President Bush's request for a possible 20,000 more troops in Iraq was not welcome news for Fargo city officials, specifically for Police Chief Keith Ternes.
He asked city commissioners Thursday for immediate aid for the city's police force.
Fargo police are operating with 12 vacant positions. Half are due to officers being called to military service. Other issues, such as employee turnover, retirement and leave, also have affected employment.
Ternes told city commissioners in a letter that he would need to hire four more officers to operate at a sufficient staff level.
The addition would not require a budget increase because a portion of the department's budget isn't being used on salaries of officers on military duty, Ternes said.
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This is not the first time the problem has plagued Fargo police. In August 2006, Ternes submitted a request to hire four officers.
Even with the new hires, the problem has resurfaced.
Ternes said in the letter that the force is in "basically the same staffing dilemma ... with no immediate relief in sight."
Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker on Thursday assured his 100 percent support for Ternes and the police department,
"He knows my door is always open," Walaker said. "We have what I would consider an excellent relationship."
However, the threat of losing more officers to active duty is very serious to Ternes.
"If the phone rings today and they need three, four or five more officers, we will have no other choice than to seriously consider cutting some programs," Ternes said.
Some cuts already have been made.
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"Our investigation staff operates with not nearly enough personnel, and I'm discouraged by all issues regarding methamphetamine trafficking. These issues have not declined due to lack of officers."
Ternes reached out to North Dakota congressmen and senators to ask for aid in keeping the police department staffed. Meanwhile, Walaker promises city support.
"We'll do what we can to assist them," he said. "I think everyone in the nation will be happy when the Iraq war is over."
