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West Fargo police and fire chiefs present 2024 annual reports; crime down while service demand rises
Summary
Police Chief Pete Nielsen and Fire Chief Dan Fuller presented their 2024 annual reports: police reported a 6% decrease in overall crime and 32,000 calls for service, while the fire department reported six lives saved, several hundred CHa referrals and other operational metrics.
At the April 21 West Fargo City Commission meeting the city’s police and fire chiefs presented their 2024 annual reports, highlighting falling crime rates alongside growing demand for emergency and community services.
Police Chief Pete Nielsen reported a 6% decrease in overall crime compared with 2023 and a 16% decrease in crimes against persons. The department responded to more than 32,000 calls for service in 2024 — the highest total the agency has recorded — which Nielsen said represents about a 15% increase in calls since 2021. Nielsen told commissioners the department is adapting to higher demand through training partnerships, community outreach and new tools, including the Lake Region State College Peace Officer Program (which graduated 17 students last year), placement of a school “comfort dog” K9 Clover, and rollout of the Flock Safety camera system.
“Despite the decrease in overall crime, the department has responded to over 32,000 calls for service in 2024,” Chief Nielsen said, noting the increase reflects community growth and higher service expectations.
Fire Chief Dan Fuller highlighted the West Fargo Fire Department’s 2024 outcomes, saying crews directly contributed to saving six lives and safeguarding millions of dollars in property. He reported 2,783 calls for service and 3,650 total company responses for the year; the department maintained a daily staffing model of 11 firefighters per shift. Fuller also described the Community Health Alliance referrals: 366 referrals in 2024 that resulted in 192 patient assessments, efforts intended to reduce nonemergency 911 demand. Fuller noted the department is a candidate for accreditation, has a canine investigative team (Mika and handler John Neeb) that logged 49 deployments and roughly 300 training hours in 2024, and that the department achieved Gold Helmet status for participation in the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer.
Commissioners did not take action on the reports; both chiefs stood for questions and highlighted continuing programs that address community safety and outreach.
