Downtown Fargo
FARGO (KFGO) – The pandemic is affecting how local law enforcement officers deal with misdemeanor offenders. In certain cases, Fargo police have been asked to avoid arresting low level offenders to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the Cass County Jail.
The request was made by Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner.
“We have asked on a few different occasions, if it’s possible on some of the individuals they come across, if they have charges that aren’t a safety risk to the public, if they would be able to maybe release those persons on their own personal recognizance” Jahner said.
Fargo Interim Police Chief Ross Renner says many of those cases involve homeless people in the downtown area.
“The pandemic has caused some issues as far as being able to make physical arrests for disorderly behavior and things like that. We’re ending up having to cite and release, which is not a whole lot of deterrence. It doesn’t stop the behavior for that day at all” Renner said.
Fargo police and the Downtown Community Partnership are working on a pilot project to discourage people from congregating. Renner says some downtown city benches are being moved out. Renner says the benches can become a place for large groups to gather, which may require police to respond.
Renner also says discussions are under way that could lead to changes in how the city addresses problems such as fighting and drinking in public.
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