WEST FARGO (KFGO) – The West Fargo Police Department says it’s properly staffed to handle the needs of the community. The department currently has 80 officers to serve the city’s roughly 40,000 residents. Down just three from what they’re authorized. Captain Cody Beilke says a key part of keeping the department staffed has been its partnership with Lake Region State College, which runs a 14-week police academy out of the West Fargo Police Department.
“We have hired several officers every year out of that academy at the end of it, it’s also nice obviously that it’s run out of our building, our police department. Because then we can get a look at the applicants and the recruits that are going through the academy and, you know, ideally make your selections from there if there are people from that class you want to hire.” Beilke said.
Bielke also says the department is able to retain officers because of strong culture within the department and competitive compensation.
“West Fargo PD has just been fortunate to have a lot of good personnel in there, some good leaders, and it’s led to a very good culture,” Beilke said.
Beilke says the department has been fortunate to stay fully staffed over the past 10 years, and says it’s in a healthier position than other departments across the country.
“We have 83 sworn, so we still have, you know, people that will move on to other places. We’ve lost officers to several fed agencies lately, but those types of stuff happen.” Beilke said, “Like I said we’re down three officers, but out of 83 that’s not horrible and I think we’re doing better probably than most departments around than your average department in the United States today, I would say. Because we have been fortunate to stay pretty fully staffed consistently for the I would say ten years or so.”
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