The counties of Pembina and Walsh operate a joint truck regulatory program which focuses on the enforcement of size/weight limits on the county maintained roadways.  Deputy Patrick Moreland is the truck regulatory deputy and is deputized in both counties by Pembina County Sheriff Terry Meidinger and Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens.  Deputy Moreland is a fully licensed peace officer, so he can also enforce criminal and traffic law.

Deputy Moreland has received field training by truck regulatory State Troopers.  Please be very aware of your truck's size and weight limitations.  These limits may vary depending on the time of year and the specific roadway being traveled.

Deputy Moreland can be contacted by email at pwmoreland@nd.gov or by calling the following numbers:

Pembina County Sheriff's Office: 701-265-4122

Walsh County Sheriff's Office: 701-352-2041

The mission of this department is to serve and protect persons and property of Pembina County.  The responsibilities associated with this mission are many.  They include enforcement of state and federal law, mantaining the peace and order of the county, protecting the property and personal safety of county residents, and generally assisting citizens in urgent situations.  In joining this department, employees make its responsibilities  their own.  They are expected to carry out these responsibilities diligently and courteously and to take pride in the services they provide.

The department protects the rights of all persons within its jurisdiction to be free from criminal attack, to be secure in their possessions, and to live in peace.  The department serves the people of the county by performing the law enforcement function in a professional manner and it is to these people that the department is ultimately responsible.

Terry Meidinger - Sheriff - Serving Since 1991

Cory Mortensen- Chief Deputy - Serving Since 2016

Patrick Moreland - Deputy (Truck Reg) - Serving Since 2022

Martin Burch - Deputy - Serving Since 2019

Luke Olmstead - Deputy - Serving Since 2023

Steve Gapp - Deputy Serving Since 2025

Desirae Broho - Deputy Serving Since 2025

Ben Wiebolt - Deputy Serving Since 2026

Richard Johnson - Corrections - Serving Since 2007

Brigetta Thebeau - Corrections - Serving Since 2018

Calvin Cluchie - Corrections - Serving Since 2019

Kory Flaagan - Corrections - Serving Since 2020

Jon Toews- Corrections - Serving Since 2023

Devon Peterson - Corrections - Serving Since 2025

William H. Moorhead     1867-1870

Henry McKinney            1871-1872

John Lennon                  1873-1874

Joseph Daniels              1875-1876

Charles J. Brown            1877-1884

John Kabernagle            1884

David Dick                      1885-1886

William James                1887-1890

Archie M. O'Connor        1891-1894

George H. McCabe         1895-1896

John E. Truemner           1897-1898

Fred J. Farrow                1899-1902

Charles Atkinson            1903-1906

George Roadhouse        1907-1910

Ike J. Foster                    1911-1914

Charles Atkinson             1915-1918

Ed Hamilton                     1919-1922

D.J. "Duffy" Larson          1923-1926

Ralph S. Campbell          1927-1930

Harold C. Well                 1931-1932

Archie B. O'Connor         1933-1936

Stone Hillman                  1937-1940

Loren Davey                    1941-1944

Fred O. Spangelo            1945-1948

Sam Samuelson              1949-1952

Fred O. Spangelo            1953-1958

Glenn E. Wells                 1959-1986

James J. Martindale        1987-2002

Wayne Samdahl              2002-2006

Brian W. Erovick              2007-2014

Terry Meidinger               2015-Present

VISITATION

Visitation is available everyday between 8am and 8pm, including weekends and holidays. There is no visitation during storm closures or when there is a No Travel Advisory in effect.

All visits will take place in the visitation booth and utilize the video visitation system on a first come, first serve basis. No ‘contact’ visits are allowed. Inmates are allowed one visitation session per day up to 30 minutes in length, but may be terminated by staff at any time for any reason. All parties must use the handset provided to communicate. Conversations may be monitored or recorded.

All visitors are subject to search. Visitors must show valid photo identification and check in with the jail staff prior to any visitation. Visits may be denied for any reason at any time.

