Trust a Police Officer

Officer Christopher Potter was sworn in to the NDSU police force Oct. 25th in a public event to remind students of the NDSU Police’s dedication to protecting students.

Potter is from New Hope Minnesota, where he served in the armed forces for eight years. His career in law enforcement began in Jamestown, North Dakota. He then served 19 years on the Fargo police force.

Outside the police force, Potter is active in the Fargo community, serving as a guest speaker on youth culture and high risk behavior, youth alcohol and drug abuse, school crisis planning, mitigation, online social networks, cyber bullying and child sexual predators and bicycle and pedestrian safety and education.

He also played a role in securing bike and pedestrian safety improvements for the Fargo area. He now continues to help the community by serving on the NDSU police force.

“The state mandates certain people in government positions to be sworn in, [including] judges, politicians, and police officers,” NDSU Police Department lieutenant Greg Stone said. “The reason is they’re in high positions of public trust. By swearing in, an officer is swearing to be loyal to the constitution and the people.”

Stone feels that though the event itself may not be momentous, students have a stake in knowing they have a competent and professional police force dedicated to keeping them safe.

“We’re there to serve and protect,” said Stone. “We’re dedicated to the students, providing a quality service protecting them, with a little tough love, too.”

The NDSU Police Department is routinely active on campus, working closely with Student Life and Residence Life. They provide security escorts to students, offer various safety programs, and can even fingerprint students for their medical and pharmacy licenses.

“We have a downtown station in order to have a presence downtown, and one of our officers teaches female self-defense classes,” said Stone. “We want to keep Fargo a safe place for our students to go to school,”

Stone feels that having Potter sworn in was a ceremonial event that helps establish a tradition. Instead of swearing in at a private meeting in the Chief’s office, stone feels that holding a public event makes the officer think a little more about the oath he or she takes.

“The oath itself is a promise,” said Stone. “It gives them something to look back on. When they made these vows, it makes them think about what’s best to do,”

Stone hopes Potter will continue to uphold the values of the NDSU Police Department: Unsullied integrity, public trust, faithfulness, and character.

“Swearing in [Potter] helps build a tradition for the NDSU Police Department,” said Stone. “It sends a message to the university that you can trust a police officer.”