David Peterson Chief of Police
David Peterson Chief of Police
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 2019
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.
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 PoliceAnnual Report 2019
Annual Report 2019 Table of Contents Organizational Chart 1 Years of Service 2-6 Criminal Investigations 8-10 Action Taken by Police 12-14 Animal/Code Compliance 16 Municipal Court Docket 17 Crime Prevention 18-25 Narcotics Task Force 27-30 SWAT 31-32 Negotiations 33-34 Officer and Employee of the Year Back Cover
Annual Report 2019 1
Administrative
Detectives School
Detective
Animal
Parking
Organization Chart Police Commissioner Chief of Police Deputy Chief Administrative Captain
Lieutenant Office Administrator Records Administrator Investigations Captain Detective Lieutenant Detective Sergeants
Resource Officer Evidence Technician
Admin. Assist. Patrol Captain Lieutenants Sergeants Officers
Control Code Compliance
Enforcement
Years of Service
Annual Report 2019 2
Sworn Chief David Peterson 20 Years Administrative Captain Steven Armstrong 12 Years Operations Captain Rodney Dickerson 8 Years Investigations Captain Steven Gutknecht 26 Years Admin. Lieutenant Randy Haugenoe 18 Years Investigations Lieutenant Daniel Dery 7 Years Investigations Sergeant Danielle Hendricks 5 Years Detective Sam Aide 8 Years Detective Momcilo Babic 7 Years Detective Robert Cummings 4 Years Detective Alexius Enget 3 Years Detective Amber Koehn 4 Years Detective Nicholas Satermo 4 Years School Resource Officer Ashley Celander 4 Years School Resource Officer Heather Cook 5 Years School Resource Officer Beau Jacobson 2 Years Patrol Lieutenant Hugh Benzen 7 Years Patrol Lieutenant Walter Hall 14 Years Patrol Lieutenant Travis Martinson 9 Years Patrol Lieutenant Michael Wilson 24 Years Patrol Sergeant Dustin Celander 8 Years Patrol Sergeant Brett Flesness 4 Years Patrol Sergeant Jacob Hendricks 7 Years
Annual Report 2019 3
Sergeant Michael Isenhower 8 Years
Sergeant Jacob Koehn 4 Years
Sergeant Justin Pelzl 6 Years
Sergeant Kenneth Prentice 11 Years
Sergeant Kristiina Ravaska 5 Years
Matthew Aberle 1 Year Officer Brandon Balogh 1 Year Officer Jason Barten 7 Years Officer Lucas Brinkman 1 Year Officer Christopher Cook 8 Years Officer Jesse Cruise 2 Years Officer Erica Davis 1 Year Officer James Dixon 5 Years Officer Tanner Farstveet 7 Months Officer Jory Forsberg 1 Year Officer Wrangler Frye 3 Months Officer Tanner Granger 3 Months Officer Alexis Haggerty 1 Year Officer Robert Harrah 1 Year Officer Jonathan Holter 6 Years Officer Rowan Horswill 3 Months Officer Jennifer Hurley 2 Years Officer Jason Jonas 6 Years
Eric Keyes 1 Year
Kayla Klapper 1 Year
Jeremiah Lachner 2 Years Officer Travis Lawhead 7 Months
Patrol
Patrol
Patrol
Patrol
Patrol
Officer
Officer
Officer
Officer
Annual Report 2019 4 Officer Mia Lefever 1 Year Officer Michael Licciardi 3 Years Officer Joshua Mahlum 2 Years Officer Anthony Mann 2 Years Officer Cody Miller 5 Years Officer Nicholas Nelson 5 Years Officer Garrett Norsten 7 Months Officer Jeffrey Olson 2 Years Officer Gregory Oster 2 Years Officer John Pagano 2 Years Officer Jordan Patton 1 Year Officer Nickolas Rintamaki 7 Months Officer Nicole Roberts 1 Year Officer Jonathan Roggenkamp 8 Years Officer Derrick Said 3 Months Officer Zachary Schwartz 2 Years Officer Dakotah Smith 1 Year Officer Samuel Valdez 4 Years Officer Theodore VanGrinsven 2 Years Officer Robert Van Winkle 5 Years Officer Jesse Weicht 2 Years
