William Ahlfeldt
MPD Deputy Chief
Fargo Police Capt. William Ahlfeldt has been named assistant chief of the Moorhead Police Department. He is the second Fargo officer to join the neighboring department across the river. Chris Helmick, then also a captain, took over as Moorhead’s top officer in April.
Ahlfeldt has 23 years of experience with the FPD. He played many roles, from patrol and police training officer and sergeant to investigator, sergeant in charge of the Office of Professional Standards, patrol lieutenant and lieutenant in charge of the Specialized Services Unit. As captain in command of Criminal Investigations Division he was instrumental in establishing the first Real-Tim Crime Center in the state of North Dakota.
Ahlfeldt was a member of the FPD’s Peer Support team for 21 years, leaving the team as its administrator in 2024. He was also a member of the Red River Valley SWAT team from 2003 to 2023. During his time on the team, he served in the role of entry operator, team leader, and retired from the team as team commander. During his career at FPD, Ahlfeldt was the recipient of multiple awards and commendations. He also was a 2023 recipient of the Special Operations Training Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Moorhead’s new deputy chief holds a degree in political science from North Dakota State University, is a graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command (Class 398), and has attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police leadership in police organizations course, the FBI LEEDA Command Institute for Leadership Executives and the FBI LEEDA executive leadership course. Ahlfeldt is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Moorhead’s Chief Helmick said, “We are excited to welcome Capt. Ahlfeldt to the Moorhead Police Department team. The two of us have worked together very closely over the years, and I thought he was an excellent fit for our department. His extensive knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to the Moorhead community.”