Our October Luther Family Ford Salute to Law Enforcement honoree is Deputy Mike DeVries & Cass County Sheriff’s Office. He joins Steve Hallstrom to discuss with us why he chose to become an officer and what it means to be honored for his service.
Read Deputy Mike DeVries ‘s Biography below…
Mike grew up in Iowa, and attended the University of North Dakota graduating with a degree in Aeronautical Studies with a minor in Criminology. He attended Dalfort Aerotech Dallas Texas and received his airframe and powerplant license. Mike worked in the aviation industry for more than 30 years in the maintenance department, ending his career in aviation as the Chief Inspector at the Fargo Jet Center. Mike had intentions of joining the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit as a volunteer. While at a baseball game of his son Luke, he was visiting with a Lieutenant at the Fargo Police Department explaining he was about to apply for the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit.
Lieutenant Sanders asked him why he would want to do something for free when he could get paid for it. Mike said he didn’t think a law enforcement agency would be interested in a 56-year-old. Lt Sanders said the Police department is always open to hiring older individuals for their life experiences and ability to communicate with people. So he applied for a position with the Fargo Police Department. The hiring process was long, but if he made it through, he would be giving back to a community that has been so good to him.
In 2018, Mike applied and did make it through, the last hurdle being the physical fitness test. Mike then attended the Law Enforcement Academy in Bismarck. Upon completion of the academy, Mike came back to Fargo to begin life as a patrol officer with the Fargo Police Department. The life of a patrol officer working the evening shift and a schedule opposite his wife Sarah was definitely not something he was accustomed to. Mike resigned his patrol position and accepted a Community Service Officer position with the Fargo Police Department. As a CSO, Mike did apply and was accepted to the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit. This allowed him to keep his Peace Officers License active. In September 2021, Mike accepted a job in the Court Transport Division of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. This division is tasked with transporting prisoners from the jail to court for their hearings, courthouse security desk, transporting prisoners to the penitentiary, and from various locations in the tristate area back to Cass County if they are arrested on a Cass County Warrant. Even trips to different states back to Cass County. Mike enjoys interacting with inmates, the public, and the opportunities to work many different special details. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office, Mike has become a member of the Honor Guard and the Extrication Team. Mike truly enjoys putting on the uniform every day and is grateful for the opportunity the Sheriff’s Office has given him. Mike enjoys having his daughter Meghan and son-in-law Matt along with his son Luke close in Fargo. He enjoys home projects and woodworking in his spare time. Mike would like to thank Luther Family Ford for recognizing him in the Salute to Law Enforcement.
