2019 West Fargo Police Department Annual Report 

Interim Police Chief Jerry Boyer presented the West Fargo Police Department’s 2019 annual report during last night’s West Fargo City Commission meeting. The report, which covers the accomplishments, crime statistics and general state of the department from the past year, will demonstrate the department’s success in applying data analysis and relationship-building strategies to lower crime in the community. In 2019, the West Fargo Police Department was named the ‘Safest City in North Dakota’ for the second year in a row. This honor was underscored by the statistics included in the report, which shows a decrease in personal crimes and drug crimes within the city even though the number of calls for service increased. “It is not normal for a city with the exponential growth that West Fargo has seen to have crime rates decreasing. This is a testament to the continued partnership between our residents and our police department,” said former Chief Heith Janke, who coordinated the report before returning to the FBI in 2020. There were many more accomplishments the West Fargo Police Department had in 2019. One of those accomplishments was the development of partnerships between the community and the police department with the addition of the cultural liaison officer position. Officer Ryan

Feltman, who filled this new position, was focused on building relationships and assisting the New American population in the city. This new position included coordinating swimming lessons and hosting two major community events to help educate and build relationships with thousands of community members who may not have previously trusted the department in a time of need. The 2019 report also showcases the department’s commitment to task forces within the community to address crime on a metro-level. “In a connected metro like ours, crime knows no boundary,” said interim Chief Jerry Boyer. “That’s why our continued participation in the Metro Area Street Crimes Unit and other initiatives are so important.” The department dedicated the 2019 annual report in remembrance of Landon Solberg, Grantley Johnson and Myles Allen, who courageously battled cancer and lost their fight. These three are an inspiration to the West Fargo Police Department.