The Good Life – July-August 2023

(ATVs), and snowmobiles are among the inventory at the
sheriff’s office.
“We currently have two 2020 Ski-Doo Summit 600
snowmobiles, two Polaris 850 ATVs, and then one
Polaris Sportsman 1000 UTV,” Sheriff Jahner said. The
snowmobiles allow officers to patrol recreational trails in
the winter while the ATVs and UTVs can be used during
special assignments such as the Red River Valley Fair. All
are utilized for search and rescue missions.
Eye in the Sky
Drones are used for real-time information, investigations,
and documentation tasks. The military has been deploying
drone technology since the mid-1800s, but they are a
relatively new addition to law enforcement agencies. As
of a few years ago, there were only 343 law enforcement
agencies in the U.S. utilizing drones. The Cass County
Sheriff’s Office currently has two drones, and their
purpose is not just singular.
“If we use drones for flooding operations, we might use
them for reconnaissance missions,” Sheriff Jahner said.
“So, if we have to rescue someone that is surrounded by
water, we would fly the drone over the top and see what
might be the best rescue approach with an airboat.”
We are going always to be
progressive and forwardthinking
in looking for different
technological advancements,
different equipment, and
resources to make sure we can
always provide a high level of
public safety to our communities.
– Sheriff Jahner
Sheriff Jahner said the drone is also capable of taking large
aerial photos to assess damages to roads or individual
properties. “If Cass County declares a state of emergency
for its residents, we can document the different types of
damages and utilize the documentation to help get funding
from either the state or federal government to help those
individuals out,” he said.
A Sheriff's Favorite
Sheriff Jahner recognizes the benefits of having access to
emerging vehicle technology, but his favorite apparatus
16 | THE GOOD LIFE