Law Enforcement Agencies Working Together | Video

Chris Williams | 3/21/2013

Police in the Williston area had an unusual couple of days last week. On Thursday they responded to a bomb threat; early Saturday morning, a murder and 24 hours later, another murder. Weeks like that don`t happen often, but police in Williston are responding to a record number of calls. The Highway Patrol, Sheriff`s Department and Williston PD are stretched thin, but they are able to keep up by helping each other out.

For the past 20 some years, law enforcement in the Williston area have worked well together, but that`s not how all departments work.

"I know some agencies across the state, and other states that the chief won`t talk to the sheriff, and the sheriff won`t talk to the highway patrol commander, and the crime bureau doesn`t talk to anybody,” said Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching.
All three agencies in Williston are located in the same building, which allows them to share information on a regular basis.

"I think anytime you have communication readily available. In person communication between entities, it really helps the cooperative nature,” said NW Highway Patrol Commander Gary Orluck.

The 2012 police report shows Williston PD responded to around 19,000 calls, which is an 18 percent increase from 2011.

"The other agencies monitor the radio, and without even being asked if they recognize that it`s something that requires more man power, they`ll respond without even being asked,” said Williston Police Department Captain Tom Ladwig.

Captain Ladwig says the relationship with all three divisions is one of the best in the country, and with the city and country continuing to grow, the good relationship is more important than ever.

"It`s nice to have that sheriff’s deputy to pull up or drive by, and let you and the person you`re dealing with know that someone else is in the area,” added Orluck.

Sheriff Busching says this part of the state has always been a little short handed, and if the departments didn`t work together, it would nearly impossible to patrol the Bakken.

"We learned a long time ago, that we have to get along, we want to get along, and we do get along, and we do back each other up.”

All three divisions are busier than they could have ever imagined, but they`re finding ways to make it work.

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