Interim police chief answers questions on why he should be top cop

FARGO (KVRR) — Fargo’s only remaining candidate for police chief made his case as to why he should be the new leader of the Fargo Police Department.

Interim Chief Travis Stefonowicz spoke at length, answering questions from a selection committee that includes Mayor Tim Mahoney, Commissioner John Strand, representatives from the Downtown Community Partnership, fire, and police.

The questions ranged from staff retention to future plans for the department and mental health, both for officers as well as the community at large.

One subject Stefonowicz often brought up was the importance of maintaining relationships between other agencies.

“I’ve already had this conversation with a couple of the chiefs and sheriffs of setting up a time, once a month, where we get together just to talk, whatever it is,” Stefonowicz said. “It might be personnel issues, it might just be what’s going on that they’re seeing from their perspective, either in their jurisdiction or portion. All of which that I spoke to where all very open minded about that.”

Stefonowicz joined the Fargo Police Department in May 2002 and was promoted to Assistant Chief in July 2021.

The city auditor will present their the preferred candidate to the city commission on Monday.