Yesterday, April 22, 2021, Chief Zibolski joined West Fargo Police Department Chief Otterness, Governor Doug Burgum, and ND House Representatives Koppelman, Jones, and Satrom for the signing of House Bill 1287. House Bill 1287 provides an enhanced penalty for drug dealers and traffickers found guilty of selling, distributing, or delivering a controlled substance, which causes the death of an individual, while maintaining protections for individuals who report drug overdoses from criminal prosecution under the 'Good Samaritan' law.
With a significant rise in the amount of overdose deaths since 2018, the Department hopes this bill will deter illegal drug trafficking in our community, or at the very least a means to hold those accountable for adversely affecting not only our community, but more specifically the families affected by loss related to overdose.