The Good Life Magazine – September-October 2023

LOCAL HERO | BILL AHLFELDT
Life Lessons with
Fargo Police Captain Bill Ahlfeldt
Work is a huge part of someone’s life. In fact, according
to a 1997 study by Amy Wrzesniewski, work constitutes
more than one-third of most human adults’ waking life.
Sometimes, however, people are put into situations where
their purpose shines through.
For Fargo Police Captain Bill Ahlfeldt, his purpose is to
protect and serve the community he has called home
since 1998.
With more than 20 years dedicated to serving the City
of Fargo, Ahlfeldt has served in various roles, including
police training officer, patrol officer, personal and property
crimes investigator, narcotics investigator, patrol sergeant
and sergeant of the Office of Professional Standards.
He’s been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award
for the Special Operations Training Association and
served nearly 20 years on the Red River Valley SWAT
team. He worked his way through the ranks, first as an
entry operator, followed by team leader and instructor,
before becoming commander — a position he held for
seven years, making him the longest-serving commander
and the longest-serving member of the Red River Valley
SWAT team.
All of those experiences have taught him a lesson or two.
Lesson One: Working hard for what you
want.
Ask him where he’s from, and Ahlfeldt will tell you
Williston, ND. But that’s only partially true.
“I moved a lot when I was a kid,” he said. “My dad’s a
minister, so we moved quite a bit when he went into to
the ministry. We went all over Illinois. When I was 12,
we moved to Dayton, OH, for a year and a half before
we moved to Williston when I was 14.”
Ahlfeldt called Williston home until he graduated high
school. It’s where he met his high school sweetheart,
now his wife, and his escape when it’s time for a bit of
relaxation. But he says moving around wasn’t always
the easiest, and settling in was not always the most
fun.
30 | THE GOOD LIFE