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Cass County forms local quick response team after SWAT JPA talks leave county with two slots
Summary
Facing reductions in tactical slots on the Red River Valley SWAT team under a Metro COG allocation, the Cass County Sheriff's Office said it has formed a 10‑person Quick Response Team to provide local tactical capacity while discussions over a joint powers agreement proceed.
Sheriff Johnner told the Commission that Cass County has begun training a local Sheriff's Quick Response Team after the county’s representation on the Red River Valley SWAT team dropped to two operators under the Metro COG allocation formula.
The Red River Valley SWAT team is a multi‑agency tactical consortium that the sheriff said includes West Fargo, Fargo and Moorhead police departments, Clay County and Cass County sheriff’s offices and NDSU Police Department. The sheriff said the county historically maintained four operators on the team but was reduced to two after agency reallocation discussions and that the SWAT board deferred reconsideration to May.
To avoid gaps in local tactical capacity, the sheriff said the office has trained 10 patrol staff as a Quick Response Team to secure scenes, set perimeters and provide interim tactical support until the regional SWAT team arrives. The sheriff said regional dispatch times to rural incidents could be “probably at minimum an hour and a half to maybe two hours,” and local trained responders help manage critical incidents before SWAT arrives.
Commissioners pressed for information about the Red River Valley SWAT joint powers agreement (JPA) and why Metro COG’s formula was being used to allocate operator slots. Commissioner Breitling asked to see a copy of the JPA; county staff said the agreement is under review and being rewritten, with county review pending. Several commissioners called for the JPA and Metro COG allocation method to be placed on a future agenda for full review.
Officials cautioned that withdrawing from the regional team entirely would carry costs and affect shared tactical equipment access, such as the county’s up‑armored vehicle. The sheriff said the county will remain a SWAT partner where possible while pursuing the local Quick Response Team to sustain training and response capabilities.
The county did not take formal action on the JPA during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to obtain the latest JPA draft and bring the matter back for discussion.