Violation of visitation rules may result in immediate termination of the current visit and denial of future visitation.

Professional visitation (attorney) will be permitted at reasonable hours, except during designated lockdown periods or facility emergencies. Professional visitation will take place in the jail library unless other arrangements have been made and approved by the Correctional Facility Administrator or Jail Supervisor. Only professional personnel will be permitted. Family members or other third-parties will not be permitted to visit during this time.

RULES GOVERNING VISTORS

MAIL

Inmates may receive mail through the United States Postal Service by addressing it to:

Inmate's Full Name

C/o Pembina County Sheriff's Office

308 Courthouse Dr #2

Cavalier, ND 58220

All letters, except for marked legal mail from an attorney's office, are subject to inspection prior to delivery to an inmate. Letters received after an inmate has been released or transferred will be returned to sender. If no return address is provided, the letter will be destroyed.

COMMISSARY

Money for inmates may be brought to the Pembina County Jail for use by inmates to purchase items from commissary. We can only accept cash for inmate commissary accounts (no checks, money orders, or debit/credit cards).

Personal items from outside the jail (including toiletries, clothing, books, games, etc.) are not permitted unless they are new in the original, unopened packaging, subject to the approval of the corrections staff. Contact corrections staff with questions on approved outside items.

PHONE CALLS/TEXTS

ALL PERSONAL CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES ARE RECORDED

We use the Reliance Telephone system for prisoner phone calls and texting. Phone cards may be purchased directly from Reliance and provided to an inmate if the inmate does not have enough commissary funds to purchase their own.

Inmates may also call collect if your phone line is set up to accept collect calls.

If you need to provide funds for phone cards or have other questions, you can learn how to use the system by calling Reliance Telephone at 800-896-3201 or by visiting their website: www.reliancetelephone.com/fandf

INMATE VOICEMAIL: Corrections staff are not allowed to pass phone messages to an inmate. If you wish to leave a voice message for an inmate, you may call the inmate voicemail line at 701-922-0538 (new number January 2020) and follow the prompts to direct your message to the appropriate inmate.

UNWANTED CALLS/TEXTS: If you receive an unwanted call/text from an inmate in our facility, follow the prompts on the call to block the number or contact the Pembina County Jail at 701-265-4122 and provide your name and phone number and it will be blocked from being contacted for the duration of the inmate's stay.

PRISON RAPE AND ELIMINATION ACT

What is PREA?

PREA stand for the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which was signed into law by President Bush on September 4, 2003. The final standards to implement PREA went into effect on August 20, 2012.

What is the purpose of PREA?

PREA is intended to address the detection, prevention, reduction and prosecution of sexual harassment and sexual assault in all correctional facilities in the country. It establishes a zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment.

How to make a third-party report of sexual abuse or sexual harassment:

If you have knowledge of a sexual misconduct that has taken place with an inmate incarcerated at the Pembina County Correctional Facility, a report of the misconduct may be sent in writing or made by telephone to the Sheriff at the address/phone number listed below.

Inmates are encouraged to speak with officers, medical staff, case managers, volunteers, family members, friends or anyone who can assist them in reporting the sexual abuse or harassment. They can write memos, file grievances, or call Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center free of charge and on the inmate phone system.

The Pembina County Correctional Facility sometimes board inmates in other North Dakota County facilities. The PREA sexual abuse aggregate data for those county facilities can be found by clicking on the links below.

