The city of Thompson is poised to establish a policing arrangement with the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, pending approval from the Thompson City Council on January 5, 2024. This potential contract comes in the wake of the departure of former police chief David Kurtz, who transitioned to the University of North Dakota Police Department in October 2023. Mayor Jeremy Hughes indicated that the city began exploring alternative policing options following this leadership change.
Hughes emphasized the benefits of partnering with the sheriff’s office, stating that it would provide broader coverage and enhanced access to resources in case of emergencies. “Going with the county just gives us more widespread coverage, more access to, obviously, the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office and those kinds of things in case some things come up where we need them,” Hughes explained.
If the contract is ratified, the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office will assign a deputy specifically to patrol the city of Thompson. The Grand Forks County Commission had previously approved the exploration of this contract during a meeting on December 16, 2023. The proposed agreement mirrors existing contracts between the sheriff’s office and the cities of Larimore and Northwood, where deputies focus solely on those communities.
Sheriff Andy Schneider clarified the operational framework, saying, “Those deputies are responsible only for those cities,” meaning they typically do not respond to calls outside their assigned jurisdictions. Although deputies may occasionally assist in other areas if necessary, their primary responsibility remains within the contracted city limits.
In terms of training, the sheriff’s office would handle the preparation for the new deputy, while all associated costs would be borne by the city of Thompson. Hughes noted that the idea to contract with the sheriff’s office stemmed from discussions with other communities that have successfully partnered with the county for policing services.
A significant advantage of this arrangement is the ability for the deputy to enforce municipal ordinances, an area generally outside the sheriff’s office’s jurisdiction. Schneider pointed out that without a dedicated officer, city-specific laws—such as leash laws—would not be enforced, as these are not part of state law. “If they have a leash law … a deputy can’t go down there and write a ticket for you not having your dog on a leash because that’s not a state-centric code — that’s a city law,” he explained.
Hughes echoed Schneider’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of ordinance enforcement. “Having ordinance coverage would be a huge benefit to Thompson,” he stated. The mayor expressed optimism about forming a partnership with the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, anticipating positive outcomes for the community. “We’re just looking forward to a new connection and another partner that we’ll work together with,” Hughes added, “hopefully for the betterment of Thompson.”
As the January 5 vote approaches, the city remains focused on enhancing public safety through this potential collaboration.
