Fargo police cite errors in use of facial-recognition hits, tighten procedures after Angela Lips inquiry

Fargo Police Chief said the department has identified procedural errors tied to how a potential facial-recognition match surfaced during the investigation into Angela Lips, and announced a temporary directive and policy changes intended to limit future reliance on nonstate systems.

The chief told reporters the department "doesn't have any equipment that does facial-recognition artificial intelligence at the Fargo Police Department," and that the image linked to Ms. Lips first came from a West Fargo Police Department submission to a state-run center. "We certainly apologize for any effect or adverse effect that this has had on trust in the community," the chief said, acknowledging mistakes and promising further corrective steps.

Why it matters: Officials said West Fargo’s locally run AI system produced a potential hit that was forwarded to Fargo detectives; investigators mistakenly assumed surveillance photos from Fargo’s case had accompanied the submission, strengthening the perceived match. Fargo PD said the state-run North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center (ND SLIC) — not local systems — will be used going forward because ND SLIC is certified, audited and staffed by trained subject-matter experts.

Details of the changes: The chief said he issued an immediate temporary directive (dated March 20) that restricts facial-recognition submissions to members of the criminal investigation division, requires unit-commander review before submission, and mandates using bona fide state or federal intelligence centers for searches rather than third-party local systems. The department is also updating standard operating procedures, adding a facial-recognition policy into its existing general AI framework, and scheduling ND SLIC training for investigators and interested prosecutors from the Cass County state's attorney’s office.

Communication gaps and booking rosters: Officials described a separate problem: a delay in learning that Ms. Lips had been arrested in Tennessee and later held in Cass County custody. Because warrants issued locally list Cass County as the originating agency (ORI) in the NCIC system, Fargo PD said it does not automatically receive arrest notifications that would have alerted detectives earlier. The department has assigned Captain Christensen to begin daily reviews of booking rosters while it seeks a more direct notification method with county partners.

On evidence and prosecutions: The chief told reporters that ND SLIC returns "potential hits," not positive identifications, and that the agency receiving a hit must corroborate it with investigative work. Officials said AI returns were one factor among others, including social-media searches and ID comparisons, and that prosecutors and police are reassessing what constitutes sufficient probable cause when AI hits are involved.

Related cases and audits: Fargo PD said it audited other cases for similar use of nonstate systems and identified a pending case involving Noelle Broussard that lists AI among investigative leads; that matter remains under review. The internal audit found no other cases in which Fargo PD relied on third-party local facial-recognition systems.

Litigation and next steps: The mayor said the city has received preservation letters and is cooperating, but declined to discuss ongoing litigation. Both the chief and mayor said they will provide further updates as investigative steps finish; the chief said investigators are waiting on warrants and other returns that he expects will help determine whether Ms. Lips was involved. "If she is not involved in this in any way, we want nothing more than to be able to say that," the chief said.

The department’s immediate reforms include the temporary directive, SOP and policy updates, ND SLIC training, monthly unit-commander reporting on facial-recognition submissions, and ongoing audits of affected cases; officials said those steps are intended to restore community trust while the investigation continues.