Fargo Clarifies Civil Service Hiring Process for Police Chief

City says current ordinances require merit-based selection, not fast-tracked appointment

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:49am

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A photorealistic painting of a two-story brick building with large windows, set against a backdrop of warm, golden sunlight and deep shadows, evoking a sense of civic pride and institutional stability.The Fargo Police Department building stands as a symbol of the city's commitment to fair and transparent civil service hiring practices.Fargo Today

The City of Fargo has clarified its civil service hiring process for the position of Police Chief, stating that it must follow the procedures outlined in the Fargo Municipal Code, which require a merit-based selection process. This comes after a city commissioner introduced a motion to fast-track the hiring of the interim police chief, which the city says is not permissible under current laws.

Why it matters

The civil service hiring process is designed to ensure fair and impartial employment practices across city departments. Maintaining this process is important for upholding the integrity of the police department's leadership selection and providing civil service protections to the appointed individual.

The details

The current hiring process involves the selection of a new Police Chief to replace the former chief, David Zibolski. Interim Chief Travis Stefonowicz, who previously served as Assistant Chief under Zibolski, was proposed by Commissioner Michelle Turnberg to be named the full-time Chief, bypassing the standard civil service process. However, the city has stated that this would not be allowed under the Fargo Municipal Code, which requires a merit-based selection for department head positions like the Police Chief.

  • The Fargo City Commission discussed the civil service hiring process at their meeting on Monday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Michelle Turnberg

A Fargo City Commissioner who introduced a motion to fast-track the hiring of the interim police chief, Travis Stefonowicz, as the permanent Police Chief.

Travis Stefonowicz

The current Interim Police Chief of the Fargo Police Department, who previously served as Assistant Chief under former Chief David Zibolski.

David Zibolski

The former Police Chief of the Fargo Police Department.

Fargo Municipal Code

The city ordinances that outline the civil service hiring process, including for the position of Police Chief.

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What’s next

The Fargo City Commission will continue to follow the civil service hiring process outlined in the Municipal Code to select the next permanent Police Chief.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of maintaining fair and transparent hiring practices, even for high-profile positions like the Police Chief. The City of Fargo is upholding its own civil service laws to ensure the selection is merit-based and provides the appropriate protections for the appointed individual.