Years of Service
Annual Report 2019 5
Non - Sworn Admin. Clerk Kevin Craft 14 Years Records Admin. Chelsea Fossen 7 Years Records Admin. Linda Granbois 50 Years ACO Amy Johnson 11 Months PA Cindy Kopac 3 Years ACO Susan Moeller 7 Years CCO Amber Pelzl 4 Years Evidence Tech Amanda Prentice 3 Months Det. Admin. Asst. Crystal Schaubel 12 Years Records Admin. Calli Stellmacher 7 Months ACO Carli Wade 1 Year
W elcome Our New Recruits
Annual Report 2019 6
Not Pictured: Cook, Lawhead, Roberts
Babic Balogh Cummings Farstveet
Frye Granger Harrah Horswill
Jonas Klapper Norsten Patton
Rintamaki Said Smith Valdez
Annual Report 2019 7
Criminal Investigations
Annual Report 2019 8
Group A Offenses 5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 Murder 2 0 6 Suicide 7 8 5 Kidnapping/Abduction 10 7 21 Rape 17 15 22 Sodomy 2 0 2 Sexual Assault w/ Object 1 0 1 Fondling 36 33 45 Robbery 5 2 5 Aggravated Assault 84 126 102 Simple Assault 298 334 441 Intimidation 68 81 112 Stalking 2 1 4 Arson 5 0 7 Burglary 112 103 85 Pocket-picking 1 0 0 Purse-snatching 1 0 1 Shoplifting 141 183 192 Theft from Building 28 16 19 Theft from Coin Machine 0 0 0 Theft from Motor Vehicle 88 90 104 Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts 11 11 5 All Other Larceny 335 317 334
Annual Report 2019 9 Motor Vehicle Theft 101 83 85 Stolen Property Offenses 35 30 29 Counterfeit Money 58 75 67 Vandalism 253 260 262 False Pretenses 31 51 51 Credit Card/ATM Fraud 27 12 12 Impersonation 41 64 64 Welfare Fraud 0 1 1 Wire Fraud 3 3 3 Identity Theft 1 1 1 Hacking 0 0 0 Embezzlement 4 3 3 Extortion 0 0 2 Drugs 272 254 302 Drug Paraphernalia 224 225 246 Pornography/Obscene Material 10 17 14 Prostitution 2 1 6 Promoting Prostitution 1 0 3 Weapon Law Violations 44 49 35 Animal Cruelty 6 9 15 Group B Offenses 5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 Disorderly Person 5 8 9 DUI 4 5 5 Intoxicated Person 1 2 2 Prowler 0 1 0 Trespassing 2 3 5
Annual Report 2019 10
5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 Domestic 48 79 132 Missing Person/Child 13 26 14 Runaway 17 30 36 Custody Dispute 1 2 1 Ambulance 6 3 9 Welfare Check 10 15 18 Lost or Found 1 3 0 Loud Music/Noise 0 1 0 Mental Subject 2 2 3 Unattended Death 12 20 25 Vehicle Check 1 0 2 Suspicious 7 8 17 Pursuit 7 15 8 Accident - Fatality 0 0 0 Accident – Hit and Run 1 3 2 Accident - Injury 1 1 0 Accident - Property 1 2 0 Outside Agency Assist 6 8 15 DUS/DUR 4 11 9 Wanted Person 10 18 18
Group C Offenses
Annual Report 2019 11
Annual Report 2019 12 Arrests Made 5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 AA Felony 5 5 7 A Felony 7 7 8 B Felony 28 21 14 C Felony 320 367 388 A Misdemeanor 174 171 176 B Misdemeanor 790 1,059 1,161 Infraction 1 1 0 Other 12 23 14 Citations Issued Traffic 4,852 5,816 5,023 Non-Traffic 3,994 3,912 4,609 Traffic Warnings 678 1,069 739 Non-Traffic Warnings 295 267 408 Accidents 1,375 1,264 1,239 Accident Fatalities 2 3 1 Criminal Arrests Group A Offenses 5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 Animal Cruelty 6 9 15 Arson 1 0 1 Aggravated Assault 48 77 61 Simple Assault 175 220 207 Intimidation 19 22 27
