Two finalists to interview for Bismarck police chief position as retirement of current chief approaches

Bismarck, N.D. – The City of Bismarck has named two finalists in its search for the next police chief, following the upcoming retirement of current Chief Dave Draovitch at the end of July. Daniel Weigel and Jason Stugelmeyer will interview for the opportunity to lead the 151-year-old department.

“It’s always difficult when you start talking about the end of someone’s career,” said City Administrator Jason Tomanek. “But for a strong municipal organization to remain dynamic, we need that next generation of good leaders to step up and begin leading the department on a continued path toward success.”

Weigel is currently a patrol commander with the University of North Dakota Police Department in Grand Forks. Since 2012, he has held several leadership roles within the department, including investigations commander, public information officer, and patrol sergeant. He also previously served as a deputy with the Walsh County Sheriff’s Office. A 2018 graduate of UND with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Weigel has served on the Grand Forks City Council since 2016.

Stugelmeyer, a deputy chief with the Bismarck Police Department, has been with the agency for 24 years. His experience spans from patrol officer to detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. He also served 15 years with the West Dakota SWAT Team. Stugelmeyer is a three-time Badge of Hope recipient, two-time Meritorious Service Award winner, and was named Officer of the Year in 2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Minnesota-Moorhead.

The hiring process began after Draovitch announced his retirement in May, marking the end of a law enforcement career that began in 1989. Of the seven applicants for the position, four advanced to the testing phase, though one withdrew before completing the process.

The final decision will follow interviews conducted by a five-member panel that includes Mayor Michael Schmitz, City Commissioner John Risch, City Administrator Jason Tomanek, Human Resources Director Leanne Schmidt, and Fire Chief Joel Boespflug.