Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch Announces Retirement Plans After 36 Years of Service
Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch has announced his intent to retire from the Bismarck Police Department (BPD) after 36 years of dedicated service. His final day with the department will be July 31, 2025.
Law enforcement has had a constant presence in Draovitch’s life. His father, Dan, was the Chief of Police for the Minot Police Department. His wife is a retired police officer, and her father was the Chief of Police for the Fargo Police Department.
Reflecting on his career, Chief Draovitch shared, “I have been truly blessed to work alongside some of the finest men and women in law enforcement. It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Bismarck, and I have been immensely proud to call this community home throughout my career.”
Chief Draovitch started his career with the Bismarck Police Department as a patrol officer in 1989 serving in that role until 2003. He was promoted to Sergeant, where he supervised a patrol shift from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant and later to Deputy Chief in 2013. In 2018, he was appointed Chief of Police and will retire in that role.
“Having lived in Bismarck the majority of my life, I have appreciated the service that the Bismarck Police Department provides for our community,” said Bismarck Mayor Mike Schmitz. “Over the past few years as Mayor, I have gotten an opportunity to see first-hand the pride that Chief Draovitch takes in servant leadership, and I’ve taken to heart the smile on his face when he talks about citizens from Bismarck sticking up for their law enforcement officers in conversations or on social media. Bismarck has benefitted in so many ways from his dedication and service, culminating with his leadership as Chief of Police over these past eight years. We wish him nothing but the greatest retirement possible.”
A proud K-9 handler during his patrol years, Chief Draovitch worked closely with K-9 partners Bo and Kodiak and was widely regarded as a cornerstone of the patrol division, where he spent much of his career.
During his tenure as Bismarck Police Chief, Chief Draovitch led the department through a period of unprecedented growth and modernization. Under his leadership, the BPD implemented body-worn cameras, upgraded ballistic protection to enhance officer safety, launched a comprehensive drone program, and adopted Intelligence-Led Policing to strengthen data-driven public safety strategies. Chief Draovitch led the department in the 2021 and 2025 re-accreditation process for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the gold standard for credentialing public safety agencies.
Chief Draovitch said when he retires, he will leave with confidence knowing the department is in capable hands, supported by dedicated officers and a strong leadership team. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, service, and commitment to the safety and well-being of the Bismarck community.