Annual Report 2019 13 Stalking 0 0 0 Burglary 18 12 11 Counterfeiting/Forgery 7 5 4 Vandalism 28 30 31 Drugs 227 229 244 Drug Paraphernalia 77 72 94 Embezzlement 0 0 1 False Pretenses 6 10 9 Credit Card/ATM Fraud 2 1 5 Impersonation 2 1 3 Welfare Fraud 0 0 0 Wire Fraud 1 0 0 Hacking/Computer Invasion 1 0 0 Gambling 0 0 0 Promoting Gambling 0 0 0 Murder 2 0 6 Manslaughter 0 0 0 Human Trafficking 0 1 0 Commercial Sex Acts 0 1 0 Kidnapping/Abduction 5 8 8 Pocket Picking 0 0 0 Purse-Snatching 0 0 0 Shoplifting 127 163 158 Theft from Building 3 1 1 Theft from Coin Machine 0 0 0 Theft from Motor Vehicle 13 8 11 Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts 0 0 0 Motor Vehicle Theft 17 12 6
Annual Report 2019 14 Pornography/Obscene Material 1 3 3 Prostitution 0 0 0 Promoting Prostitution 0 0 0 Robbery 3 0 0 Rape 2 3 1 Fondling 3 4 3 Incest 0 0 1 Statutory Rape 1 2 3 Stolen Property 22 17 27 Group B Offenses 5 Yr. Avg. 2018 2019 DUI 269 212 248 Curfew 26 39 28 Disorderly Conduct 199 200 242 Liquor Law Violations 87 87 62 Trespassing 19 9 29 Alarm Calls Alarms Answered 716 420 445 Bank Alarms 10 124 124 Burglary 203 309 309 Hold Up 2 13 13 Motion 4 11 11 Panic 2 19 19 False Alarms 526 363 363 Responding Officers 1,025 1,152 1,152
Annual Report 2019 15
Animal and Code Compliance
Annual Report 2019 16
Animal 2018 2019 Animals in Pound 605 663 • Dogs 330 374 • Cats 252 289 Pound Fees Paid $6,719 $5,855 Calls Answered 2,324 1,428 Animals Destroyed 15 22 Animals Adopted 152 317 Citations Issued 125 123 Code Compliance 2018 2019 Parking Tickets 625 1,327 Impounded Vehicles 110 147 Impound Fees Paid $30,975 $19,140 Auction Revenue $83,151.42 $100,718.76 Parking Authority 2018 2019 Parking Tickets 1,283 696 • Lot 124 27 • Street 1,159 668
Municipal Court Docket
Annual Report 2019 17
2018 2019 January $80,095.00 $76,808.95 February $80,501.88 $79,567.37 March $55,045.88 $65,966.98 April $71,373.40 $99,464.43 May $84,521.41 $63,691.84 June $72,486.27 $72,279.00 July $63,004.10 $85,118.69 August $87,656.83 $58,232.35 September $66,662.75 $82,470.37 October $86,429.35 $80,101.48 November $68,029.39 $59,535.77 December $74,776.34 $74,901.31 Totals $890,582.60 $898,138.54 Bonds Receipted 766 772 Victim Service Fees 105 84 Infraction Cases 174 230 Criminal Cases 2,822 3,370 Traffic Cases 4,905 3,831
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
Annual Report 2019 18
Annual Report 2019 19
Talk Students Adults Hours Counteract 95 500 35 95 Media 500 0 0 450 Department Tours 20 375 40 20 Safety Talks 15 200 100 8 Community Meetings 35 300 1,000 80 School Presentations 50 750 150 50 Alcohol Server Training 5 0 200 18 Other Classes 4 0 150 40 Bike Rodeo 10 275 100 40 National Night Out 1 1,250 1,000 25 Alice Training 20 0 500 60 Marketplace for Kids 15 350 50 14 Totals 770 4,000 3,325 900 Year Students Adults Totals 2019 4,000 3,325 7,325 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 5 Year Average 4,702 2,454 7,157
