Berthold Police Chief Al Schmidt was selected to receive the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s (NDDOT) Traffic Safety Beyond the Traffic Stop Award, which was presented to him on Monday, February 5, at Berthold’s City Council Meeting. He received this award for his exceptional enforcement and investigation skills used on routine traffic stops he conducted in 2017.
One routine traffic stop by Chief Schmidt lead to the confiscation of eleven and a half pounds of methamphetamine being seized along with heroin, cocaine, marijuana, an AK47, two handguns, ammunition, scales, and various drug paraphernalia and drug packaging materials. The three individuals charged were convicted felons and the charges resulted in federal indictments being obtained for all three suspects.
The other routine stop resulted in the confiscation of 120 pounds of high-grade marijuana.
“Chief Schmidt’s strong observation and interrogation skills, experience and training and desire to keep the citizens of the state safe by eliminating drug trafficking criminals from the roadways is what makes him very deserving of this award,” said Karin Mongeon, Safety Division Director, NDDOT. “With dedicated officers like Chief Schmidt, we can move towards achieving the state’s Vision Zero goal which is zero motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.”
The North Dakota Department of Transportation receives nominations each year for the following awards: Traffic Safety Officer of the Year, Beyond the Traffic Stop, Drug Recognition Expert Officer of the Year, Child Passenger Safety Awards, Traffic Safety Honor Roll and a Traffic Safety Media Award.
For more information on North Dakota’s Vision Zero traffic safety initiative, visit visionzero.nd.gov.
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- Photo attached – Berthold’s Councilman and Police Commissioner, Travis Sorenson (left) presenting Berthold Police Chief Al Schmidt (right) with the Beyond the Traffic Stop Award
- Photo credit to Marvin Baker, Kenmare News