Ward County Detention Center https://www.co.ward.nd.us/460/Sexual-Abuse-Policy

Bottineau County Correctional Center https://www.bottineauco.com/sheriff

Rolette County Correctional Facility https://rolettecountycorrectionalfacility.com/

Grand Forks County Correctional Facility https://www.gfcounty.nd.gov/government/adult-corrections/prea

Pembina County PREA Policy

2025 PCSO PREA Report

2024 PCSO PREA Report

2023 PCSO PREA Report

2022 PCSO PREA Report

2020 PCSO Audit Report

2019 PCSO PREA Report

2017 PCSO Audit Report 

2016 PCSO PREA Report

Grand Forks County Jail PREA Audit Report

Pembina County Sheriff Terry Meidinger

Pembina County Law Enforcement Center

308 Courthouse Drive #2

Cavalier, ND 58220

Phone: 701-265-4122

Fax: 701-265-3194

Pembina County, North Dakota

Job Description

Job Title: Deputy Sheriff – Patrol 2 Job Status: Full-Time

Classification: Highway Patrol Officer I FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Department: Sheriff’s Dept

Reports to: Sheriff

Nature of Work:

Under general supervision of the Sheriff and immediate supervision of a superior deputy, is responsible in an assigned district for general police work; prevention and detection of crime; the protection of life and property; and routine tasks in accordance with rules and regulations.

Essential Functions:

1. Patrol a geographic region of the county to detect and deter crime; issue warnings and citations; respond to calls for assistance; conduct preliminary investigations of crimes and complaints; transport prisoners, detect unusual conditions; and may maintain surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects.
2. Respond to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior, and other needs; completing calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
3. Serves criminal papers such as warrants, subpoenas, notices of hearing, order of forfeiture, and commitment papers; locates people to serve papers; explains briefly the meaning of the papers being served, and makes arrests when necessary.
4. Serves criminal process papers such as civil summons, magistrate summons, notice of rights, subpoenas, and court orders dealing with child support, child custody, and domestic violence; explains briefly the meaning of papers served and remains in the scene after serving papers until civil process is completed.
5. Serves as bailiff during district and superior court; maintains court security; transports inmates between the jail and courtroom; opens agenda; maintains order in the courtroom; assists in swearing jurors and witnesses; directs jurors to their allocated spaces
6. Prepare lesson plans and present curriculums in the various schools; serve as School Resource Officer and provide security to the school environment, participate in presentations relating to law enforcements; work with staff of disciplinary issues.
7. Perform investigations of accidents and crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering and preserving physical evidence; perform investigative tasks assigned by detective, arrest and process criminal suspects.
8. Advise the public on laws and local ordinances; provide information to the general public.
9. Regulate and direct vehicular traffic at busy times or when traffic signal malfunctions or accidents require; maintain order at public gatherings.
10. Operates a radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information.
11. Complete written reports on all incidents, arrests, accidents, investigations, assists, and daily activities; reports may be subject to review by supervisors, citizens, insurance adjustors, lawyers, judges, etc.
12. Support federal, state(s), and local saw enforcement operations.
13. Performs other specific duties as required and assigned per division.

Requirements of Work:

1. Working knowledge of the operations, functions, procedures, and legal processes of the Sheriff’s office.
2. Working knowledge of the state and federal laws, local ordinances and policies relating to arrest, search and seizure, and traffic control.
3. Working knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods and equipment.
4. Working knowledge of the criminal and civil papers issued by the courts and the practices involved in serving them.
5. Some knowledge of scientific crime detection and criminal investigation methods and procedures.
6. Working knowledge of the geographic layout of the county as to locations of roads, important buildings, and other landmarks.
7. Skill in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics.
8. Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.
9. Ability to present effective court testimony.
10. Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports.
11. Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective relations with the community.
12. Ability to maintain a positive and productive work atmosphere by communicating and maintaining a professional manner with superiors, other officers, employees, detainees, attorneys, and anyone coming in contact with the Sheriff’s Department.
13. Able to deal firmly and courteously with the general public.
14. Willing to work shift work consisting of days, nights, holidays and weekends.
15. Exercise independent judgment in determining when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and arrest, and when force may be used.
16. Ability to react quickly and calmly under emergency conditions which includes the normal use of all extremities; must have ability to hear normally, and eyesight corrected to 20/30 or better with the ability to distinguish colors and have no appreciable loss of peripheral vision.
17. Must possess a valid drivers license with no serious traffic violations, no felony or misdemeanor convictions.
18. Able to pass civil, criminal, and drivers license background checks, and physical and mental evaluations to prove ability to handle one self in cases of physically demanding emergencies and stressful environmental strains.
19. Maintain the Sheriff’s Department code of ethics, policies, and the North Dakota Century Code.

