Cass County Launches Public Safety Task Force

Aims to improve law enforcement and prosecutorial efforts against crime

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Cass County, North Dakota is forming a public safety task force to develop goals and strategies for improving how law enforcement and prosecutors combat crime in the region. The task force will include county commissioners, the sheriff, state's attorney, county administrator, and representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office and local police departments.

Why it matters

Cass County, which includes the city of Fargo, has seen rising concerns about public safety and security, whether real or perceived. The task force aims to take a comprehensive look at current practices and find ways to better serve the community.

The details

The task force will be co-led by Cass County Commissioners Joel Vettel and Tony Grindberg. They will work alongside Sheriff Jesse Jahner, State's Attorney Kim Hegvik, County Administrator Robert Wilson, the North Dakota U.S. Attorney's Office, and local police departments. The goal is to 'rethink how we're doing those things and really hone in on the particulars' to ensure the county is 'doing the best we can for the people we serve'.

  • The public safety task force is being formed in February 2026.

The players

Joel Vettel

Cass County Commissioner who previously served as a Fargo Police officer for 20 years.

Jesse Jahner

Cass County Sheriff.

Kim Hegvik

Cass County State's Attorney.

Robert Wilson

Cass County Administrator.

North Dakota U.S. Attorney's Office

Federal law enforcement agency that will participate in the task force.

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What they’re saying

“Whether it's a reality or a perception of safety and security, it's all something we have to consider. We have to take and do our due diligence to ensure that each and every day we're doing the best we can for the people we serve.”

— Joel Vettel, Cass County Commissioner (The Coffee Club)

“We share resources, we do a lot of different things together, but I think that this gives us an opportunity to rethink how we're doing those things and really hone in on the particulars.”

— Jesse Jahner, Cass County Sheriff (The Coffee Club)

What’s next

The task force will begin meeting in the coming weeks to develop specific goals and strategies for improving public safety in Cass County.

The takeaway

This collaborative effort between county officials, law enforcement, and prosecutors demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing community concerns about crime and security. By taking a comprehensive look at current practices, the task force aims to find ways to better serve and protect the residents of Cass County.