Five Moorhead Police Officers sworn in on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
MOORHEAD (KFGO) – The Moorhead Police Department is almost fully staffed after five officers were sworn in at the City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 8.
Police Chief Chris Helmick says 19 officers have been sworn in since August, which is about one-third of the department staff.
The new officers completed their initial licensing requirements and took the oath of office on Monday. Helmick says the department still has a few more openings.
“We’re not done yet, right now we’ve got three additional openings. So anyone who’s looking to get on with our department, you better hurry up and get in because they’re filling up fast,” Helmick said. “We’ve got a couple of retirements coming up in 2026, but even with that we’re very confident that this trend is going to continue.”
Helmick says the new recruits are strong team members and the veteran officers have been working hard through staffing shortages.
“I really couldn’t be prouder of the new officers we’re bringing on board as well as the veteran officers who’ve really been resilient through the entire time of staffing shortages, not just this year, but in the last couple of years. So my hat’s off to all of them as well because they have definitely played a big role in this.”
Helmick also introduced Katie Ettish as Moorhead’s new Public Safety Communications Specialist. Ettish, who resigned from the City of Fargo in August, will serve both the Police and Fire Departments through media relations, social media, and improving communication with the public.
Five new police officers sworn in at Moorhead City Council on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
New Moorhead Police Department Staff
Officer Brock Wakefield is originally from Buffalo, Minnesota. He graduated from Buffalo High
School in 2023 and went on to attend Alexandria Technical and Community College, where he
completed the law enforcement program in 2025. Following graduation, he joined the National
Guard and completed One Station Unit Training (OSTU) as an infantryman in October of this year.
Outside of work, Officer Wakefield enjoys playing guitar, practicing Jiu Jitsu, and weightlifting.
Officer Sam Larson comes to us from Fargo, North Dakota. After graduating from Fargo South High
School, he enrolled in the two-year police education and training program at Alexandria Technical
and Community College. In November 2023, he joined the Minnesota Army National Guard, where
he serves as a Cavalry Scout. In his free time, Officer Larson enjoys spending time with his friends
and girlfriend, going on walks, and relaxing at the lake during the summer.
Officer Martin McClain-Hayes is a native of Bemidji, Minnesota. He holds degrees from Bemidji
State University and M State Moorhead. Before entering law enforcement, he spent over 16 years
in the food and beverage industry, working in roles ranging from bartending and retail
management to sales and wholesale operations. Most recently, he served as a patrol officer in
Dilworth, Minnesota, where he also became a certified Strategy and Tactics on Redirecting
Movement (STORM) defensive tactics trainer and building clearing tactics instructor. Officer
McClain-Hayes enjoys playing guitar, soccer, snowboarding, hiking, and camping.
Officer Stephanie Nolasco was born and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas, and moved to Fargo in
December 2019 to attend North Dakota State University. While pursuing her education, she
worked as a CNA at Moorhead Rehabilitation Center until its closure in 2024, after which she
continued her work in healthcare at The Meadows on University in Fargo. In her spare time, Officer
Nolasco enjoys watching documentaries and YouTube videos, reading, and spending time with her
family.
Officer Meshach K. Adablah was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia, and moved to the United
States with his mother in 2016. He earned his associate degree in social work from the Community
College of Rhode Island in 2021. After relocating to Fargo, he began his law enforcement career
with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, working in corrections. Officer Adablah is passionate about
building a meaningful career in law enforcement. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with
family, watching movies, fixing cars, and listening to music.
Katie Ettish joined the City of Moorhead as its first Public Safety Communications Coordinator,
supporting both the Police and Fire Departments. With more than 16 years of experience in public
service and communications, she’s passionate about building trust between local government and
the community. Katie previously worked for the West Fargo Park District and the City of Fargo,
where she collaborated closely with the Fargo Police Department. Most recently, she worked in
the private sector before returning to her roots in government communications. A longtime Fargo
resident, she enjoys spending time with her two children and looks forward to connecting with
the Moorhead community.
Comments