FBI Director Christopher Wray has been on the move, making rounds at the agency’s field offices in Minneapolis as well as resident agencies in Bismarck and Rapid City this week. His visits focused on discussing the Bureau’s efforts in the region and reinforcing the FBI's commitment to collaborative law enforcement work, according to the FBI website.
During his stops, Wray was quoted saying, "The amount of phenomenal work coming out of this division is incredible. To be here and get briefed on everything our folks are doing in the region is inspiring." It appears that the director seeks to not just oversee but also to genuinely engage with those "on the ground doing the work of the FBI," as stated on the FBI website. These visits mark Wray's third to Minneapolis and first to the Dakotas since he began his tenure.
Wray's schedule included meetings with various law enforcement, military, academia, and private sector partners in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Sharp on the agenda were talks about the unique challenges regional law enforcement faces, with particular emphasis on the importance of partnerships in pursuing common goals centered on public safety. This comes as the Minneapolis office, which services both Dakotas as well, manages law enforcement duties on 14 Indian reservations and guards a sizable stretch of the northern U.S. border.
"We’re proud to stand alongside our partners as we work together to keep our communities safe, give victims a voice, and ensure that ‘justice for all’ applies to everyone," Wray was reported to have said, in efforts to combat crime ranging from drug trafficking to violent extremism. He stressed the importance of giving voice to the voiceless and ensuring that the scales of justice are balanced for every individual. With visits to all 56 field offices at least twice since he began his tenure, as per the FBI website.
