On 12.28.22 around 10:45 PM, our Department requested the assistance of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office in locating one of their off-duty officers for a welfare check.
Around 11:30 PM, McHenry County deputies located 37 yr old Master Officer Patrick Blanchard in his vehicle near Towner, ND. Deputies and Medical teams attempted life-saving measures; however, Officer Blanchard was eventually pronounced deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound.
(Suicide)
Officer Blanchard, who was also an Army veteran, joined the Minot Police Department in July 2017 and is survived by his two children.
The Department is asking the public for their thoughts and prayers for Officer Blanchard’s family and many friends.
The incident is still under official investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and North Dakota BCI.
