Fargo Police Officers Zach Robinson and Andrew Dotas say they can’t forget a Fargo shooting that killed one of their own, but it is important to stay positive, move forward and not dwell on the past.
A year has passed since that unforgettable and tragic day when a typical traffic crash investigation turned into an ambush. A shooter opened fire on officers Dotas, Tyler Hawes and Jake Wallin as they walked along the berm on 25th Street South just north of Ninth Avenue South in central Fargo.
Wallin, a 23-year-old who had been on the job for less than three months, was killed. Dotas, then a six-year veteran, and Hawes, who also started in April 2023, were seriously injured.
The shooting also injured bystander Karlee Koswick.
Robinson, who had been on the force for seven years, took cover before shooting and killing the gunman. His actions earned him the honor of being named one of the top cops in the nation, and it’s likely he prevented a mass shooting in downtown Fargo.
Robinson said he thinks about the shooting every day, but dwelling on it will “eat yourself up.”
“You obviously don’t forget what happened, but it’s about getting up the next day. You just have to keep moving forward,” he said.
Dotas said it is important to stay positive, as they have become the face of the tragedy. If the community sees him, Robinson and Hawes being positive, they will stay positive, too, he said.
“If we can be positive through that, I think that can ripple through the whole department,” he said. “It can ripple through the whole city of Fargo.”
Robinson returned to duty about a month after the shooting. Dotas and Hawes are still on medical leave, and there is no timeline for their return, Fargo city spokeswoman Katie Ettish said.
Dotas said doctors told him his recovery could take almost three years, but he said he has been pushing himself to come back sooner.
“I’m definitely on the last couple stages of hopefully getting back and being stronger than I was before,” he said.
Hawes declined an interview with The Forum.
Robinson and Dotas said they are doing well. Having the support of the Fargo Police Department and the community has made moving forward easier, Robinson said. Everyone in the department went through it together, he said.
“There are a lot of places around the country that may have not reacted the same way as our community did, so we are very fortunate to be here,” he said.
The anniversary is a time to reflect on what happened, Dotas said. The tragedy created bonds within the police department. Family and the community showed so much support, he said.
Dotas acknowledged that they get a lot of attention, but he said he doesn’t want the spotlight to be on them, because Wallin gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“I always want the spotlight to be on Jake and everything that he sacrificed,” Dotas said.
