Fair Keeps Sheriff/Police Busy - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Fair Keeps Sheriff/Police Busy

Safety is key when thousands of people share a small space here at the North Dakota State Fair.
Most tips are adages you've heard since childhood: stay with your group, don't drink and drive, and stay hydrated in the sun.
Jennifer Thorgramson caught up with the public service professionals that are out here with those reminders.

Law enforcement and medical professionals are out in droves, ensuring that the North Dakota State Fair can be Great. Big. Fun. for everyone.
There has been one sexual assault reported, and three vehicle-pedestrian accidents with no serious injuries.
Sheriff Steve Kukowski says that in a crowd of tens-of-thousands of people, it's not a bad stat sheet to keep.
(Sheriff Steve Kukowski, Ward County Sheriff's Department) "So far it's been very, very good. Compared to previous years, our arrests are down. The first night was the toughest and I think that was anticipation for the fair and the crowds, we've had great attendance at the fair."
In past years at the state fair, Kukowski says there's an average of 30-40 arrests each day of the fair weekends.
Last weekend, there were 28 arrests on Friday and only 11 on Saturday.
(Sheriff Steve Kukowski, Ward County Sheriff's Department) "We do want to remind people to travel in groups. There's safety in numbers. Don't set your drink down."
As a state event, Ward County Sheriff's Department manages the fairgrounds, while the Minot Police Department patrols the traffic outside.
(Jared Foley, Minot Police Department) "DUI's for the city have gone up dramatically over the last year but right now
Community Ambulance is also available on the fairgrounds, and EMT Michelle Leblanc says most requests have been minor: bandaids, aspirin and the occasional blood pressure check.
She says even the heat hasn't done a lot of harm.
The public service professionals do have one request from you, the fair-goer, in their quest for safety.
If you see a golf cart carrying these uniforms, treat it the way you would seeing the red and blue lights on the street.
(Michelle Leblanc, Minot Community Ambulance) "It's hard because sirens or horns cause more mayhem. If people could move out of the way when they hear 'excuse me' or 'ambulance' or any golf cart in general. The sheriff has them, we have them and if we have an emergency, if we don't say anything then it's not a big rush, but if we say excuse me, we're just trying to get to someone who needs our help."
We've reached a halfway point through the height of summer, while safety may be their job, as fair-goers, we can all play a part in the same goal.
In Minot, Jennifer Thorgramson, KX News.

Kukowski says that traffic reports in the county have increased dramatically since the start of the fair.