2020 Cass County Sheriff's Office Annual Report-North Dakota

Sheriff Jesse Jahner
message from your
sheriff
As your elected Sheriff, it is my honor to
present the 2020 Cass County Sheriff’s
Office Annual Report. The year 2020 was
a challenging year for most as we worked
through the COVID-19 pandemic. The
pandemic brought some challenges
to our office as we looked for ways to
continue interacting with our citizens
even though social distancing and other
precautions were put into place. We observed a slight decrease in reported calls for
service but noticed a slight increase in theft and burglary calls. Across the board,
in terms of calls for service, some criminal activities, arrests, and incarceration
rates we were lower than in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in
how law enforcement was handling calls for service and arrests. I am very proud
of the way our staff has adapted to changes caused by the pandemic.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has
approximately 238 employees; 135 of those
are sworn officers. The men and women
of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office’s are
committed to providing public safety,
building community partnerships, and, most
importantly, working hard to make Cass
County a safe place to live and raise your
families.
Our office appreciates the support and trust we receive each day from our citizens
as we work to serve and protect you. The office of Sheriff is an elected position,
each day our Deputies go on duty; they work hard to serve and earn your trust.
“
I hope you find this report
informative and learn of ways we
work to serve the community. I
want to thank all of you for the
opportunity to serve as your
Cass County Sheriff.
I am very proud of
the way our staff
has adapted to
changes caused by
the pandemic.
”
Jesse Jahner
Jesse Jahner
Cass County Sheriff
Jesse F. Jahner, Cass County Sheriff
Sheriff Jesse F. Jahner was elected as Cass County Sheriff in 2019. Sheriff Jahner
began his employment with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in May of 1998 as a
Correctional Officer. During his time at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, he has
worked as a Patrol Deputy, Narcotics Detective assigned to the Narcotics Drug
Task Force, Sergeant overseeing Patrol and Investigations, Department Training
Sergeant, and has supervised the Metro Area Street Crimes Unit. In 2008 and 2009,
Jesse worked for the Sturgis Police Department during the Sturgis Motorcycle
Rally.
Sheriff Jahner was promoted to Captain in August 2016 and supervised the Field
Services Division, which included patrol, emergency preparedness, school resource
program, street crimes, fugitive recovery, public information officer, department
training, and special operations.
Sheriff Jahner also served with the Red River Valley SWAT Team for 17 years as an
operator, team leader, and assistant commander. During his time with Red River
Valley SWAT, Sheriff Jahner supervised swat operators during several barricaded
gunmen situations.
In 2009, 2011, and 2019 Cass County experienced major flooding. During these
floods, Sheriff Jahner acted as search and rescue commander supervising airboat
rescue teams.
Sheriff Jahner is a nationally certified Police Instructor and has provided over 2,000
hours of Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) certified
training hours to officers in North Dakota, Minnesota, and
South Dakota. Sheriff Jahner has received over 3,300
hours of specialized training and holds several
instructor certifications to include Less Lethal
and Chemical Munitions Instructor, Firearms
Instructor, Critical Incident Management
Instructor, Use of Force Instructor, Emergency
Vehicle Operations Instructor, and Defensive
Tactics Instructor, and taught a 40-hour
Basic SWAT Course from 2008 to 2018.
In 2017 Sheriff Jahner was appointed
to the North Dakota Peace Officer
Standards and Training Board by the
North Dakota Attorney General and
serves as a board member overseeing
Peace Officer Standards and Training for
the State of North Dakota. In 2020 Sheriff
Jahner was selected to serve on the Crime
Victim Services Board and acts 2 nd Vice-
Chair for the Dakota Territories Sheriff’s
Association.
Sheriff Jahner is a graduate of the
Department of Home Land Security
Leadership Academy, FBI Leadership
Trilogy Courses, and has recently
completed the National Command and
Staff College’s academic portion.

mission |Vision |values
Mission
The mission of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office is to enhance public safety by building
strong community partnerships, department partnerships, and providing excellent
customer service.
Vision
We will accomplish our mission by working with our communities
and other departments as a unified team to foster trust and
safety through professionalism, enforcing the rule of law, treating
all individuals fair and equal, be forward-thinking, and provide
a high level of training to excel as an organization.
Values
We value all members of our community and
organization. We are committed to providing
exceptional public service and safety through
professionalism, integrity, respect, fairness,
accountability, teamwork, and reasonableness.

