Rocking out

Beloved West Fargo Police Lt. Greg Warren will retire in January

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — “I just love that man.”

When asked about West Fargo Police Lt. Greg Warren, a nearly 50-year veteran of law enforcement, that same initial reply was given, and not just from just his wife of 46 years, Brenda Warren, but from judges, lawmakers, business leaders, fellow law enforcement and even those who met him at a low point. All of them speak highly of the West Fargo investigations department leader.

Kind. Honest. Tenacious. Smart. Fun. Funny. Trustworthy.

People who have met Warren are quick to use those words when describing him or his career in law enforcement, which began in West Fargo in 1975 after a short stint with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. On Jan. 6, Greg Warren will “rock and roll” on out of the West Fargo Police Department for the last time as he begins retirement.

Greg Warren, a Jamestown native, and his wife built their life around law enforcement after meeting there.

WARREN: Page 6

WARREN From Page 6

Brenda Warren, also a longtime public servant of West Fargo, met the tall and lanky dark-haired officer while working as a part-time dispatcher and clerk of court.

“I was blessed when he walked into my life; I truly was,” she said. The two married and had three children, Kate, Missy and Tim, and now have seven grandchildren.

While Brenda Warren tried to ban having a scanner in her home, there were definitely times being a police wife was not easy. Over the years, Greg Warren was on the scene of many of West Fargo’s major incidents, including one in which someone attempted to shoot him.

Brenda Warren attributes her husband’s success to his character.

“He’s just a good and kind man, and he has so much empathy for people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of trouble someone gets in, he will sit down and talk to him. I remember him sitting down prisoners and giving them advice on how to stay out of trouble.”

True to Greg Warren’s way, he was hesitant to speak about his own successes, staying busy with not only work and family but fishing and basketball, which he continues to find time to do. He is also quick to point to others as essential to his work.

Although Warren had plenty of chances to leave the city where he began his investigation career, his loyalty to West Fargo never wavered.

He started his career as a West Fargo police officer in 1975 and worked his way up to become a detective, and then the lead investigations sergeant. He continues to lead the investigations department as lieutenant.

In 1994, he was a finalist for the chief position, which would go to former longtime Police Chief Arland Rasmussen.

“He was a good officer, but more than that, he was a great person,” Rasmussen said. “He is very smart, he did his job excellent, but he made it fun to work with, both as an administrator and for his group. He is just a super, super good person to work with and for.”

Warren became well known not only throughout West Fargo and the state of North Dakota, but nationally and even internationally.

He spearheaded an investigation to bring justice to two West Fargo teens that spanned more than 10 years and two countries. He was responsible for the arrest and eventual conviction of Catholic priest

Fernando Laude Sayasaya in that case.

Warren tracked down Sayasaya to the Philippines, where he was arrested and extradited back to Cass County after 15 years to face state child sexual abuse charges.

Sayasaya was an associate pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo and at Blessed Sacrament in West Fargo. He was removed from his priestly duties in the Fargo Diocese in August 1998 after two brothers accused him of sexually assaulting them. In 2018, he would be convicted of two charges of gross sexual disposition and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

WARREN: Page 8

WARREN From Page 7

“It’s not so much about the law enforcement and or us, it’s about the victims and what happened, and that they get their day,” Warren told the media at the time of Sayasaya’s conviction.

“Greg is respected and admired and truly loved by the staff but also by fellow investigators, no matter if it’s from North Dakota, Minnesota. He’s gotten to be so well known throughout the area; it’s really something to see,” Rasmussen said. “It was really an honor and pleasure to work with Greg Warren.”

While lawyers and law enforcement must work together for the sake of justice, the relationships can sometimes be tense. But with Warren, that isn’t necessarily the case. Cass County District Judge

Wade Webb, a former prosecutor, remains friends with Warren, and he still appreciates their working relationship.

“Greg was amazing. He did well; he’s one of my favorite detectives that I worked with,” Webb said. “He’s hardworking, honest. That matters in law enforcement. And he loves West Fargo.”

Webb was the lead prosecutor on the Sayasaya case.

Cass County District Attorney Birch Burdick also worked with Warren on many high-profile cases and speaks highly of the decorated officer.

“Simply put, Greg is a very decent guy, hardworking, patient and fair,” Burdick said. “West Fargo was wellserved by Greg’s commitment to law enforcement over these many years.”

Greg Warren was also the lead investigator into one of West Fargo’s most notorious murders, that of Cherryl Tendeland. In 1997, Warren was given the North Dakota Peace Officer of the Year Award for his work as lead investigator in the 1995 Tendeland case.

Tendeland was sitting in her car on Nov. 15, 1995, when Barry Garcia, a 16-year-old believed to be part of a gang, walked up to the vehicle and shot her. The murder is credited with spurring the formation of a metro-wide gang task force, still in place today.

Letters of appreciation and commendation from community members, Cass County deputies, U.S. marshals and school district officials fill Warren’s personnel file. Evaluations dating back more than a decade all reflect high marks. The evaluations used a ranking system of one through five, which was the highest score, on a variety of categories where Warren was routinely ranked between a four and five, and received no lower score than a three.

The only recurring theme in Warren’s reviews was a request by his supervisors that he delegate more work to subordinates. “You are very busy and need to get others to assist you more,” a 2011 review read.

Warren was also the leader and organizer of the Red River Child Abduction Response Team, a regional team organized to bring resources together quickly to search for missing children, including local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits.

In 2012, he was awarded the Law Enforcement Gold Medal Award from the city and the department’s Employee of the Year award.

“No matter how stressful the day or situation, Sgt. Warren is always there with a warm smile, a joke, and his much-valued advice for the situation,” one of Warren’s detectives, Derek Cruff, wrote in a letter recommending Warren for the award.

At the time he received the awards, Warren oversaw detectives, the department’s juvenile officer, two school resource officers, the DARE officer, the Cass County Drug task Force officer and the D.E.A. drug task force officer. He continued to stay involved with juveniles and the SRO program at West Fargo Public Schools.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Greg Warren for the last decade through the school district’s partnership with the police department for our SRO program. In those 10 years, our program has experienced many changes, but Greg has been a constant through it all,” said Heather Leas, West Fargo Schools director of health, safety and public relations.

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WARREN From Page 9

“He had the uncanny ability to know exactly when I needed him to swing by the office, whether it was to debrief a situation, discuss upcoming events or needs, or just to share a joke,” she said. “He always made the time to join our monthly team meetings but also spearheaded impromptu get-togethers for the specific purpose of celebrating and recognizing the great work of the SROs on our team.”

“Greg has shown a dedication to the badge and a desire to protect the citizens of West Fargo,” Jim Jonas, school board member and state representative, said. “That professionalism has helped the entire community, and we wish you all the best in retirement.”

In 2020, then-Police Chief Heith Janke helped surprise Warren with the Scheels Hometown Hero Award.

“Every day, after all these years, coming in with a smile, with his expression, ‘Let’s rock and roll and get out there,’” Janke said at the time. “Even though he won’t like this recognition because he likes to have his troops recognized, we want to say, ‘Congratulations. Well deserved.’ ”

A retirement celebration at the West Fargo VFW was held by family and friends on Dec.16. Those who would like to send retirement wishes to the lieutenant may do so by email at warrencg470@gmail.com.

Readers can reach West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at wreuer@forumcomm. com or 701-241-5530. Follow her on Twitter @ForumWendy.