19

Annual Report

2018

20

Annual Report

2018

Calls for Service 2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Scams

94

127

107

87

45

Theft

1,395

903

1,983

1,662

1,574

Fights

371

612

1,823

1,954

1,230

Harassment

522

236

899

326

364

Juvenile

495

122

957

674

826

Domestics

811

599

624

742

1,123

Parties

57

37

926

76

538

Noise

722

394

769

446

812

Vehicles

10,902

7,426

8,137

7,204

6,341

Ambulance

869

807

1,364

884

2,158

Other

19,352

16,436

10,054

8,016

7,591

Totals

35,593

27,699

27,753

22,071

22,602

2018

Other 56%

Theft 4%

Scams 0%

Fights 1%

Harassment 2% Juveniles 1% Domestics Parties 2% 0% Noise 2%

Ambulance 3%

Vehicles 29%

21

Annual Report

2018

22

Annual Report

2018

Northwest Narcotics Task Force

23

Annual Report

2018

Northwest Narcotics Task Force Michael Mees, Coordinator The Northwest Narcotics Task Force (NWNTF) is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. It is a joint effort set forth by area law enforcement agencies through a memorandum of understanding.

These agencies (NWNTF Board) include the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Williston and Watford City field offices), Williams County Sheriff’s Office, McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, and Divide County Sheriff’s Office along with the Williston Police Department and Watford City Police Department. The NWNTF has been a successful endeavor for nearly two decades.

The NWNTF currently consists of six task force officers and agents who obtain an area of responsibility for the counties of Williams, McKenzie, and Divide and hold deputations therein.

When fully staffed the NWNTF is made up of task force officers and agents from the following: 1 Williams County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, 1 Williston Police Department Officer, 1 Watford City Police Department Officer, 2 McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, 1 United States Border Patrol Agent, and 3 North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation Special Agents (1 currently assigned as the Task Force Coordinator).

The NWNTF Board also provides a full time civilian to the NWNTF as an intelligence analyst wherein the employee’s salary is split between board agencies. The NWNTF intelligence analyst is a crucial leg of the NWNTF and surrounding local, tribal, state, and federal agencies. The NWNTF analyst conducted 2010 internal and external requests for information to law enforcement and/or intelligence entities in 2018.

The NWNTF intelligence analyst is currently the only analyst in the State of North Dakota accessing TRAC resources allowing for the tracking of MoneyGram© to common trafficking states and counties such as California and Mexico. This access has been a proven asset to the NWNTF and the State of North Dakota in investigating narcotics trafficking, money laundering investigations and often times identifying the travel of currency out of country to identified cartel controlled areas of Mexico.

Over the last year, the NWNTF has experienced personnel changes from Task Force Coordinators to Task Force Officer’s. With the new Task Force Coordinator, a goal and vision was set to prioritize the safety of citizens in the local community. This entails a greater focus on local narcotics issues which are commonly related to other local crimes such as homicides, assaults, terrorizing, burglaries, thefts, and other various crimes. Respectively, the NWNTF primarily focuses on issues related directly to the communities the NWNTF serves and pursues

24

Annual Report

2018

those cases aggressively. A second priority is to maintain the enforcement upon major drug trafficking organizations that directly affect the local communities. The effort to combat drugs in our community ultimately needs the support of federal agencies that are dedicated to enforcement of federal drug laws and ascertain the funding and ability to investigate and apprehend violators domestically and internationally. The NWNTF is currently working to ascertain a solid working relationship with federal agencies to combine cooperative efforts in aggressively attacking local and non-local narcotics violations.

The NWNTF takes a greater opportunity to assist community members who are addicted to narcotics and are actively searching for help. This assistance has included providing treatment resources, open conversations with medical professionals, and collaborative efforts with the local district courts, prosecutors, and defense attorney’s to provide state resources in lieu of jail and/or prison sentences. The NWNTF understands there are multiple issues that need to be addressed within the community including providing resources to addicts to become clean, productive citizens of the community, and aggressively apprehending narcotics distributors and traffickers.

The NWNTF is also committed to providing assistance to the Three Affiliated Tribes (TAT) Drug Enforcement unit. This collaborative effort has been proven successful and has led to many federal indictments and state arrests. Information and resource sharing between NWNTF and TATDE, along with the personal relationships between the entities, has been proven successful in operations and assistance through many cases to ensure the safety of the Mandan-HidatsaArikara community members and community members within the area of responsibility of the NWNTF. The NWNTF looks to continue, and strengthen, the relationship in the future. The NWNTF also had the opportunity to attend the “Strengthening Government to Government Partnerships and Relationships” as a panel member for “Addressing Drug Crime and Drug Activity, On, Near and Off the Reservation”. This opportunity allowed for the open discussion with community members and tribal leaders throughout North Dakota long with stake holders in tribal regions.

The NWNTF conducted one crime suppression operation in 2018 in Williston and Williams County. Operation Fall Sweep was conducted on October 20th, 2018 utilizing numerous law enforcement agencies and resources to include the Sidney (Montana) Police Department K9 unit, United States Border Patrol K9 unit, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Williston Police Department, Williams County Sheriff’s Office, ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Northwest Narcotics Task Force. Subsequently, there were 69 law enforcement/public contacts, 14 K9 narcotic deployments resulting in 8 drug related charges, 3 drug related warrant arrests.

Patrol units also issued 12 citations, 15 written warnings, and 56 verbal warnings. The operation targeted high volume crime areas throughout Williston and Williams County and resulted in the disruption of narcotics distribution in the area according to source intelligence. This operation was also utilized to improve any faults with participating agencies and entities and proved to be 25

Annual Report

2018

extremely useful to identify those faults and address the fault with corrective actions. The operation was considered highly successful.

