By: Sydney Zatz
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Fargo police officer who survived a deadly ambush in July 2023 has returned to fulfill his longtime dream of becoming a school resource officer at Davies High School.
Officer Andrew Dotas, a nine-year veteran of the Fargo Police Department, returned to the line of duty in February and now walks the halls of Davies High School as the school’s new resource officer.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to be,” Dotas said.
“Ultimately, most people when they get into law enforcement, don’t get in to become an SRO because it’s very different roles. However, I’m one of the few that I knew this was something I wanted to do when I got in.”
Dotas said he has a draw toward impacting kids and youth. He had started the process to become a school resource officer in March of 2023 and was close to achieving that goal when the July 14, 2023 deadly ambush on police halted those plans.
“I was already doing it prior to the shooting, I actually had the key to the school in my pocket when the shooting took place,” Dotas said.
“It’s just kind of a constant reminder of ‘Yup, this is something I wanted to come back to.’ And at least have some sort of impact as well.”
Building relationships with students
Now in his role at Davies High School, Dotas focuses on building relationships with students and creating a space where they feel safe and can be themselves.