Corrections
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Corporal
B-32
CO II
CO PT
Roster
Booking
Clerk
Account
Tech
Medical
Transport
Reception
CSU
Classification
Medical
Commissary
Clerk
Mental
Health
Task Force
Investigations
Captain
Sergeant
Detective
Admin
Assistant
Training
Sheriff
Chief Deputy
Patrol
Captain
Sergeant
Corporal
Patrol
SRU
Accounting
Lieutenant
Court Services
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Corporal
Civil &
Warrants
Court
Support
Special Projects
Lieutenant
Executive
Assistant
SRD
organizational chart

Cheif Deputy harmon
Mickey Harmon is a 33 year veteran with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and
serves as the Chief Deputy. Chief Deputy Harmon began her career in 1979 with
the Ward County Sheriff’s Office. Harmon served in several different capacities
to include a Correctional Officer, Patrol Deputy, and the Civil Process/Warrants
Division. Harmon began her employment with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in
1988 as a Correctional Officer.
Harmon was promoted to Sergeant in May 1991 and worked in that capacity until
being selected to serve on the transition team in September 2000. As a team
member, she was tasked with policy and training development.
In September 2002, Harmon was selected to oversee the Court Security and
Inmate Transport Division. These duties included scheduling inmate transports,
courtroom security assignments, and courthouse security.
In July 2012, Harmon was promoted to Captain and served as Division Commander
of the Court Security, Inmate Transport Division and Administrative Division,
including the annual budget preparation, staff requisition, quartermaster, and
grant management.
Harmon was promoted to Chief Deputy in September 2017 and is tasked with
overseeing each division, including the Jail, Civil Process & Warrants, Patrol,
Training, Special Projects, and Investigations. Harmon continues to write and
manage grants as well as the annual Cass County Sheriff’s Office budget.
2020
$19,617,397.00
2019
$20,420,376.00
budget | Financial

office of professional standards
Department Complaints
-Medication Error
-On/Off-Duty Conduct Unbecoming
-Performance
-Attendance
-Driving Conduct
-Insubordination
-Intoxicants
public complaints
-Unsatisfactory Deputy Interaction
-Deputy Driving Conduct
-Off-Duty Conduct Unbecoming
ethics | Integrity | Trust | safety
2020 complaints
Sustained 10
Unfounded 1
lieutenant briggeman
Lieutenant Tim Briggeman began his career in 2004 as a
correctional deputy and was promoted to the rank of
Corporal in 2007. In January of 2008 Tim transferred into
Field Services as a patrol deputy.
In 2013 Tim was promoted to the rank of Corporal
and ultimately transferred out of the patrol unit in
October of 2015 holding the rank of Sergeant. Tim
remained in the special projects division overseeing
the school resource deputies, Cass Clay Unified
School Response coordinator and served as the
public information officer for the sheriff’s office.
In 2019 Tim was promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant and took on additional
responsibilities overseeing the Office
of Professional Standards and the
Use of Force Committee.

Lieutenant Henrickson
promotions | 2020
Amanda Henrickson is a 19 year veteran
with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and
serves as the Administrative Lieutenant. She
started as a Correctional Officer in 2002 and
was promoted to Corporal in 2005, where
she was a first-line supervisor in the jail.
Henrickson was promoted to Sergeant in
2011, serving in the shift commander role
at the jail, until April 2015, when she was
promoted to Lieutenant as the Assistant
Jail Administrator.
In 2018, Lt Henrickson was reassigned to
an Administrative Lieutenant, where she is
in charge of new hire backgrounds, policy,
uniforms and equipment, and assists with
human resources. Lt Henrickson is a certified
instructor through ND POST and serves as
the Program Director for Cass County’s own
Correctional Officer Basic Training Academy.
Lieutenant Joel Stading
Sergeant Myron Canales
Sergeant Kale Peterson
Corporal Sean Brekke Corporal Chris Bunge Corporal Sam Fetting
Corporal Justin Goldstein Corporal Jake Longlet Corporal Jamison Smestad
Sergeant Keenan Zundel
Detective Jake Wiedenman
Corporal Cole Thomsen

