Fargo Six Community Members Recommended To Serve On New Police Chief Selection Committee

Press release from the City of Fargo:

July 9, 2020

Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney, City of Fargo Administration and Human Resources professionals have selected the four individuals to serve as community representatives on the New Fargo Police Chief Selection Committee. The community representatives will offer unique and varied perspectives during the hiring process for the next Police Chief.

More than 100 members of the Fargo community volunteered to serve on the committee. Four recommended members constituting diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences were selected in an effort to accurately represent the breadth of diversity within the Fargo metro.

A representative of the Fargo Human Relations Commission and Native American Commission have also been selected to participate in the hiring process.

Community Member Representatives:

• Jason Boynton: Boynton has called Fargo home for 14 years and is currently a mathematics professor at North Dakota State University. He has served on various committees to improve the quality of education at NDSU, including as a member of several search teams to fill faculty positions. He has engaged in training to evaluate candidates fairly and without bias. Boynton is an active participant in the local Fargo music scene and co-founder of an organization which has retired $20,000 of school lunch debts in Fargo.
• Tonya Greywind: Greywind provides the perspective of an educator, foster parent and member of a Native American family to the selection committee. She recently earned her doctoral degree in education leadership and has experience as an administrator with the ability to evaluate candidates. Greywind has previously participated in selection processes as a committee member on state-led teams, including the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
• Whitney Leedahl: Leedahl has worked as a healthcare professional with leadership training and experience professionally and within the faith community. She believes a position of leadership such as Chief of Police should focus on community investment, crime prevention and crisis situation management. Leedahl has served as a member of interview committees for healthcare positions in the past and has a strong passion for the Fargo community.
• Nidal Omar: Omar is a four decade resident of the Fargo community, a local business owner of more than 30 years and currently serves as the president of the Islamic Society of Fargo Moorhead. Omar has experience working with community members from a variety of cultures and backgrounds as well as collaborating with the Fargo Police Department in selecting the Cultural Liaison Officer.

Human Relations Commission Representative:

• Matuor Alier: Alier is a member of Fargo’s New American community. He serves as the vice-chair of the Fargo Human Relations Commission, a social worker for Cass County Government, chairman of the Fargo-Moorhead Refugee Advisory Council as well as other roles within the faith community. Alier possesses a background in Human Resource work and has experience in selecting candidates.

Native American Commission Representative:

• Lenore King: King currently serves as the Chair of the Native American Commission, which works to strengthen the Native American community by promoting understanding, recognition and respect for all cultures to enrich the community as a whole. She is affiliated with the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. She has served on the Native American Commission since 2016. King is an Employment Specialist with Community Options, LLC, supporting individuals with disabilities since 2007.

These selections will be considered for confirmation by the Fargo City Commission at its Monday, July 13 meeting.

This press release was produced by the City of Fargo. The views expressed here are the author’s own.