Presentations
Annual Report 2019 20
Calls for Service
Annual Report 2019 21
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Totals Abandoned Vehicle 58 85 60 52 44 299 Accident-Fatality 0 4 3 5 1 13 Accident - Hit and Run 198 276 350 388 429 1,641 Accident - Injury 84 89 122 106 100 501 Accident - Property 426 641 737 829 884 3,517 Ambulance 296 670 675 858 749 3,248 Animal Call 477 1,207 1,904 2,239 2,357 8,184 Arson 2 1 5 0 1 9 Assault 103 120 158 161 162 704 Assistance Request 436 1,208 1,575 1,675 2,370 7,264 Attempt to Locate 78 388 384 454 624 1,928 Bar Check 3 49 111 104 82 349 Beat Check 12 329 442 593 833 2,209 Bomb/Threats 0 0 1 5 1 7 Burglary 56 85 127 152 127 547 BURGLARY ALARM 412 591 545 519 450 2,517 Canine Assist 18 43 24 7 0 92 Canine Training 3 29 11 6 10 59 Child Abuse 11 44 29 50 42 176 Child Neglect 4 13 30 21 16 84 Child playing with phone 0 16 7 22 82 127 Civil Dispute 117 213 319 491 563 1,703 Civil Standby 62 186 242 266 315 1,071 Commercial Structure Fire 0 0 0 0 9 9 Community Policing 2 219 251 637 444 1,553
Annual Report 2019 22 Contempt of Court 0 5 8 15 6 34 Counterfeit Money 13 23 37 50 50 173 Criminal Mischief 0 0 1 6 1 8 Curfew Violation 0 0 3 2 0 5 Custody Dispute 17 43 86 109 111 366 Death Notification 2 2 3 5 13 25 Debris /Vehicle Fire 0 0 0 0 15 15 Disorderly Person 227 220 284 359 381 1,471 Domestic 303 508 549 503 455 2,318 Domestic - Verbal 0 0 50 308 294 652 Door Check 3 2 0 4 0 9 Driving Complaint 370 604 769 962 935 3,640 Drugs 171 418 378 466 430 1,863 DUI 96 300 209 209 248 1,062 DUS/DUR 67 324 225 279 347 1,242 Elevator Rescue 0 0 0 0 1 1 Escort 22 17 7 14 6 66 Fictitious Plates 0 3 6 9 13 31 Fight 118 172 170 210 209 879 Fire 68 146 146 214 152 726 Fireworks 35 107 107 163 145 557 Follow up 4 3 0 0 0 7 Follow Up 0 230 556 1,166 1,494 3,446 Foot Pursuit 0 0 5 13 11 29 Forgery 5 11 4 9 4 33 Fraud 43 123 120 118 116 520 Funeral Escort 23 81 83 73 76 336 GSI 11 47 59 75 76 268
Annual Report 2019 23 Gun Call 64 71 84 148 136 503 Hang-up Calls 25 41 34 20 626 746 Harassment 84 162 236 313 217 1,012 Hazardous Materials 0 0 0 12 4 16 Hazmat 0 0 0 0 7 7 Homicide 0 0 1 0 4 5 Identity Theft 0 26 28 31 32 117 Illegal Consumption 6 28 28 25 22 109 Indecent Exposure 0 2 14 15 20 51 Information 99 283 316 179 164 1,041 Intoxicated Person 80 194 222 221 257 974 Juveniles 71 82 122 109 134 518 Kidnapping 0 0 0 1 1 2 Littering 6 0 5 11 9 31 Loitering 17 19 68 79 78 261 Lost or Found 5 51 73 126 238 493 Loud Music/Noise 142 330 394 559 599 2,024 Medical 0 0 0 0 272 272 Mental Subject 10 34 34 44 34 156 Missing Person/Child 44 96 91 116 99 446 Motorist Assist 32 283 199 270 277 1,061 Open Door 6 49 60 75 41 231 Open Line 9-1-1 Call 0 0 0 0 290 290 Outside Agency Assist 16 310 302 349 340 1,317 Parking Complaint 180 396 472 685 693 2,426 Party 30 48 37 57 52 224 Patrol Request 16 135 317 377 316 1,161 Prostitution 0 0 0 12 16 28
