Local Police Department Improves Staffing Situation

It appears that things are looking up for law enforcement in Wolf Point.

Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak said the police department started to have four police officers at the end of last week. Background checks are also being conducted on other applicants.

“We’re a whole lot closer,” Dschaak said of being fully staffed.

The police department worked with just two officers at the start of the year and was then operating with three officers.

Dschaak said outside agencies have been helpful during the staff shortage.

Despite some talk in the community regarding Roosevelt County taking over law enforcement in Wolf Point, county and city officials both said no official conversations took place about such a proposal.

“I think it’s just a rumor,” Commissioner Gary Macdonald said. He added that Sheriff Jason Frederick hasn’t talked to commissioners about the idea.

Macdonald noted that the sheriff’s office is also not fully staffed.

Dschaak met with county and tribal law enforcement leaders at the end of 2023 to discuss the staff shortage. All the parties agreed to help patrol Wolf Point as much as their schedules allow.

At that meeting, Frederick discussed the law enforcement shortage throughout the state.

“We used to have 15-plus applicants. Now, it’s two or three,” the sheriff said at that time.