Desired Training and Experience:

1. Must be U S Citizen, 18 years of age or older.
2. High school graduate or GED certified.
3. Must be licensed or licensable.

Special Working Conditions:

1. Physical environment consists of exposure to extremes in weather and driving conditions. Much time is spent in a vehicle, oftentimes having to go out into the elements while conducting investigations, traffic stops, and property checks.
2. Will include physical motions of sitting, standing, walking, running, climbing, jumping, lifting, pulling, carrying and dragging objects, quickly entering and exiting law enforcement patrol vehicles and physical contact with others using body force to restrain individuals.
3. Will include effectively restraining a suspect, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs, and other restraints.
4. Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted by suspects and other people in an antagonistic environment; break up fights and affrays; use of firearms when necessary.
5. Encounter environmental and health concerns through exposure to infectious diseases transmitted through body fluids, chemicals, and other substances related to Deputy Sheriff work.

Clarification Clause:

This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be a complete list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be a reasonable outline of those principle job elements essential in maintaining Deputy Sheriff related positions. The job description is not a contract. The County reserves the right to modify job descriptions at any time.

Pembina County, North Dakota

Job Description

Job Title: Deputy Sheriff - Patrol Job Status: Full-Time

Classification: Highway Patrol Officer I FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Department: Sheriff’s Dept

Reports to: Sheriff

Nature of Work:

Under general supervision of the Sheriff and immediate supervision of a superior deputy, is responsible in an assigned district for general police work; prevention and detection of crime; the protection of life and property; and routine tasks in accordance with rules and regulations.

Essential Functions:

1. Interpret and accurately apply specialized legal knowledge and constitutional law to enforce state and federal safety, traffic and criminal laws, rules and regulations.
2. Prevent loss of life, personal injury, and property destruction through patrol, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, surveillance, crowd control, and public safety promotion activities.
3. Enforce federal and state traffic and criminal laws including stopping violators; issuing warnings and citations; conductions field sobriety and blood-alcohol tests; detaining, arresting, transporting, and booking suspects; and apprehending stolen vehicles and fleeing felons.
4. Respond to and investigate vehicular crashes, incidents, and potential safety hazards on and off state and county roadways; assess needs and request specific agency assistance; perform crash victim extrication and injury triage; determine cause and initiate necessary action to correct engineering concerns and /or change behavior.
5. Detect, gather, preserve and maintain evidence.
6. Transport inmates and provide internal security for detention facility and county courtroom as needed.
7. Recognize and respond to various hazardous material incidents, natural disasters, and other emergency situations.
8. Complete written reports on all incidents, arrests, accidents, investigations, assists, and daily activities; reports may be subject to review by supervisors, citizens, insurance adjustors, lawyers, judges, etc.
9. Participate in the prosecution of offenders; respond to inquiries by attorneys; prepare courtroom testimony, and testify in court and at administrative hearings.
10. Support federal, state(s), and local saw enforcement operations.
11. Performs other specific duties as required and assigned per division.

Requirements of Work:

1. Maintain a positive and productive work atmosphere by communicating and maintaining a professional manner with superiors, other officers, employees, detainees, attorneys, and anyone coming in contact with the Sheriff’s Department.
2. Elementary knowledge of general police methods and procedures or the ability to learn such methods rapidly; knowledge of traffic rules, regulations and criminal laws; aptitude in the use of firearms, and the ability to operate motor vehicles and law enforcement radios and equipment.
3. Reading, writing and arithmetic skills sufficient to create and comprehend activity reports.
4. Able to deal firmly and courteously with the general public.
5. Willing to work shift work consisting of days, nights, holidays and weekends.
6. Exercise independent judgment in determining when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and arrest, and when force may be used.
7. Ability to react quickly and calmly under emergency conditions which includes the normal use of all extremities; must have ability to hear normally, and eyesight corrected to 20/30 or better with the ability to distinguish colors and have no appreciable loss of peripheral vision.
8. Must possess a valid drivers license with no serious traffic violations, no felony or misdemeanor convictions.
9. Able to pass civil, criminal, and drivers license background checks, and physical and mental evaluations to prove ability to handle one self in cases of physically demanding emergencies and stressful environmental strains.
10. Maintain the Sheriff’s Department code of ethics, policies, and the North Dakota Century Code.

