Press Article: Controversy Surrounds Ward County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant After Steroid Allegations
MINOT — A recent investigation into the Ward County Sheriff’s Department has revealed troubling allegations concerning Detention Officer Thomas Crowe, who was promoted to lieutenant in February 2023 despite knowledge of his alleged steroid use. The investigation began amidst the suicide of a Minot Police Department officer in 2022, during which law enforcement discovered steroids potentially tied to Crowe.
Crowe was ultimately fired after admitting to an investigator that he had purchased and distributed illegal steroids. Despite previous knowledge of these allegations, Crowe was not subjected to drug testing and was promoted multiple times in the past year. The Ward County Sheriff’s Department stated it did not intervene, relying instead on the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to address these claims.
The BCI clarified that while steroids were found at the deceased officer’s residence, Crowe’s involvement was not formally investigated. As additional allegations of sexual harassment against Crowe surfaced, the internal investigation led to further scrutiny of departmental practices, including failures to act on prior warnings regarding Crowe’s behavior.
Both department leadership and previous colleagues have raised concerns about a lack of accountability and transparency in handling Crowe’s case, highlighting systemic issues within law enforcement.
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