Civil and Warrants
Court Transport and Security
Administrative | Court Services
2019 2020
Warrants Received 3,951 4,631
Warrants Cleared/Served 4,046 4,489
Outstanding Active Warrants
Felony 808 961
Misdemeanor 2,747 2,652
Civil 12 15
Total 3,567 3,628
Civil Process Papers Received 10,367 9,457
Civil Service Revenues $231,628.20 $179,336.75
Court Hearings 2019 2020
ITV (Interactive TV) In-Custody Court Hearings 5,559 4,969
Mental Health Hearings 298 285
In-Custody Hearings: Bench/Jury Trials etc. 1,932 1,411
Protection Order Hearings 113 227
Transport 2019 2020
Mental Health Transports 161 168
State Hospital Transports 65 4
State Inmate Transports 1,371 788
Public Security Screening into the
Courthouse & Annex Buildings
Lieutenant Joel Stading is a 30 year veteran with the
Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Joel began his career in
1991 as a correctional officer at the Cass County Jail.
In 1994, Joel was assigned to Field Services as a patrol
deputy and worked in Field Services until 2001, when
he transferred into the Warrants Division. Joel was
promoted to detective in 2011 in the Investigations
Division and later promoted to Sergeant of the
Warrants/Civil Division in 2017.
In 2020 Joel was promoted to Lieutenant’s rank and
took on additional responsibilities overseeing the
Cass County Courthouse and Annex buildings for
proper security for the employees and the public
seeking services at the facility. Joel supervises inmate
transports to and from other facilities, counties, and
states. Joel conducts and oversees civil process and
court orders, along with warrants issued by the court
brought to our office for service.
2019 2020
230,098 118,086
Lieutenant STADING

corrections | Jail
Cass County Jail Summary
2020 was a year that the jail was heavily impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. By
mid-March, we were forced to re-evaluate our everyday operations and prioritize
inmate and staff health.
All inmate programming was suspended on March 17 due to the risk of contagion
as local cases of COVID infection were identified. Only critical operational staff
were permitted to enter the jail’s secure area, and extensive protective screening
protocols began well before they started in the local community. Mandatory mask
use, temperature screening, and COVID symptom monitoring was started for all
staff, all local law enforcement seeking to enter the jail intake area, and for all new
arrival inmates into the facility.
The jail modified the housing plan to dedicate one housing unit for quarantining
of new arrivals while working with local law enforcement and the local courts to
review arrest and detention criteria. Within a month, it became necessary to designate
a second housing unit to quarantine and screen new arrivals to the facility.
In April, as the pandemic’s local impact worsened, eventually, the local courts suspended
normal operations, and local businesses were shut down. The number of
arrests at that point plummeted, and the total headcount in the jail dropped as
low as 139 people, which was the lowest headcount at the jail since it was fully
evacuated during the 2009 Flood.
With the courts temporarily suspending all but initial appearances, even though
the total number of arrests dropped, the headcount steadily rose due to hearings
and trials being postponed. By the end of June, when courts were reopening, the
jail headcount was up to 225, and by the end of July was nearly back at normal
average, with a high of 263.
Social Distancing efforts were nearly impossible as the headcount rose. With the
change in arrest practices still in effect, this had a compounding effect that nearly
all of those in custody were in for serious felony-level charges – at one point, nine
different people in custody with a Murder charge.
Additional cleaning and educational efforts, combined with screening and testing
practices, remained in effect. We were able to hold off on any signs of infection
within the general population until November, when we identified a small outbreak
of COVID 19 within one housing pod. Ultimately, that outbreak was contained to
fewer than 30 total people, out of an average population that had grown to 290.
The jail ended up locking down completely for nearly three weeks to resolve that
outbreak.
All programming remained suspended due to COVID19 throughout 2020, and so
far, no additional outbreaks have occurred. The jail made it through 2020 with no
inmate deaths or even serious illness due to COVID19.
The COVID19 pandemic also brought about some significant advances in technology
at the jail. Out of necessity, the jail introduced telemedicine capabilities for the
first time on a widespread basis. Video conferencing was adopted for internal and
interagency meetings, and the additional equipment and connectivity capabilities
enabled the jail to expand the use of video appearances for court and mental
health services and evaluations.
During 2020, the jail was able to accommodate hundreds of remote appearances
in other jurisdictions, completion of evaluations and assessments via remote video,
and prevented the need to physically transport inmates in all of those cases.
Captain Frobig
Captain Andrew Frobig serves as the Jail Administrator at the
Cass County Jail. Andrew began his career with the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office in 2004 as a Correctional Officer. Between 2007
and 2012, Andrew served in various supervisory ranks as a
Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Andrew was appointed as
the Jail Administrator in 2014.
During his career, Andrew has served on various teams,
including the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT),
Peer Assistance Crisis Team (PACT), Field Readiness Training (FRT),
and also as a Field Training Officer (FTO). Captain Frobig has also
served on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) since 2010. He serves
as the Secretary/Treasurer of the ND Correctional Administrators
Association since 2014, previously served on the board of the Cass
County Youth Commission from 2012 thru 2020, and developed
the Community Supervision Unit (CSU) in 2017. Andrew has also
served on various advisory boards with the National Sheriff’s
Association, Rasmussen College Criminal Justice Program, and
with several local stakeholder agencies in the Fargo area.
Andrew oversees the operations of the jail facility and ensures the
safety and security of staff and inmates. Andrew plans for future
needs of the jail and manages the facility budget. Captain Frobig
also coordinates with the courts, law enforcement agencies, service
providers, and stakeholders to address any needs that arise.

