ND State Patrol announces promotions, assignments

North Dakota State Patrol Colonel Brandon Solberg announces the promotions and reassignment of Lt. Luke Hendrickson, Sgt. Ryan Panasuk, and Trooper Christopher Schaefer.

Trooper Christopher Schaefer was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and will serve as a regional sergeant in the northeast region. Schaefer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Dakota, he became a member of the North Dakota Highway Patrol July 5, 2011. He attended the Highway Patrol Academy, graduating Dec. 22, 2011. He was initially stationed in Rolla as a traffic enforcement trooper and served there until March 31, 2015. On April 1, 2015, he transferred to Motor Carrier Operations in Grand Forks. Sgt. Schaefer began his duties June 3 and will remain in Grand Forks.

Sgt. Ryan Panasuk has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and will serve as the Northwest Regional Commander, Minot. Panasuk earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN and became a member of the North Dakota Highway Patrol Aug.7, 2007. He attended the Highway Patrol Academy, graduating Feb. 7, 2008. He was stationed in Grand Forks as a traffic enforcement trooper and was promoted to rank of sergeant on May 1, 2015, and has served as a sergeant in the Northeast Region, Grand Forks since then. He was promoted at a ceremony in Grand Forks on June 2 and began his duties in the Northwest region June 3.

Lt. Luke Hendrickson has been promoted to Captain and will serve as the Administrative Services Division Commander. Hendrickson joined the North Dakota Highway Patrol after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University in 2002. He attended the Highway Patrol Academy, graduating in October 2003. He was stationed in Devils Lake as a traffic enforcement trooper from October 2003 until December 2006, then as a traffic enforcement trooper until October 2013. He was promoted to rank of Sergeant in November 2013 and assigned as a regional sergeant in Fargo until May 31, 2021. He was then promoted to rank of lieutenant and transferred to Minot to serve as the regional commander of the Northwest region until Dec.16, 2021, and then transferred to Bismarck to serve as the Southwest Regional Commander. Captain Hendrickson began his duties June 4.