Cass County Sheriff's Department is a progressive rural law enforcement agency that is based in Walker, Minnesota. The department is headed by Sheriff Jim Dowson and is assisted by Chief Deputy Randy Fisher.

Cass County Sheriff’s Department has 9 divisions. These include Road Patrol, Investigative, Boat and Water, Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Civil, Warrant, Communications, Emergency Management, and Detention. The department also participates in DARE, Project Alert, Safe and Sober, Operation Nightcap, Sentence to Serve, Crime Watch, Neighborhood Watch, TRIAD, and my personal favorite, Cass Alert (I developed it!). I am a member of the ERU and I also participate in Project Alert, Safe and Sober, Operation Nightcap, Neighborhood Watch, TRIAD, and Cass Alert.

Cass County has 13 full time deputies, 4 sergeants (one for each patrol area and one dedicated to water/snow patrol), and 2 investigators. We are supplemented by 5 part time deputies who are regularly scheduled for patrol. The department also uses part time deputies to assist with the high volume of water traffic during the summer months.

Cass County is the fifth largest county in the state and is 1,998 square miles in size. Of that, over one million acres is national and state forest land. There are over 30,000 residents that call Cass County home, along with 514 lakes. As you may guess, the county is very large.

The Cass County Sheriff's Department Communications Division is made up of nine (9) full-time and two (2) part-time dispatchers. Two dispatchers are on per shift and dispatch for all deputies and police departments that are in the county. All phone calls to the sheriff's department are answered here, including all emergency calls for help. At times this can be very hectic and the dispatcher must be able to remain calm in order to provide the best possible assistance. During the spring of 1998 the Communications Division was moved from an older, outdated office, to a new high tech and modern office. Enhanced 911 has been installed and is currently being implimented into the county. Pictures will be posted soon in the upcoming photo album.

Cass County Detention Center (CCDC) is staffed by 18 full time correctional officers and is supplemented by part time officers also. CCDC can house 53 inmates both male and female, and juveniles ages 14 and older (temporary holding). The jail is usually near capacity, like most facilities.

Leech Lake Indian Reservation incorporates a large part of the county. The tribal council is currently attempting to set up its own law enforcement agency. Currently, as some of you might know, state law enforcement agencies do not currently have "civil regulatory" jurisdiction while on the reservation. Examples of "civil regulatory" would include speeding, insurance, drivers license, etc. We do have criminal jurisdiction though. Tribal law enforcement will be a welcomed addition in Cass County.

Cass County mainly uses Ford Crown Victorias for patrol. There are four Ford F-150's that are also used. The equipment inside is of a typical squad; it has 2-way radio, light controls, radar, partition, Remington 870 shotgun (typical law enforcement issue), PBT, and many little things (too many to list). Deputies are allowed to carry any t\ype of handgun they wish, as long as they are qualified. I carry the Heckler and Koch .40 caliber USP. I was recently issued a new squad, a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria. Pictures coming soon! Please be sure to stop back again.....

This site reflects my personal views and opinions and are not necessarily the views of the Cass County Sheriff's Department.

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