The Good Life - Sept-Oct 2013

One of most well-known benefits about
residing in the Fargo-Moorhead area
is the low crime rate and the sense of
safety that its residents enjoy. It’s even
been said, “Fargo’s so safe that you can
leave your car running while you run
into the store!”
Most residents believe that this sense of safety is a key
combination of several factors: the cold weather, “It keeps
the riffraff out,” said one resident, and our dedicated
force of law enforcement officers whom tirelessly patrol
our streets.
One such dedicated lawman is Detective Chris
Nichtern of the Fargo Police Department. Not only is he
a hero with a badge and nearly 17 years of experience in
law enforcement, but in 2012 he was selected as the Fargo
Police Department’s Employee of the Year.
His Path to Becoming a Local Hero
Nichtern grew up in Starbuck, Minnesota and
graduated from Minnewaska High School in 1992.
After high school, Nichtern attended Minnesota State
University-Moorhead where he received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Criminal Justice. Then, in the summer of 1996,
he attended the Police Academy at Alexandria Tech where
he completed the 10-week training course.
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Following his police training, Nichtern became a
part-time Sheriff’s Deputy in Meeker County, Minnesota
and got his first taste of what it was like to be working in
law enforcement. When asked about his first duty post,
Nichtern said, “It was my first real job in law enforcement.
It was an exciting, but terrifying time! In the beginning
you rode around with an officer for two or three weeks
and then it was like ‘well here’s your gun and your car,
good luck!’”
During his time as a Deputy, Nichtern also worked as
a police officer in Dassel, Minnesota, a small town within
Meeker County. “There were days where I would, literally,
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: chris nichtern