corrections | mission
Cass County Jail Mission
It is the mission of the Cass County Jail to provide a safe and secure confinement for lawfully committed
inmates or detainees in compliance with standards set forth by the North Dakota Century Code and
the North Dakota Administrative Jail Rules. The primary goal of the jail is to provide the safety of Cass
County citizens by detaining lawfully committed inmates in the most efficient and cost-effective manner
as possible.
The jail will be managed in a manner that will foster a positive atmosphere between the staff and inmate
population with the expectation that mutual respect will be displayed at all times. This will be accomplished
by employing well-trained and motivated staff, maintaining a safe and secure physical plant and providing
inmate programs that will offer them an opportunity to help prepare themselves for eventual reintegration
into their communities. Inmates will be held accountable for their actions. Incentive for good behavior is
provided through a classification system that will reward positive behavior. We will strive toward the goal
that inmates will leave this facility in the same or better condition as when they arrived.
SAFETY | SECURE | RESPECT | PROGRAMS

Jail Population | Visitation | MH Services
24-7 Sobriety Program
corrections | jail
2019 2020
Average Daily Population 276 247
Highest Population 323 319
Lowest Population 225 139
Total Intakes 9,105 6,932
Male 6,829 (75%) 5,189 (75%)
Female 2,276 (25%) 1,743 (25%)
Average Length of Stay 14 Days 14 Days
Total Days Served 125,094 97,494
Visitation Appointments 18,457 11,183
Via Remote Video 1,667 (9%) 2,103 (19%)
Mental Health Flagged at Intake 5,459(60%) 6,394(92%)
Referred for New MH Services 1,510(17%) 1,044(15%)
% on Psychotropic Medication 20% 35%
% on Prescription Meds 33% 40%
24-7 Sobriety Program
The 24/7 Sobriety Program has been in operation in North Dakota since January
2008.
Participation in the 24/7 Sobriety Program may be ordered through the court as a
condition of bond, pre-trial release, or as a condition of sentence or probation for
any violation where drugs or alcohol may be involved, cases involving domestic
abuse, or abuse/neglect of a child.
An individual may also get approval through the ND Department of Transportation
to volunteer and participate in the 24/7 Sobriety Program to obtain a temporary
restricted driver’s license.
An individual arrested for a second or subsequent DUI is required as a condition of
bond to refrain from alcohol use and report to a specific law enforcement location
to be placed in the 24/7 Sobriety Program for alcohol testing. If the individual fails
a test, he or she is immediately taken into custody. If the arrestee fails to show for
testing, bond is revoked.
2019 2020
SCRAM Bracelet 351 384
Drug Patch 583 279
Daily Breath Testing 485 225
Remote Breath Testing n/a 12
2020
SCRAM Ankle Bracelet Days Monitored 66,483
Daily Compliance Rate 98.9%
Remote Breath Testing Days Monitored 230
Daily Compliance Rate 94%
*In 2020, breath testing was suspended in April through the end of the year due to COVID-19
Lieutenant fuller
Lieutenant Katie Fuller serves as the Assistant Jail
Administrator at the Cass County jail. Katie began her
career with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office as a parttime
Juvenile Detention Deputy in 2007 and later started
working full time at the jail as a correctional officer in 2009.
In 2012 Katie was promoted to the rank of Corporal; in
2013, Katie was promoted to Jail Sergeant in the booking
area. In 2015 Katie was reassigned as the Court Transport
Sergeant.
In 2016 Katie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant as
the Assistant Jail Administrator. Katie supervises the shift
commanders and ensures that security operations are
performed in accordance with policy and procedure. She
coordinates facility maintenance needs, manages compliance
with all state and federal operational standards, and collaborates
with vendors to ensure compliance with existing agreements
for food services and inmate communications. She also serves
as the facility PREA Coordinator.

