Ternes: Police Dept. Is Understaffed

Fargo's police chief says he'll ask for more officers in the city's next budget as calls for service continue to rise, hitting an all-time high last year.

 

 

 

 

Fargo's police chief says he'll ask for more officers in the city's next budget as calls for service continue to rise, hitting an all-time high last year.

Chief Keith Ternes says the department is slightly understaffed with 145 sworn officers, about 90 to 95 of whom are assigned to patrol.

Ternes says there was a stretch last year in which nearly 15 patrol officers were out because of injury, family medical leave or other factors.

He says the city needs no less than 150 police officers to adequately police the city.

The department received 55,584 calls for service in 2012, up more than 4,000 from 2011.

 

Don Haney

   

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