Desired Training and Experience:

1. Must be U S Citizen, 18 years of age or older.
2. High school graduate or GED certified.
3. Must be licensed or licensable.

Special Working Conditions:

1. Physical environment consists of exposure to extremes in weather and driving conditions. Much time is spent in a vehicle, oftentimes having to go out into the elements while conducting investigations, traffic stops, and property checks.
2. Will include physical motions of sitting, standing, walking, running, climbing, jumping, lifting, pulling, carrying and dragging objects, quickly entering and exiting law enforcement patrol vehicles and physical contact with others using body force to restrain individuals.
3. Will include effectively restraining a suspect, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs, and other restraints.
4. Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted by suspects and other people in an antagonistic environment; break up fights and affrays; use of firearms when necessary.
5. Encounter environmental and health concerns through exposure to infectious diseases transmitted through body fluids, chemicals, and other substances related to Deputy Sheriff work.

Clarification Clause:

This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be a complete list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be a reasonable outline of those principle job elements essential in maintaining Deputy Sheriff related positions. The job description is not a contract. The County reserves the right to modify job descriptions at any time.

Pembina County

Job Description

Job Title: Correctional Officer Job Status: full-time

Department: Corrections FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Sheriff and Chief Correctional Officer

Location: Pembina County Correctional Facility Date: 9/11/23

Job Summary:

Correctional Officer will oversee the security, control and conduct of inmates during work shift at the correctional center to ensure the Pembina County Correctional Facility is operating in a peaceful manner.

Essential Job Duties:

• Basic operation of the jail facility:
• Admit and release prisoners, to include searching inmates and property and making inventory of the personal property of the prisoners. Book and discharge inmates; issue clothing and supplies to new inmates. Classify incoming inmates and place them in proper cells. Ensure that inmates are checked on a routine and regular basis. Must maintain ability to complete all duties of a Correctional Officer.
• Records management:
• Fingerprint and photograph inmates and type fingerprint cards. Complete all booking records during intake and release. Send paperwork to District Clerk of Court as required.
• Safety, well-being and security:
• Assist in jail safety and security procedures, including the control of weapons, contraband, keys, tools, all doors and other related safety and security precautions. Promote acceptable attitudes and behaviors of inmates to assist them in adjusting to a confinement setting. Deliver meals and assist in meal preparation. Disperse medication to prisoners as directed by medical professionals. Assist in the cleaning of the jail areas. Ensure that cells, facilities and grounds are kept sanitary.
• Any other duties as assigned:
• Attend training sessions and meetings as required. Assure mandatory training hours are met to keep certification. Follow procedures and protocols during emergency situations such as an escape, fire, tornado or other threat, mass bookings, cell searches, etc.

Job Qualifications, Experience, and Education:

• Must complete basic Correctional Officer I training within 1 year of hire.
• Must have high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
• Must complete CMT II med certification after hire.
• In accepting the position of Correctional Officer, must possess the ability to work with fellow officers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies that work out of Pembina County LEC.

Working Conditions/Physical and Mental Demands:

• Correctional Officer must possess the ability to perform duties effectively under stressful conditions, ability to make decisions quickly and accurately with tact and impartiality.
• Physical environment in which one must maintain control of aggressive inmates and utilize all use of force options.

• Inside work with limited exposure to outside elements.
• Potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens, noxious fumes and combative inmates.

