Fargo Police report bigger downtown patrol presence, camping ordinance enforcement and staffing shortfalls

Fargo police told the Police Advisory and Oversight Board on May 8 that downtown patrols and technology investments have strengthened enforcement, but staffing shortfalls remain a central challenge.

Officer Mosher of the Fargo Police Department reported the Community Engagement Team is back up to eight full officers after a period of reduced staffing. Mosher said officers and partners have focused on downtown disorder and business concerns and that a recent meeting with downtown business owners organized with the Downtown Community Partnership was well received.

The city’s camping ordinance went into effect May 1 making camping on public land illegal. Mosher said officers contacted two camps on May 1, leading to arrests tied to outstanding warrants and citations under the camping ordinance; on May 2, public works and Fargo City Parks assisted officers in cleaning up about six campsites. "On May 1, the full ordinance went into effect where camping on public land became illegal," Mosher said.

Police leaders described how technology is being used to prevent and solve crime. The department has expanded its real-time crime center and a citywide FLAC camera system, which staff said has helped officers identify incidents and direct units to make arrests in real time. The chief said the camera and analytics tools have allowed the department to prevent incidents during large events and to match ballistic evidence through national systems.

At the same time, the department said it remains understaffed. The chief reported Fargo has about 1.4 sworn officers per 1,000 residents, a figure the department wants to increase to 1.6 per 1,000; he said reaching that level would require roughly 28 additional sworn positions. "To get to the 1.6, we need about 28 more sworn positions," the chief said.

Police leaders said the recently approved public-safety sales tax should help cover additional staffing over multiple budget cycles but emphasized hiring and sustaining middle-management and supervisory positions are essential to effective growth. The chief said North Dakota statutory limits also constrain some enforcement options: per North Dakota Century Code, officers cannot make arrests for most misdemeanors unless certain conditions apply, making camera-backed arrests by sworn officers particularly valuable.

Other highlights in the report included a 6.8% overall decrease in crime citywide from the prior year, a persistent rise in motor vehicle theft and shoplifting as high-volume crimes, improved clearance rates for sexual-assault investigations after dedicated investigative resources, continued work on a lethality-assessment program for domestic-violence cases, and wellness and reintegration programs for officers.

Traffic-safety work and recent legislation were also discussed. The department praised a new state law, House Bill 1229, that creates owner liability in fleeing-vehicle cases; the chief said that law should take effect Aug. 1 and help investigators identify drivers when vehicles flee traffic stops.

No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting; the report served as an update. Police said they will continue downtown patrols, coordinate campsite cleanups with public works and parks, pursue technology-enabled enforcement, and advance hiring plans through the budget process.