Annual Report 2019 24 Prowler 15 40 13 16 4 88 Pursuit 11 29 31 39 21 131 Recovered Stolen Property 39 46 47 74 59 265 Road Hazard 18 76 62 103 141 400 Robbery 3 6 5 3 4 21 Runaway 39 61 91 110 142 443 Scams 18 84 127 94 99 422 School Zone Enforcement 0 0 0 0 379 379 Search Warrant 2 23 48 33 55 161 Security Check 12 1,421 2,024 2,927 2,539 8,923 Sex Offender 15 80 149 232 286 762 Shoplifting 69 92 110 188 192 651 Single Residential Fire 0 0 0 0 6 6 Stolen Property 17 11 1 1 2 32 Suicide / Suicide Threats 56 124 168 208 192 748 Suspected Overdose 0 0 0 7 4 11 Suspicious.... 705 1,294 1,063 1,098 1,173 5,333 Terrorizing 0 0 1 6 13 20 Theft 550 816 765 819 817 3,767 Threats 65 152 189 187 210 803 Tobacco Violation 0 1 14 36 52 103 Traffic Control 6 41 36 39 23 145 Traffic Hazard 38 63 99 96 44 340 Traffic Lights 0 0 0 0 7 7 Traffic Stop 2,312 8,671 4,463 6,411 5,459 27,316 Trespassing 39 117 123 118 184 581 Unattended Death 7 23 38 31 38 137 Unruly Child 32 109 102 166 209 618
Calls for Service
Annual Report 2019 25 Vandalism 140 242 196 248 250 1,076 Vehicle Break-In 0 0 20 76 69 165 Vehicle Check 0 217 451 516 498 1,682 Violation of Restraining 28 79 91 93 76 367 Wandering Child 15 30 62 47 41 195 Wanted Person 200 740 646 741 820 3,147 Weather 1 2 0 0 1 4 Welfare Check 317 653 816 926 1,257 3,969 Totals 10,158 27,878 27,165 34,504 36,633 136,338 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Calls for Service
Annual Report 2019 26
Northwest Narcotics Task Force
Annual Report 2019 27
Northwest Narcotics Task Force Ryan Chaffee, 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 Sheriffs Office, McKenzie County Sheriffs Office, and Divide County Sheriffs Office along with the Williston Police Department.
The NWNTF consisted of agents who cover Williams County, Williston, McKenzie County, Watford City, and Divide County. During the year of2019 the NWNTF members consisted of three task force agent's assigned from participating agencies, one US Border Patrol agent, and three North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation Special Agents (1 currently assigned as the Task Force Coordinator).
Williston Police Department as well as Williams and McKenzie County agreed to employ a full time Administrative Assistant/Intel Analyst. The intel analyst position is key to the operation of the NWNTF. During the calendar year of 2019, the intel analyst assisted numerous separate agencies not including the NWNTF with a variety of intelligence information requests. Our intel analyst has provided a resource that relieves the task force officers from having to spend a lot of time in the office and more time in the field. The intel analyst has also been working with others throughout the state to further the mission.
Over the last few years, The NWNTF has experienced personnel changes from Task Force Coordinators to Task Force Officers. The NWNTF primarily focuses on issues related directly to the communities the NWNTF serves but when investigations stretch out to the neighboring communities, the NWNTF is always willing to share information and try and combat the influx of drugs that are frequently brought within their jurisdiction.
The NWNTF is also committed to providing assistance to the Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA) 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 MHA DE, 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 MandanHidatsa-Arikara 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.
