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Cass County honors deputy and K‑9 for off‑duty tracking; commissioners highlight opioid summit, Narcan rollout and staffing gains
Summary
The board recognized Deputy Harris and his K‑9 for assisting a neighboring police department in tracking an armed suspect off duty. Commissioners also discussed an opioid summit funded by settlement dollars, expanded Narcan dispensers and training, and sheriff staffing updates.
The board recognized Deputy Harris and his K‑9 for an off‑duty intervention on July 31, 2025, in which Harris and his dog assisted the 3 Rivers Police Department by deploying a K‑9 tracker and locating a suspect who had fled on foot. The sheriff said Deputy Harris "deployed K‑9 and successfully tracked the suspect to a brush pile" and praised the deputy and canine for helping apprehend a dangerous suspect, reducing risk to residents and other officers.
Commissioners and committee chairs discussed substance‑use response efforts. A county official said the southwest opioid summit — paid for with opioid settlement funds — is scheduled Sept. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The official also announced a "reunification day" planned for Oct. 3 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Dodd Park. The meeting included updates that Narcan dispensers have been placed at multiple county locations, including a Long Course Building site and libraries; the transcript also cites dispensers in Marcellus and Edwardsburg.
A commissioner urged more trainings to teach community members how to check and use nasal Narcan kits after encountering a tampered dispenser; another commissioner said training opportunities exist in neighboring Berrien County and said the county would expand local offerings if needed.
Sheriff's Office staffing updates followed the recognitions. The sheriff reported four deputies in phase 3 of field training who should be independent within about a month, two recruits graduating from local academy classes on Aug. 27, and two academy attendees at Kellogg Community College this week supported in part by grant funds. The sheriff noted grant funding for training has dwindled; further training slots would depend on future grant renewal.
Why it matters: The recognition highlights cross‑jurisdictional cooperation in law enforcement; the opioid summit and Narcan expansion use settlement funding and are intended to reduce overdose deaths and increase access to lifesaving medication. Staffing upgrades at the sheriff's office affect response capacity across the county.
No formal board action was recorded on the recognitions or the opioid programming during the portion of the meeting in the transcript; the items were presented as informational updates and recognitions.
