Capt. Chris Helmick Fargo Police Department

The city of Moorhead is offering the top job in its police department to Fargo Capt. Chris Helmick.
City manager Dan Mahli told the Moorhead City Council Monday of the pending job offer. It follows what he called a months-long “robust recruitment process” to find the replacement for Chief Shannon Monroe, who retires next month.
Helmick joined the Fargo department in 2001. He currently leads its professional standards division. The captain previously oversaw criminal investigations and neighborhood services. A 1995 graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2023.
If the city’s offer is accepted, Helmick’s appointment will come up for the council’s approval in March.
Four finalists for the chief’s position were announced late last week. In addition to Helmick, they included Moorhead Patrol Lt. John “Laddie” Bata; Minneapolis Metro Transit Police Capt. Erin Dietz; and Aurora, Colorado, Police Commander Matthew Brukbacher.
Retirement of Moorhead department’s two top officers launched the search for replacements late last year. Both officers have spent their entire careers with the city, Monroe after 31 years and Deputy Chief Tory Jacobson after 34. Both were named to their current positions in 2018. Jacobson’s last day is Friday, while Monroe leaves his office March 31.