DEVILS LAKE – On Monday, July 13 at approximately 8:11 a.m., Devils Lake City Commissioner Jason Pierce contacted Devils Lake Police to report the discovery of what appeared to be drug paraphernalia, which included a hypodermic needle and a small measuring spoon, in the parking lot south of the 20/20 Eye Care clinic on 211 4th St NE.
Later that same day at 2:14 p.m., Pierce posted about that discovery on Facebook, saying, “PLEASE, first remind your children if they see this sort of thing to not touch or pick it up. Second, call the dispatch center @ 662-5323 so DLPD can come dispose of it properly.”
Pierce then warned that this kind of incident highlights the drug addiction problem in the community, and it would likely continue, “until the state, attorneys, and judges start to enforce NDCC Chapter 19-03.1,” a reference to the North Dakota Century Code’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, and use of controlled substances in the state.
“I am not against Recovery/Addiction Centers,” Pierce added in his post, “but for those who come to our city looking for help and are on a wait list, cannot stay here and do this sort of thing and not suffer the consequences of their actions.”
Pierce then said that the City Commission and the Devils Lake Police Department’s hands were tied due to the policy enacted last year by Governor Kelly Armstrong, which prioritizes rehabilitation over incarceration. Pierce cited Armstrong’s past career as a defense attorney coupled with what he characterized as “a mostly weak state legislature.”
“This part of NDCC has to be improved and the state needs to provide the money to hire the manpower to fight the drug issues we have in North Dakota!” he said in his post, then concluded, “I as a commissioner will not accept that their well being (sic) is above the law abiding citizens well being (sic) of this city! If you break the law, you should spend time behind bars, period! I am so sick and damn tired of the lawless having more rights than the law abiding! While they continue to put people of this city at risk! As a commissioner, I will always put the safety of the residents of Devils Lake first!’
“He’s entitled to his opinion. I don’t have anything to support that,” DLPD Police Chief Jason Toso said when reached for comment on Tuesday, July 14. “In law enforcement we deal in facts. …We’ve been dealing with hypodermic needles in downtown for decades. I don’t think we even had any rehabilitation centers around (back then).”
When reached later for comment on Tuesday, Pierce responded via email that a local resident approached him on Monday to inform him of the discovery and provided the pictures. “I wanted to be open and transparent with the community on what was found and to remind people to make sure they teach their children not to touch things like this if they see it on the ground,” he said. “Also, wanted to inform people of the number to call if they do encounter a situation like this.”
On April 29, 2025, Armstrong signed a package of bills focused on reentry practices, House Bills 1425, 1417 and 1549, originally introduced by Rep. Larry Klemin and co-sponsored by Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, Rep. Greg Stemen, Sen. Kyle Davison and Sen. Diane Larson. According to information from the governor’s office, the bills received widespread support in both chambers for their multi-pronged approach to public safety improvements. Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden and state Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry Jonathan Holth also testified in support of the bills. The new laws focus resources on efforts that interrupt crime, promote recovery and help people leaving prison and jails successfully transition back to the community.
“As I said during my first State of the State address in January, we can’t build our way out of the prison overcrowding problem in North Dakota. We need to be smart on crime, not soft on crime,” Armstrong said at the time. “We appreciate the Legislature and the many partners involved in developing this legislation for providing North Dakotans with a practical approach to public safety that centers on accountability, recovery and reentry.”
“Our Governor and parts of the ND Legislature believe that treatment programs will end the problem,” Pierce said, pointing out that Armstrong has clashed with the State Attorney General Drew Wrigley, as the governor has opposed rigid mandatory minimums and stricter truth-in-sentencing guidelines. “Over the last several years we have seen some great results from treatment and recovery programs. But they don’t fix the problem as a whole.”
Pierce also felt that one underutilized resource is the Lake Region Drug Task Force. “The DLPD has one officer assigned to it; the sheriff’s office has (two), and the BCI has one,” he said. “This task force is funded by tax dollars. The only other funding they can get is by applying for a multi-jurisdictional narcotic task force lottery for grants. This funding can support operational costs of multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces across the state.”
Pierce said it was his opinion that some who are arrested for possession and drug use should be incarcerated and not released on a PR bond (which stands for “personal recognizance bond”) — a type of release from custody that allows a defendant to be freed from jail without paying any bail or posting a bond. A judge grants this kind of release only if they believe the person is not a flight risk and has sufficient ties to the community to ensure their appearance. Their criminal history can also be a factor in whether it’s allowed. Pierce thought that releasing someone under those conditions could lead them back to the same environment surrounded by the same peer group where they might continue to make bad decisions.
“I believe that the rehabilitation process should be done behind the prison/jail walls. Not once the individual is released early and should continue once they are released,” Pierce said. “However, it has been noted to me that the line of folks waiting for treatment and communication between such treatment facilities is lacking.”
He also stressed that he was not pointing the finger of blame at any recovery/addiction centers. “I have met with many people who work in these centers, they are passionate, dedicated people who really want to help people,” Pierce said. “I commend them for their work and dedication. However, the system seems to work against them. Understandably this is frustrating for them.”
“I believe putting some of the blame on our Governor is a fair assessment,” Pierce added. “He supports the rehabilitation over incarceration. Which, in theory is good. However, when it comes to recovery or treatment, you need to want to get treated and end your addiction. I know this first (hand) as I have experienced it in my personal life. For those that do not and keep making the wrong decisions need to be held responsible for their actions.”