• Moderate use of PC keyboard, monitor and standard office equipment (copier, fax, calculator, etc.), as well as monitoring multiple cameras and utilizing Jail software programs.

Non-Discrimination   FNS Nondiscrimination Statements (NDS) | Food and Nutrition Service

The property tax is an ad valorem tax, that is, a tax based upon value. It's the primary means by which local government pays for services it provides, such as police and fire protection, schools, roads, parks, courts, etc. It involves two separate functions, the assessment function and the budget function. After these functions are completed, the county auditor calculates the appropriate mill rate and that rate is applied to each taxable property to determine the property tax.

The assessor is responsible for discovering, listing and valuing all taxable property. All real property is subject to taxation, unless expressly exempted by law. All property is valued according to its value on February 1 st of each year. All real property is valued at True and Full Value. For residential and commercial property, this equals market value. For agricultural value, it equals its productivity value as defined by North Dakota statute.

The assessor must notify property owners when the valuation increases more than 15% and more than $3,000 True and Full Value. In April of each year, the assessor's assessments are reviewed by the city or township boards of equalization. Within the first ten (10) days of June, the county reviews the assessments of cities and townships. During August of each year, the State Board of Equalization reviews the assessments as finalized by the various counties.

The assessor, by the fair and accurate valuation of property, ensures that everyone shares equitably in the total burden of property taxation.

New or expanding business projects may be granted an exemption for up to five years, in addition to extensions. There is also a remodeling exemption for residences or commercial properties.  Please contact your local assessor or the Pembina County Director of Equalization office for additional information, as the rules are somewhat complex.  You can also visit the State Tax Commissioner web site at: https://www.tax.nd.gov

Certain new single family residences may be exempt up to $150,000 in value for two years if approved by the respective local jurisdiction and county. Please check with your local assessor or Equalization office for to see if the program is offered.

Homes owned and occupied by persons who are a Veteran, blind or have certain disabilities may be eligible for exemption.

Generally speaking, most personal property is exempt.

Certain energy systems and pollution control systems may be exempt.

Charitable, religious, and certain non-profit organization property may be entitled to exemption based on an annual application.

Farm structures are generally exempt. Farm residences occupied by bona fide farmers may complete an annual application to determine eligibility of a possible exemption.

The exemptions listed above are not all inclusive. Most exemptions are listed in the NDCC 57-02-08. Please contact your Pembina County Equalization office for additional information and application forms. Additional information is available at the web site for the State Tax Commissioner https://www.tax.nd.gov

If you feel that your property assessment is excessive and does not represent True and Full value, you may ask for relief.

You should contact your local assessor immediately and ask that your assessment be reviewed.

If you and the assessor cannot agree on a proper assessment, then you may appeal in two different manners. If the current year valuation is at issue, then you may appeal by attending the various equalization meetings. In order to be heard before the State Board of Equalization, you must have appeared before the local and county boards of equalization.

You may also file an abatement on your property for current and previous years relief (2 years). You must file by November 1 st of the year following the year the tax becomes delinquent.

In either case, the burden of proof falls upon the applicant to show that the valuation is incorrect. Therefore, the applicant would need to present information showing that the assessment is not correct.

For additional information, you may visit the Office of State Tax Commissioner Web Site pgs. 7-8 of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. You can also download the abatement application form at this site. You can also contact our office for additional information.

Homeowners who are 65 years of age or older or who are permanently and totally disabled (physicians certificate required) may be entitled to a property tax credit. Qualifications include an annual income less medical expenses of $70,000 or less (including that of spouse, or any dependents). The applicant may receive a credit up to $9,000 in taxable value of the homestead if approved at 100%.

For additional information and application, please contact the Pembina County Director of Equalization office.

Renters may also be entitled to a rent refund under the Homestead Credit program. Renters apply directly with the Office of State Tax Commissioner for this refund.

Additional information on the program is also available at the State Tax Commissioners Web Site  https://tax.nd.gov

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Drain 80 Petition Meeting Presentation