community supervision unit | CSU
Mission
To provide effective supervision of participants in a community setting. We accomplish this by identifying certain needs of
the individual defendant and ensuring that they are connected with services that will assist in meeting those needs.
Goal
To reduce recidivism by identifying needs and working to overcome barriers to progress and success.
Focus
We focus on four pillars of a needs-based continuum—Housing, Employment, Transportation,
and Treatment for unaddressed or under-addressed behavioral health concerns. We also seek
to identify other factors where assistance and connection will improve outcomes.
Participants may live at home under house arrest, with permission to travel for certain needs
or employment. Participants may be registered and admitted into a residential drug or
alcohol treatment program. Perhaps a solution somewhere in the middle is appropriate. We
are limited only by the services available in the community and the identified needs of the
participant.

community supervision unit | CSU
purpose of the csu program
Launched in April of 2018, the community supervision program allows
participants to serve a sentence in a community setting as an alternative to
incarceration.
Participants must meet specific qualifications and be sentenced to all local
charges with no outstanding warrants or holds for other jurisdictions.
Pretrial participation is based on bond conditions set forth by the court of
jurisdiction.
Candidates are screened and assessed for risk of violence, risk to abscond, and
risk of non-compliance.
Those selected are required to comply with program requirements, to remain
law-abiding, and must wear a GPS ankle bracelet.
There are no daily fees for participation, but other court-ordered programs,
such as alcohol and drug monitoring, may require payment of certain fees.
Participants are required to actively participate in setting goals, actively
pursue progress on their goals, and must maintain regular contact with their
supervising deputy.
In return for active participation and compliance with program standards, all
time served in good standing while on this program is counted as time served
toward the entire sentence.
Accountability | Success | Achievements
Community Supervision Unit 2019 2020
Total Participants 262 175
Success Rate of Completing CSU 78.63% 64.14%
Participants Attending a Treatment Program 146 104
Success Rate of Completing CSU 72.6% 66.34%
Pretrial Participants (Did Not Post Bond) 119 90
Total Jail Bed Days Saved 10,211 10,476
In 2019, 75.66% of participants had no recidivism within a year of completing the program.
Participants are considered “in-custody” while serving their time in this program. Supervising deputies
are empowered to make discretionary decisions on a case-by-case basis in situations of willful noncompliance.
At the low end, a participant may be subject to increased or more intensive supervision.
In more serious cases of non-compliance, a participant can be removed and placed back in jail, either
as an intermediate and temporary measure or to serve the remainder of their sentence.
Participants are sentenced to the custody of the Sheriff’s Office, even while serving time under
Community Supervision. In cases where a participant fails to maintain contact or absconds completely,
escape charges are possible and likely.
*2020 recidivism statistics will not be calculated until January 2022.
Participants who remain compliant are rewarded with direct assistance in connecting to and receiving
necessary services, credit for time served, and the opportunity to improve their lives by addressing
the contributing factors to their involvement in the criminal justice system. Successful participants will
complete their sentence knowing that they contributed to their own achievements, hopefully breaking
the cycle of criminal behavior and recidivism.
participant accountability

field services | Patrol
County Beats
Cass County is 1,768 square miles with a population of approximately 181,923.
Cass County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services to all of Cass
County.
The 1,768 square miles are divided into
three patrol districts/zones to strategically
place Patrol Deputies throughout the
coverage area to ensure the quickest
response, with deputies traveling
approximately 450,316 miles in 2020 and
handling over 22,000 reported calls for
service.
Patrol
The patrol staff takes a pro-active approach to law enforcement with the
ultimate goal to prevent crime and violence.
There are five communities, Casselton, Horace, Kindred, and Mapleton, within
Cass County that contract with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office for increased
Law Enforcement Services.
In an effort to safeguard the rights, lives, and property of the citizens of
Cass County, we have implemented the Adopt-A-Community Program. This
program is designed to strengthen community spirit and build support for
crime prevention.
2020 truck regulatory overweight violations
$64,515.00
Patrol 2019 2020
Calls for Service 30,120 22,645
Case Reports 1,127 1,055
Traffic Citations/Warnings 4,753 3,733
DUI/Refusals 109 119
MIC/MIP 62 74
Captain Haaland
Captain Haaland began his career in June of 1989 as a part-time Juvenile Detention Officer. In December
1990, Haaland was transferred to the Cass County Jail and served in a part-time capacity until he was
promoted to full-time also in 1990.
In 1994 Haaland was offered and accepted a patrol deputy position and served within that division until
2002.
Haaland transferred to the Civil Process Division in 2002 and served within that division through 2009.
Haaland was promoted to Corporal in 2010 and transferred back to the Patrol
Division as a first-line supervisor.
In 2012 the National Sheriff’s Association committee chair asked
Sergeant Haaland to serve on the National Sheriff’s Association
Traffic Safety board, and Haaland still serves on the committee to
this day.
In May 2013, Haaland was promoted to Sergeant
and continued to work in the Patrol Division until
September 2017.
Haaland was promoted to Captain September
2017 and oversaw Courthouse Operations, Civil
Process & Warrants, and Administrative Assistants.
In September 2019, Captain Haaland returned to
patrol to serve as its Division Commander.
In January of 2019, Captain Haaland was also asked
to sit on the National Sheriff’s Association Court
Transport and Civil Process Committee and still sits on
the committee to this day.
Captain Haaland has been a long-time member
of TRIAD, a group of seniors, business, and law
enforcement leaders tasked with our community
senior citizen’s well-being.

