The West Fargo Police Department employs 33 sworn officers, 10 civilian staff, and 5 volunteers.  The Red River Regional Dispatch Center serves as the emergency communications center.  Below you will find a flowchart to navigate the categories.

by Paul Harvey

A policeman is a composite of what all men are I guess, a mingling of saint and sinner, dust and diety. Culled statistics wave the banners over stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are news. What that really means is that they are exceptional, they are unusual, they are not commonplace. Buried under the froth are the facts and the fact is les that one-half of one percent misfit that uniform and that is a better percentage than what you'd find among clergymen.

What is a policeman? He of all me is at once the most needed and the most wanted; a strangely nameless creature who is "Sir" to his face, "pig" or worse behind his back. He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences among individuals so that each will think he won. If a policeman is neat, he's conceited. If he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's a flirt. If he's not, he's a grouch. He must make instant decisions that would require months for a lawyer. But if he hurries, he's careless -if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with a diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or, he must expect to be sued. The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run and hit where it doesn't hurt.

He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without soiling his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward - if he hits you, he's a bully. A policeman must know everything and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake. The policeman must, from a single human hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon, the criminal, and tell you where the criminal is hiding. But if he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce.

If he gets promoted, he has political pull. If he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase bum leads to dead ends, stakeout 10 nights to tag one witness who saw it happen but refuses to remember. He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against some felon who'd get dealed out by a shameless shamus or an honorable who isn't honorable. The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy, and, of course, a genius, for he has to feed a family on a policeman's salary.

(Paul Harvey's own father was a policeman, who was killed by a bootlegger on Christmas Eve when Paul was a little boy.)

What is a police officer made of? He or she, is at the same time the most needed and yet the most unwanted...a strangely nameless creature who is "officer" to their face and "pig" behind their back.

They suffer from an overdose of publicity about brutality and dishonesty. They suffer far more from the notoriety produced by the unfounded charges. Too often, acts of heroism go unnoticed and the truth is buried under all the criticism.

The fact is that less then one half of one percent of police officers ever discredit their uniform. That’s a better average than you will find among clergymen.

A police officer is an ordinary man or woman who is called upon for extra ordinary bravery. Their job may sometimes seem routine, but the interruptions can be moments of stark terror.

They are the ones who face a half crazed gunman, who rescues a lost child, who challenges a mob and who risks his or her neck more often than we realize. They deserve our respect and profound thanks.

A police officer must be such a diplomat that he or she can settle differences between individuals so that each person will think we won. But if the police officer is neat, they are conceited. If they are careless, their a bum. If they are pleasant, their a flirt. If their not, their a grouch.

In an instant, they must make decisions which require months for a lawyer. But if they are in a hurry, they are careless. If they take their time, they are lazy.

They must be first to an accident, infallible with a diagnosis. They must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints, and above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp, or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn’t hurt.

They must be able to whip two men their size and half their age, without damaging their uniform and without being brutal. If you hit them, they are cowards. If he hits you, he’s a bully.

A police officer must know everything and not tell. They must know where all the sin is and not partake.

The police officer must, from a single human hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon, and the criminal, and tell you where the criminal is hiding. But if they catch the criminal, they are lucky. If they don't, their a dunce.

If they get promoted, they had political pull. If they don't, their a dullard.

The police officer must chase bum leads to a dead end and stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen, but refuses to remember.

They run files and writes reports until their eyes ache, to build a case against a felon who will be let off the hook by his lawyer or an honorable who isn’t so honorable.

A police officer is a protector in time of need and a comforter in time of sorrow. Their job calls for them to be a minister, a psychologist, a diplomat, a tough guy, a friend, and an inspiration. And, of course, they will have to be a genius, for they will have to feed a family on a police officers salary.