FARGO (KFGO) – Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner has fired a deputy sheriff who had been placed on administrative leave.
Tyler Gibson was fired for his conduct at the scene of a collision in south Fargo in early May and earlier interactions during traffic stops.
In the case that led to Gibson’s termination, another deputy who lives in the neighborhood briefly chased a car that had sped by his car as he was preparing to go on duty.
Gibson, in video provided to KFGO News through an open records request, ordered the passenger and driver out of the car when he got the scene.
The driver had run into another car near the intersection of 18th St. and 37th Ave. on May 5. Sheriff Jahner says Gibson violated department policies while en route to the scene.
In a separate video provided to KFGO News, Gibson was going 119mph on both 76th Avenue and 45th St. S. He received the call when he was in Horace.
Jahner decided to fire Gibson due to his history of escalating situations. On February 19, 2024, a citizen complained that Gibson had pointed a gun at their juvenile son during a traffic stop. An investigation into the incident revealed Gibson rushed towards the vehicle because the driver did not stop immediately. Jahner wrote in his decision, “Rushing the vehicle is what I believe caused Deputy Gibson’s approach and demeanor to escalate.”
A similar incident occurred on March 17, 2024. A citizen complained that Gibson escalated a traffic stop, and contacted the Sheriff’s Office because they didn’t think Jahner would want deputies to interact with citizens that way.
Jahner wrote in his decision that he personally coached Gibson after both instances, but Gibson’s behavior did not change. Jahner said due to this continued aggression, he felt that Gibson’s actions would “get himself, other officers, and our citizens hurt.”
Jahner ultimately decided to fire Gibson for “the safety of our citizens, our staff, and other law enforcement.”
Gibson’s attorney, Mark Friese, told KFGO News he believes Jahner had already decided to fire Gibson before the investigation started. He also called it a minor policy violation by an experienced officer. Friese added that Gibson would not appeal the decision.
Gibson joined the Cass County Sheriff’s Office last November. He had previously been an officer for almost a year in Valley City. He came to North Dakota to work for the Veteran’s Affairs Police Department in Fargo. He started in law enforcement as a jailer and sheriff’s deputy for a county in Virginia.
The man who caused the crash, Jens Tinjum, was given a suspended jail sentence and placed on probation in an agreement with prosecutors where he pleaded guilty to DUI and fleeing police. A reckless endangerment charge was dismissed.
KFGO News Reporter Joe Leier contributed to this story.
Comments