Sheriff Reserve Unit
Sheriff Reserve Unit | SRU
The Sheriff’s Reserve Unit (SRU) is composed of up to 25 SRU Deputies that are
fully uniformed sworn deputies, under the authority of the Cass County Sheriff,
with the primary function of working special events to include the Red River
Valley Fair, street dances, barn dances, traffic control, public appearances, and
other tasks as assigned.
In 2019 alone, SRU deputies volunteered over 3,880 hours between working
events and the training requirements. Of those approximately 3,800 hours,
SRU FRTs spent over 1,000 hours patrolling Cass County in marked patrol cars,
saving $111,100 in taxpayer’s dollars. Due to COVID-19 and fewer events, the
numbers were down for 2020. In 2020, SRU deputies volunteered over 1,000
hours, saving the taxpayers $26,963.62.
First-year recruits are expected to go through approximately 90 hours of training
in their first year. During this time, the candidate is not a sworn deputy until
after successfully completing the training program that lasts from December
and goes until graduation in June. At the graduation ceremony, the Sheriff will
swear in the candidates as Cass County Deputies.
We strive to maintain a high level of public safety, integrity, professionalism,
transparency, and training. Our goal is to provide the best public services to
our citizens with the amount of resources available. The Sheriff’s Reserve Unit
is fiscally responsible and saves the citizens of Cass County taxpayer dollars.
Hours volunteered
2019 2020
Training Hours 1,206.25 289.20
Regular Work Hours 399.00 256.50
Field Readiness Training (FRT) 1,055.81 354.00
Special Event Hours 1,219.25 123.75
Total Hours 3,880.31 1,023.45
Total Dollars Savings $111,108.44 $26,963.62

Crimes against person/society
Investigations
investigations
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division
consists of a captain, one sergeant who oversees dayto-day
operations, and six investigators. Investigators
assigned to this division also work as members of
the Cass County Drug Task Force, Child Abduction
Response Team, and Internet Crimes Against Children
Task Force. The Investigations Division also coordinates
the Sex Offender Registration Program.
The investigations division supports the patrol and
corrections divisions with investigative assistance
when requested. Investigators conduct follow-up
investigations on cases from the patrol division and
citizen web tips. Investigations assist with a variety
of cases to include: assaults, burglaries, unattended
deaths, and homicide.
Sergeant Gabrielson
Sergeant Steve Gabrielson is a 44-year veteran of the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office and serves as the Investigations Division Sergeant.
Sgt. Gabrielson began his career in 1977 as a Correctional
Officer at the Cass County Jail. Since then, he has
served in many different roles to include: Patrol, Civil
Process, Warrants, and Investigations. Sgt. Gabrielson
is one of the original Red River Valley SWAT Team
members.
Sgt. Gabrielson has been at the forefront of
implementing the Children’s Advocacy Center and
has been a member of the Child Abduction Response
Team, Sexual Assault Response Team, Domestic
Abuse Response Team, and the Human Trafficking
Task Force.
Sgt. Gabrielson also serves as the commander of the
Cass County Airboat Search and Rescue team.

