FARGO NEWS RELEASE - The City of Fargo Announces Sole Finalist for Police Chief Position
Fargo City PIO Team
THE CITY OF FARGO | ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05.04.2026
View this release online at
FargoND.gov/NewsReleases.
The City of Fargo Announces Sole Finalist for Police Chief Position
The Police Chief Selection Committee will interview Interim Chief Travis Stefonowicz on Thursday, May 7
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA – The City of Fargo formed a Police Chief Selection Committee to conduct a national search for a new Police Chief following Chief Dave Zibolski’s retirement in March 2026. The City received four applications for the position: three from out-of-state and one from in-state. The Selection Committee identified three candidates of interest and planned to interview those candidates this week. Two of those three candidates chose not to move forward with the finalist phase of the selection process and withdrew their applications from consideration. As a result, the Selection Committee will consider the remaining candidate, Interim Fargo Police Chief Travis Stefonowicz, as the sole finalist for the position.
Stefonowicz joined the Fargo Police Department in May 2002 and was promoted to Assistant Chief in July 2021. The City Commission appointed him as Interim Chief on March 30, 2026.
The Selection Committee will interview Stefonowicz on Thursday, May 7, and will submit its recommendation to City Administrator Michael Redlinger, the hiring manager for the Police Chief position. The City Administrator will then present the preferred candidate to the City Commission for consideration and approval during the Commission’s regular meeting on Monday, May 11.
POLICE CHIEF SELECTION COMMITTEE
The members of the Police Chief Selection Committee include:
Dr. Tim Mahoney | Mayor
John Strand | City Commissioner
Michael Redlinger | City Administrator – Hiring Manager
Jill Minette | Human Resources Director
Susan Thompson | Finance Director
Gary Lorenz | Fire Chief
Jean Syverson | Police Records Office Manager
Joel Erickson | Police Lieutenant
Shawn Gamradt | Police Sergeant
Sara Cruze | Police Detective
Landon Smith | Police Officer
Rocky Schneider | Downtown Community Partnership Executive Director
Camila Van Dyke | Human Resources Manager (Facilitator)
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Media Contact:
Archie Ingersoll – Public Information Manager
Fargo City PIO Team
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Police Chief Selection Committee will now interview Interim Chief Travis Stefonowicz at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6. The interview will take place in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall, 225 4th St. N.
Members of the public and members of the media are welcome to attend and observe the interview. A quorum of the City Commission may be present.
The interview will be broadcast and live streamed across The City of Fargo’s access channels, TVFargo.com and social media.