About the Police Department

Welcome to the Moorhead Police Department. Our mission is simple: to serve the Moorhead community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion.

We are a team of 63 sworn officers and 19 civilian staff, working around the clock to keep our city safe. Each year, we respond to more than 30,000 calls for service and partner with local, state, and federal agencies to prevent and solve crime.

Beyond patrol and investigations, our civilian staff and volunteers play a vital role in records, evidence, parking enforcement, animal control, and community programs. Through initiatives like our Cadet Program and Police Volunteers, we engage citizens and future officers in meaningful ways.

Training, technology, and wellness are priorities for us, ensuring our team is prepared and supported. Strong partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and neighboring agencies help us deliver on our mission every day.

This is just a glimpse of what we do. Explore our website to learn more about our services, programs, and how we work together to make Moorhead a safe and welcoming community.

Thank you for visiting.

Chris Helmick, Chief of Police

Contact Chief Helmick

Chief Chris Helmick began serving as the Chief of Police for the Moorhead Police Department in April 2025. He brought with him more than 23 years of experience from the Fargo, North Dakota Police Department (FPD), where he began his career in 2001 and rose through the ranks to Captain.

During his tenure with FPD, Chief Helmick held several key leadership roles, including commander of the Professional Standards Division, as well as the Neighborhood Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions. He played a pivotal role in numerous department initiatives, including the advancement of the Police Training Officer program, the creation of the department’s mobile phone program, the strategic restructuring of patrol beats to better match call volume and staffing, the implementation of airport police operations, and the establishment of Fargo PD’s first Crowd Management Team.

Chief Helmick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session 285). He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the FBI National Academy Associates.

A longtime Moorhead resident, Chief Helmick is proud to serve the community he and his family call home.

Assistant Chief Bill Ahlfeldt began his career with the Moorhead Police Department in August of 2025.  He brought with him over 23 year of experience with the Fargo Police Department where he began his career in 2001 and rose through the ranks to the rank of Captain.

During his time at the Fargo Police Department Assistant Chief Ahlfeldt held several supervisors positions to include Patrol Sergeant, Sergeant of the Office of Professional Standards, Patrol Lieutenant, Specialized Services Unit Lieutenant, and Commander of the Criminal investigations Division.  Assistant Chief Ahlfeldt played a pivotal role in the creation of the Fargo Police Department’s Community Trust Officer Program, the implementation of the Fargo Police Department’s Gun Crime Intelligence Center, the implementation of the Fargo Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, and was a member of the Fargo Police Department’s Peer Support team for over 20 years.

Assistant Chief Ahlfeldt was also a member of the Red River Valley SWAT Team where he rose through the ranks of the team to team commander.  Assistant Chief Ahlfeldt participated in hundreds of SWAT team activations and is the longest serving team member and commander in the team’s history.

Assistant Chief Ahlfeldt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from North Dakota State University in Political Science and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command (Class 398).  Ahlfeldt is a member of the International Association of Chief’s of Police.

Ahlfeldt is proud to be part of the Moorhead Police Department and is excited to serve the Moorhead community.

Captain J. Laddie Bata started as a Police Officer with the Moorhead Police Department in September of 2015. Before working for the MPD, he served with the Owatonna Police Department for six years. During his time in law enforcement, he has served as a Field Training Officer, Crime Scene Technician, Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor, Narcotics Detective, SWAT Operator, Patrol Sergeant, and Patrol Lieutenant.  

Captain Bata also served in military is various capacities.  He first enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 2001, then commissioned into the US Army where he served in the 10th Mountain Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment.  After coming back to Minnesota to start his law enforcement career, he rejoined the military with the Minnesota Army National Guard.  Laddie retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in May of 2024.  

Captain Bata holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the Minnesota State University – Mankato, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota.  Captain Bata originates from rural Adams, North Dakota, but he and his family have gladly called Moorhead their home since 2015.  

Lieutenant Mike Detloff graduated from Minnesota State University – Moorhead with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.  He has been with the Moorhead Police Department since October of 1995.

Lt. Detloff was a K9 Officer for six years with his K9 partner Rowdy.  He also spent three years as a general investigator and became the first sworn officer from Minnesota to be trained by the United States Secret Service on a five week computer forensics course in Hoover, Alabama.  Detloff was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in July of 2008 and then again to Lieutenant in 2012.  He spent 10 years on the Crisis Negotiator team for the Red River Valley SWAT team and 12 years on the Moorhead Police Department Honor Guard Team.  Lt. Detloff is currently the Lieutenant in charge of the Investigations Division.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to maintain peace and order through the provision of police services that are of the highest quality and responsive to the needs of the community. We will contribute to the safety and security of the community by apprehending those who commit criminal acts, by developing partnerships to prevent, reduce or eliminate neighborhood problems, and by providing police services that are fair, unbiased, judicious, and respectful of the dignity of all individuals.

Vision Statement
We, the members of the City of Moorhead Police Department, are committed to working together in a problem-solving partnership with the community to prevent crime and improve the quality of life for all.

• Safety - The protection of human life is our highest priority.
• Cooperation - We are committed to working cooperatively with the community and each other by encouraging open communication and active participation to achieve our mutual goals.
• Fairness - We strive to resolve conflict through impartial enforcement of the law. Everyone shall be treated equitably and compassionately.
• Crime Prevention - We will work in a partnership with the community through positive role modeling and education.
• Diversity - We appreciate one another's differences and recognize that our unique skills, knowledge, abilities and backgrounds bring strength and caring to our community.
• Professionalism - Our success depends on the trust and confidence of the community. We shall engage in respectful behavior that reflects the honesty and integrity of police professionals.

The City of Moorhead was founded in 1871 when the Northern Pacific Railway reached Clay County on its way to the Pacific Ocean. Law enforcement began on March 24, 1875, with town marshals keeping the peace. The first town marshal, Chas. Jungroth, earned $43 per month for his service.

On March 22, 1881, the Moorhead Police Department was officially established, marking the beginning of organized policing in the city. The department grew steadily, adapting to the needs of a developing community. By 1888, the force had expanded to eight officers, and today, the department proudly serves with 63 sworn officers dedicated to public safety.

As Moorhead and its neighbor Fargo grew, so did the challenges of law enforcement. When North Dakota became a state in 1889 and prohibited alcohol sales, Moorhead became a hub for establishments and the activity that accompanied them, requiring a strong and responsive police presence.

The department’s first location was at Center Avenue and 4th Street, where the Moorhead Center Mall previously stood. Today, the Moorhead Police Department operates from the Law Enforcement Center at 911 11th Street North, which it shares with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The Police Department has lost three officers in the line of duty. Their biographies and stories can be viewed on the Officer Down Memorial Site.

Officer Peter Poull, Jr. [EOW 1888]
Officer Poull was shot and killed by a murder suspect while assisting two other officers taken hostage at gunpoint at 8 Street and Center Avenue, where Wells Fargo now stands. The suspect was convicted and executed on September 20, 1889.

Officer Alexander "Sandy" McClean [EOW 1899]
Struck by falling debris while clearing people away from a house fire in what is now Viking Ship Park, north of the Hjemkomst Center.

Officer Roy Larson [EOW 1930]
Shot and killed by Ray Liggett, a bank robber who fled from Fargo Police. Larson cornered the suspect near the coal shed of the Interior Lumber Company after several shoot outs with other officers. The suspect was arrested and sentenced to life.