School Resource | SRD
School Resoure Deputy Program
In January of 2008, we placed our first school resource deputy in a rural school
setting. The partnership between our rural school districts and the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office continued to grow into four SRD’s in five school districts.
Issues that affect our rural communities are reflected in students’ needs, just as
school-related issues affect the community as a whole. The presence of carefully
selected and trained school resource deputies represents the essence of
community policing principles. The SRD’s are not only at the schools to improve
security but to build positive relationships between youth and law enforcement
and to alleviate growing community concerns about school safety.
Deputy Rufat Agayev
Deputy Joseph Koerber
Deputy Joe Crawford
Deputy Jason Scott
A Day in the Life of a School Resource Deputy...
Establishing a liaison with school administrators, faculty, and students to provide a safe school
environment.
Working to prevent juvenile delinquency through close contact and positive relationships with
students.
Conducting or assisting with investigations of criminal law violations occurring in the school or on
school property.
Being visible in the school community by participating in school activities.
Developing and implementing classes for students on law-related topics or other topics relating
to students.
Positively promoting the law enforcement profession by being a positive role model for the students.
In 2020 the day in the life of a School Resource Deputy changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the schools proceeded to distance learning, the deputies helped staff disinfect the schools
to prevent the spread of the disease. During the pandemic, the SRD’s also deliver meals to their
students, conduct welfare checks, and assist the school administration and school board in
developing policy, restart plans, and the next steps.
School contracts | Funding
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and its participating school districts share the School Resource Deputy’s
cost, with 75% of the salary and benefits paid by the participating school districts, and Cass County pays
the remaining 25%.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office provides each SRD with a fully equipped squad car, uniforms, equipment,
licensing, and training.
2019: $58,630 for Full-Time (Maple Valley, Central Cass, Northern Cass)
$29,315 for 20 hours per week (Kindred District)
$17,589 for 12 hours per week (Mapleton Elementary)
2020: $60,799 for Full-Time
$30,399 for 20 hours per week
$18,240 for 12 hours per week
trust | Inspire | Prevention | Response

Training
training | education
The COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges for the community during the
2020 calendar year, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office training division was no
exception.
The training division had to make numerous modifications,
resulting in smaller class sizes and certain training curriculums
put on hold. However, the essential training topics were
maintained to ensure the professional conduct and
safety of our deputies were covered to provide a high
quality of service to the community.
The training division incorporated
cultural diversity and Alzheimer’s
awareness to the curriculum and continued
to train on firearms proficiency, defensive tactics,
and Use of Force. If applicable, our deputies also
attended a variety of other trainings deemed
appropriate and necessary for the position they
hold within the office. All in all, deputies attend
approximately 60 hours of in-house training in
addition to outside training courses.
Despite the challenges the pandemic posed to the training
division, Sheriff Jahner is pleased the office
stayed true to our vision and continued to
provide a high level of training to continue
and excel as an organization.
Mental Health Awareness
In September 2020, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office launched a series of public
safety announcements for a Mental Health Awareness Campaign.
The 30 to 15 second animated
commercials were used to raise
awareness for those we serve,
acknowledging everyone’s mental
health matters. They were digitally
placed on billboards, shared on TV
commercials, shared on the Cass County
Sheriff’s social media platforms, our
YouTube channel and the Cass County
website.
We encourage everyone to take care of their
mental health, and to those who may be
struggling, please know that you are not alone.
Get help today because your mental health
matters.
These are tough times, no question about
it. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old
you are, or where you came from, everyone
needs a little help sometimes. Depression
and mental illness is not a weakness; it’s
called being a human.
mental health awareness | psa

