ND Highway Patrol spends Christmas Eve on the roads

FARGO, ND (Valley News Live) – For many, the holiday season is a time of rest and relaxation with family and friends. For law enforcement, it’s one of the most stressful times of the year. North Dakota Highway Patrol officers spent their Christmas Eve on the roads helping keep those heading to Grandma’s house safe.

Most of Captain Bryan Niewind’s workdays are spent driving on the highways and highways of North Dakota. During the winter months, conditions change continuously.

“When the sun is beating down on the road and the snow is blowing on it, it sticks,” said Captain Niewind, “People who come in here at 75 to 85 miles an hour, it’s very easy for them to lose Control.”

Captain Niewind called and requested that the road conditions be updated.

“I’m going to ask the DOT to change the travel card and see if they can get out of the plows,” he said over the phone.

He and the 11 Fargo area police are spending their vacation patrolling.

“If someone’s down, we’re looking for people who need help getting to maybe Grandma’s house,” Niewind explained.

He said one of the hardest parts of the job is the unknown that could come with every traffic stop.

“Is the person going to be compliant?” Is the person going to be mad at me? Are they under the influence? They just committed a crime and they will try to run away? Do they have a gun? It’s what Niewind said that comes to his mind every time he approaches a car.

He said the hardest part by far is reacting to fatalities.

“Becomes even more tragic during the holidays,” he said, “when we have to go knock on someone’s door on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and say your loved one is not coming home not at home.”

While the job is never easy, Niewind said he has a duty to serve, “I love to serve the citizens of North Dakota.

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