North Dakota National Guard Troops Have Not Been Asked to Aid Law Enforcement

(Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Sgt. Chase Murray via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota National Guard troops have not been requested for local or federal law enforcement operations, according to the governor’s office.

State Guard officials have not had any specific discussions about deploying soldiers and airmen domestically, said Adjutant General Mitchell Johnson.

About 1,000 North Dakota National Guard members trained last weekend in their specialties, Johnson told the North Dakota Monitor, but there have not been any discussions about deploying them imminently to assist with crime reduction or immigration enforcement operations. “I would say we are always training to be ready for whatever we might be called for,” Johnson said.

Johnson, also director of the Department of Emergency Services and an Air Force brigadier general, said Friday the National Guard can be activated either federally or by the state to support firefighters and local law enforcement.