SWAT | Negotiations | Bomb
Red River Valley Special Weapons and Tactics Team | SWAT
The Red River Valley Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is comprised of
regional law enforcement officers from the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Fargo
Police Department, Moorhead Police
Department, West Fargo Police Department,
NDSU Police Department, and medics
from FM Ambulance and Sanford flight. The
Cass County Sheriff’s Office currently has two
members on the SWAT team. The SWAT team is
a highly specialized unit that deploys to high-risk
incidents in the Red River Region that are viewed
as extremely dangerous in nature. In 2020, The Red
River Valley Swat Team was deployed 14 times.
Red River Valley Regional Negotiations Unit
The Red River Valley Regional Negotiations Unit is comprised of regional law
enforcement officers. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office currently has two members
on the Negotiations Unit. Each negotiator has received training in advanced
negotiation methods. Every member is an experienced officer
who brings professionalism and compassion to these roles.
Red River Valley Regional Bomb Unit
The Red River Valley Regional Bomb Unit is
comprised of regional law enforcement officers. The
Cass County Sheriff’s Office currently has one
member on the Bomb Unit. Each Bomb Unit
member is highly trained in the diffusion of
explosives and incendiary devices. The Bomb
Unit assists local law enforcement agencies
in the education, location, and disposal of
all energetic materials. The Bomb Unit has
specialized technology that include x-ray
machine and bomb robots.
2020 | Bomb Unit Call Summary
Suspicious Packages 8
Ammo Recovery 12
Explosive/ IED Recovery 8
SWAT Assist 3
Chemical Calls 2
Hoax Devices 1
Total Bomb Unit Responses 34
Metro-Area Street Crimes Unit
The Metro Area Street Crimes Unit (SCU) is comprised of officers and deputies from
Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sherriff’s Offices, West Fargo Police Department,
Moorhead Police Department, and Fargo Police Department.
The following are some case highlights the SCU assisted other agencies with or conducted
themselves:
In the spring of 2019, continuing into 2020, ATF, Metro Ares Street Crimes Unit, and
Moorhead Police Department initiated an investigation into a group of individuals living in
the Fargo-Moorhead area affiliated with the Bloods, Crips, and other criminal street gangs.
The investigation revealed many of these individuals had significant criminal histories
and were involved in an enormous amount of criminal activity that included shootings,
robberies, and drug/firearms trafficking in the FM area. During the investigation, we
conducted several controlled buys of marijuana, heroin, and three firearms, two of which
were stolen. The group was responsible for three armed robberies, a felony domestic with
a firearm, witness tampering, and five shootings (one resulting in injuries). In total, six
individuals were indicted federally and one charged in state court. The sentences ranged
from one to twelve years in prison.
Over the last few years, SCU has evolved tactics to arrest individuals who have fled from
patrol in a motor vehicle, putting the public and officers in danger. SCU utilized these
tactics to arrest several dangerous individuals in the FM area.
SCU received information a Crips member was dealing marijuana and had a gun. This
individual was prohibited from possessing a firearm and awaiting sentencing in Minnesota
for the same charge. SWAT and ATF assisted with a search warrant. SCU seized 820.0
grams of marijuana, 5.7 grams of marijuana wax, $10,529.00 in cash and Glock 45. The
suspect was indicted by a federal grand jury for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and
Armed Career Criminal Act, the latter of which carries a minimum mandatory of 15 years
in federal prison.
In March of 2020 SCU started investigations into several individuals living in the Fargo-
Moorhead area who claim to be affiliated with criminal street gangs. Because of all the
work-ups on these individuals, SCU was able to help identify several individuals involved
in three separate shooting incidents in the FM area. SCU has conducted many traffic
stops, search warrants and other investigative tools to disrupt this group’s continued
criminal activity. They have currently seized; marijuana, LSD, marijuana edibles, marijuana
wax, ecstasy pills, cash, and two firearms.
SCU and the ATF currently have six pending felon-in possession charges. This operation
still ongoing.
Arrests
39 confirmed gang members or know associates
164 non-gang
30 assisted
Search warrants
132 body-only, phone, GPS tracking,
residential, and DNA
Seized items
136.4 grams of methamphetamine
3.4 grams of heroin
3,266 pills/LSD
11.54 pounds of marijuana
47 pieces of drug paraphernalia
$33,877.00 in cash
10 guns /dangerous weapons
2.09 pounds THC
Gang members classified or reclassified
17 non-confirmed
19 confirmed
Special Operations |Street Crimes

Special Operations | Drug Task Force
Narcotics Drug Task Force
US MARSHAL HIGH PLAINS
FUGITIVE RECOVERY TASK FORCE
Gang Arrests for Region:
Total Gang Fugitives 26
Total Warrants 29
Seizures for the State:
Total Firearms Seized 12
Total Ammo Seized 2
Total Currency Seized $21,355
Total Vehicles Seized 4
Total Narcotics Seized
Kg10.381
US Marshal High Plains Fugitive Recovery Task Force

2020 highlights

2020 highlights

2020 highlights

awards | 2019 service
We typically hold an awards ceremony in
May each year to celebrate our employees’
accomplishments.
Like many events in 2020, the Cass County
Sheriff’s Office Award Ceremony was
canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite having to cancel the ceremony,
we would like to recognize our award
recipients for their hard work in 2019.
No matter the situation, their
accomplishments, hard work,
professionalism, and commitment to
public safety have not gone unnoticed.
| Congratulations |

awards | 2019 service

The Cass County Sheriff’s Once Honor Guard is a group
of deputies, both male and female, that have volunteered
for this special duty. As the group of deputies work
together at various ceremonies and patriotic events,
they honor and give high respect for those who have
fallen in the service of protecting our liberties.
retirements | 2020
Debra Assmus
1994-2020
Debra bond
1979-2020
Whether presenting the nation’s flag or honoring those
fallen, the Honor Guard is professional and precise in
its demeanor and presentation of duties. One must
understand and have within them the conviction and
belief that what we serve and protect is worth the price
that is needed to be paid, and we recognize those who
shared that conviction and have paid that price. Whether
it is from the special uniform, the march, the salute, the
posting of the colors, or folding of the American flag,
each detail is practiced and performed with an exactness
that shows the respect we all have of our profession and
the flag.
Honor Guard
Chris Fix
2000-2020
Michael McTavish
1984-2020

casscountynd.gov/our-county/sheriff