FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – Fargo’s mayor and police chief want to reassure the public Fargo is still a safe city.
The comments at Monday night’s city commission meeting were in response to a newspaper editorial that raised questions about violent crime, focusing on the June 7 fatal shooting of a well-known food truck vendor on the north end of downtown. The Forum editorial wrote the city is turning into a “Deadwood” and less like “Mayberry” and that the city must “confront the seamy, dark side of growth.”
Mayor Tim Mahoney and Police Chief Dave Todd said they are doing that and additional steps are being taken by police to increase safety. Mahoney acknowledged that recent crimes in the city, which he says are rare, “are jolting our close-knit metro.” He wanted to reassure everyone that the safety of those who live in Fargo and those who visit that every area of the city, including downtown, “is the highest priority of the city commission.”
Chief Todd said his department is using more foot patrols in the downtown area because that person-to-person contact and visibility are important. Police are also using a grant to pay for putting additional officers out on the street during bar closings downtown. Police are also doing panhandling stings and plan more.
Two suspects were arrested and charged with murder in the killing of Jason Halvorson who was shot next to his food truck in the parking lot of a former service station at the corner of 6th Avenue and 4th Street North.
Mahoney also said that a rundown building will be demolished later this year by the owner, Kilbourne Group, for future development.
