Chief Denis Otterness Archives

West Fargo City Commission Votes To Promote Pete Nielsen to Police Chief

October 2, 2023

TJ Nelson,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — West Fargo has a new police chief. The full city commission on Monday night voted in favor of promoting Assistant Police Chief Pete Nielsen to the top job. He will replace Chief Denis Otterness who is retiring as of Friday, October 6. Otterness has been chief since 2020. Nielsen is a native of West Fargo…

West Fargo Police Chief announces his retirement

August 21, 2023

Alison Voorhees,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — West Fargo Police Department Chief Denis Otterness says he is retiring. Otterness was appointed as Chief of Police in September 2020. The chief retires with 33 years of law enforcement experience in a variety of agencies. He first got his start as a police officer with the Bloomington Police Department in 1998. His retirement takes…

West Fargo Man Arrested for Murder of Woman

August 10, 2023

TJ Nelson,

Spencer MoenWEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A West Fargo man, 31-year-old Spencer Moen, is arrested for murder. Officers responded to a medical emergency around 7:30 Thursday morning in the 1100 block of Eaglewood Avenue West. They arrived to find a woman dead inside the home. Evidence at the scene resulted in the arrest of Moen for murder. He is currently…

Officer Brown To Return To Duty Tonight, 3 Months After Cardiac Arrest

February 7, 2022

TJ Nelson,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — West Fargo Police Officer Tim Brown is back at work for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest three months ago. Brown is back in uniform tonight and ready to get to work at 9:30. Chief Denis Otterness calls it a miraculous recovery. Brown collapsed last November at the Cass County Jail while booking in…

Funeral arrangements set for fallen West Fargo Police Lieutenant

Lieutenant Gustafson's funeral will be held at Northview Church on 25th Street South in Fargo at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26th.

May 20, 2021

Aaron Walling,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –The West Fargo Police Department announces funeral plans for Lieutenant Adam Gustafson. “Adam always had a smile on his face, making everyone around him smile. He had a contagious laugh, a positive outgoing attitude and was willing to help anyone and go out of his way to do anything no matter what,” West Fargo Police Chief…