American Police Chief Highlights Kurdish Community’s Vital Role in City’s Growth and Inclusion

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24, Chris Helmick, the Chief of Police in Moorhead, Minnesota, underscored the vital role the Kurdish community plays in the city’s growth and development, praising their contributions and expressing a strong desire to strengthen mutual ties.

Chief Helmick emphasized that the Kurdish community has become an integral and expanding part of Moorhead’s diverse population. “The Kurdish community is obviously a big part of our city here,” he said, noting that their presence is not only visible but also impactful. “It’s a growing population... and definitely a very important part of the community.”

Recognizing the central mission of the police department, Chief Helmick stressed the importance of cultivating strong relationships with all community groups, especially those like the Kurdish community, which represent a significant portion of the city’s demographic. “It’s really important for us to have a good relationship with the Kurdish community, again especially being such a large part of Moorhead,” he stated.

Reflecting on inclusivity and representation, Chief Helmick voiced a clear commitment to diversifying his department. “One thing that we’d like to see is more Kurdish members in our police departments, just so we can reflect better the population of Moorhead,” he said. According to Helmick, integrating Kurdish officers into the police force would strengthen trust and enhance cultural understanding within the community.

He commended the contributions of Kurdish residents to the city’s overall development: “The Kurdish community is very important to this city... They definitely are contributing to the growth and success of the city, and we really enjoy having them as part of our community.”

Asked about broader lessons that could be exchanged between cities and communities, Chief Helmick underscored the importance of learning from one another. “I think the biggest thing is learning from each other,” he remarked. “Each city will have experiences that the other can learn from.”

He acknowledged that Moorhead, like any city, does not have all the answers, particularly in areas of governance and law enforcement. Yet through shared experiences and lessons, Chief Helmick believes that cities and communities can build enduring relationships rooted in cooperation and empathy. “We’re trying to see each other succeed, and we’re trying to help each other do that,” he concluded.