Annual Report 2019 28
The 2019 Statistics are as follows:
Meth purchased/seized: .........................2,925.98 grams (Approx. 6.5 pounds) Street Value (APPROX. $100/GRAM)= $292,598
* In 2018 the total amount seized was 2310.86
Marijuana purchased/seized: 45,005.42 grams (Approx. 99.2 pounds) Street Value (APPROX. $10/GRAM) = $450,054
*In 2018 the total amount seized was 11,164.83
Marijuana Plants: .................................1 plant
Hash/Wax/BHO: ....................................3,445.1 grams (Approx. 7.6 pounds) Street Value (APPROX. $80/GRAM) = $275,608
* In 2018 the total amount seized was 5,571.1
Psilocybin ( Mushrooms): ......................
14.2 grams Street Value (APPROX. $8/GRAM) = ....$114
Heroin: ...................................................
114.9 grams (Approx.. 3 pound) Street Value (APPROX. $400/GRAM) = $45,960
* In 2018 the total amount of Heroin seized was 247.75 grams
*It should be noted, heroin is often weighed in points A dose of heroin could be measured around 5 mg or 2 points 1 point is equal to 0.I grams.
Alprazolam (Xanax): ..............................
479 DU Street Value (APPROX. $30/PILL) = ..... $14,370
Hydrocodone/Oxycodone/Oxycotin:
521.5 DU Street Value (APPROX. $60/DU) = .......$31,290
Other Pills: Amphetamine, Clonazepam/Klonopin,Valium Street Value= .......................................... $15,240
Total approximate value of drugs seized = $1,125,234
Total number of cases to date in 2019: 217
Total number of Search Warrants to date: 69 (21 were Agency Assist Search Warrants)
Annual Report 2019 29
Total number of Arrests: 147
Arrests: ...................................................... 29 Total Firearms seized: 88
requests: 502
In addition to the illegal drugs and narcotics removed from the streets the NWNTF has also seized cash and assets, to include vehicles and firearms, all used or derived from the sale/transport of narcotics.
The NWNTF have always been available and utilized by the member agencies to transport non-drug evidence, assist with non-drug related undercover operations and investigations, execution of search warrants, etc.
The NWNTF conducted nine (9) presentations throughout the year for local schools, landlords and apartment managers, realtors, emergency service providers, and local schools. The requests for presentations are on the rise which is a trend we strive for and hope will continue.
Special Agent Ryan Chaffee ND Bureau of Criminal Investigations Northwest Narcotics Task Force Coordinator
Annual Report 2019 30
Misdemeanor
Traffic
Warrant
Intel
Felony Arrests: 82
Arrests: ............................. 32
Arrests: ........................................ 0
Williams County S. W. A. T. Team
Annual Report 2019 31
Williams County S.W.A.T. Team
Hugh Benzen, CommanderThe 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, five team leaders, fourteen operators, four designated marksmen, and four tactical medics.
Since 2018, the North Dakota Peace Officers Association Special Operations Committee has recognized the Williams County SWAT Team as a regional team. The team covers a four-county area consisting of Williams County, Divide County, McKenzie County, and Burke County.
For the year, the Williams County SWAT Team served six high-risk warrants, responded to seven active barricades, assisted other law enforcement with three moderate-risk search warrants, and conducted one other high-risk operation. The team was called 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, and skilled tactical team that is a resource to the communities it serves for the successful resolution of critical incidents.
Annual Report 2019 32
Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team
Annual Report 2019 33
Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team
Caleb Fry, 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.
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 2019 the team focused on training, both as a team, and attended trainings put on by other agencies. The team responded to 10 incidents in 2019, one in rural Montana and one in Watford City, ND. The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office consulted with the NWCNT on a call in their jurisdiction.
Warm regards, Northwest Crisis Negotiations Team
Annual Report 2019
Officer of the Year Employee of the Year
Patrol Officer
Jason Barten
Began employment on January 8, 2013
RecordsAdministrator
Chelsea Fossen
Began employment on November 5, 2012