Overall, the NWNTF operated between 4-6 agents between Divide, Williams, and McKenzie Counties, along with servicing the McKenzie County portion of the Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Reservation. The NWNTF area of operations also borders Montana and the international border with Canada. Respectively, the NWNTF covers one of the largest counties in North Dakota and a majority of the Bakken oil region. Given this atmosphere, the NWNTF experiences a higherthan-normal volume for drug trafficking organizations and transient narcotics violators.

Narcotics prices are consistently higher than a majority of the State of North Dakota presenting a greater supply and demand factor and increased interest in narcotics sales from larger organizations to include Mexican Cartels, Street Gangs, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.

Statistically the NWNTF seized the following for 2018: Methamphetamine: 2,310.86 grams (Approximately 5.1 pounds) with an approximate street value of $231,086. *Additionally approximately 4+ pounds were seized in relation to federal cases that are being investigated collaboratively with NWNTF. Heroin: 247.75 grams (Approximately ½ pound) with an approximate street value of $99,100.

Cocaine: 430.14 grams (Approximately 1 pound) with an approximate street value of $86,028.

Marijuana: 11,164.83 grams (Approximately 25 pounds) with an approximate street value of $111,648. *Marijuana plant seizures: 23 plants.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Oil/Wax: 5,571.1 grams (Approximately ½ pound) with an approximate street value of $445,688.

Morphine: 61 Milliliters with an approximate street value of $6,100.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD): 16 Dosage Units with an approximate street value of $80.

Other Pills (Xanax, Methadone, etc): With an approximate street value of $7,035.

A total of $1,007,925 of illegal narcotics were seized from the NWNTF area of responsibility.

26

Annual Report

2018

The NWNTF conducted 202 investigations that varied in nature. The NWNTF conducted 47 search warrants and assisted in 21 search warrants resulting in a total of 68 search warrants for 2018.

The NWNTF arrested 165 violators. 103 of the 165 arrests were felony level arrests, 37 were misdemeanor arrests, 1 was a traffic arrest, and 14 were arrests for outstanding warrants including state and federal warrants. The NWNTF seized 58 firearms associated with narcotics related offenses and seized $133,560.69 in US Currency related to the profit, sales, distribution, and trafficking of illegal narcotics.

The NWNTF was awarded a no-match federal Anti-Heroin Task Force grant for 2019 and 2020 with a total award amount of $889,071. This money will be utilized for trainings that are not common in the North Dakota or regional area, equipment, overtime costs, additional full time or part time intelligence analyst, supplies, and other costs associated with heroin investigations.

This grant relieves those expenditures from local agencies and local communities ultimately greatly benefiting the community.

The NWNTF conducted 11 presentations throughout 2018. Those presentations ranged from educational presentations to schools, oil field companies, housing agencies, and the regional emergency preparedness symposium. The requests for presentations are on the rise which is a trend we strive for and hope will continue.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Mees Special Agent North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations Northwest Narcotics Task Force Coordinator

27

Annual Report

2018

Williams County S. W. A. T. Team

28

Annual Report

2018

Williams County S.W.A.T. Team Hugh Benzen, Commander The Williams County Special Weapons and Tactics Team is comprised of members from the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, the Williston Police Department, and the Williston Fire Department. The team consists of a team commander, three team leaders, two assistant team leaders, fourteen operators, four designated marksmen and six tactical medics.

In 2018, the North Dakota Peace Officers Association Special Operations Committee recognized the Williams County SWAT Team as a regional team. The team now covers a four county area consisting of Williams County, Divide County, McKenzie County, and Burke County.

In 2018, Commander Steven Armstrong stepped down from the team and Hugh Benzen was appointed as the new Team Commander.

For the year, the Williams County SWAT Team served three High Risk Search Warrants, responded to three bomb threats, assisted other law enforcement on three moderate risk search warrants, and conducted one other high-risk operation. The team was called out on multiple other occasions but thankfully, those situations were resolved prior to SWAT intervention.

It is the continued mission of the Williams County SWAT Team to be a highly trained, well-equipped, skilled tactical team that is a resource to the communities it serves for the successful resolution of critical incidents.

29

Annual Report

2018

Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team

30

Annual Report

2018

Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team Alan Bratt, Team Leader The Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team (NWCNT) was originally started by one member from the Williams County Sheriff’s Office and one from the Williston Police Department in early 2016. Currently there are 7 members total from the two agencies. The members work their normal shifts for the agencies and are on call for situations that require the NWCNT. In 2018 the NWCNT became certified through the special operations committee in the state of North Dakota. At that time the team became a regional team which responds to the counties of Burke, Divide, Williams and McKenzie when requested. The team annually attends and participates at a Crisis Negotiations Conference and Competition held in various cities throughout North Dakota and Canada.

All of the team members have attended advanced negotiations trainings and will soon be certified nationally.

The team trains a minimum of five times per year locally, one of which is with the SWAT team.

Trainings have been scenarios as well as working with local resources such as veteran services and counselors.

The NWCNT responds to suicidal subjects, barricaded subjects, hostage situations, mental crisis situations and also responds simultaneously with SWAT team call outs. In 2018 the team focused on training, both as a team, and attended trainings put on by other agencies. The team responded to 5 incidents in 2018.

Warm regards, Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team

31

Williston Police Department

Officer of the Year

Detective Sergeant Danielle Hendricks Began employment with the Williston Police Department on April 23, 2012

Williston Police Department

Employee of the Year

Office Administrator Linda Granbois Began employment with the Williston Police Department on May 16, 1969