FARGO-MOORHEAD – There are several positions to be filled in law enforcement in Fargo-Moorhead.
Moorhead Police Chief Chris Helmick says his department has 14 openings for officers and 13 offers have been given to candidates. He adds there are six people in the department’s Field Training Academy. Moorhead Police’s Cadet Program also offers people enrolled in college to train with the department part-time. The state of Minnesota also has the Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training Program which gives people in other career fields with college degrees scholarships to transition to law enforcement.
“We are anticipating we’re still going to be short in the summer, probably into the fall. We feel we’re on the right track,” Helmick said.
Helmick said Fargo Police paid him to go to the police academy when he transitioned from another career field and said he probably wouldn’t have been able to go if not for that opportunity.
Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner says his office has 17 openings, mostly for jail staff, which he says is a good opportunity for people to begin a career in law enforcement.
“That’s been a struggle because not everyone goes into law enforcement wanting to work as a correctional officer. With our new jail pod opening, we were already short and then add on an additional 30 positions that we needed to hire,” Jahner said.
West Fargo Police Chief Pete Nielsen says his department is fully staffed.
Helmick, Jahner and Nielsen appeared on The Chamber Link on WDAY Radio which airs every Tuesday morning at 11:00. Click here to listen to their full conversation.
