Cass County sheriff presents 2025 public-safety report, introduces new K-9 puppy

Sheriff Clint Roach presented a comprehensive annual report to the Cass County Board, summarizing last year's animal-control, jail, dispatch and enforcement operations and introducing a new K-9 puppy named KJ.

Roach said the county's animal-control and shelter team handled hundreds of animals and public-health work: they recorded dozens of dog-bite responses, took in 244 strays and processed hundreds of other animals; the shelter placed more than 100 animals in adoption programs. "The community steps up every time," Roach said, describing volunteer support and a large donation drive that supplied thousands of pounds of pet food and supplies.

The sheriff also outlined jail activity and services. Final 2025 figures showed more than 1,400 bookings (about 1,137 male and 290 female bookings reported in Roach's slide remarks), more than 66,000 meals served in the jail last year and a program of rehabilitative services including in-jail recovery groups, peer coaching, medically assisted therapy and opportunities to earn a high-school diploma in partnership with Casopolis High School.

On public safety metrics, Roach highlighted dispatch performance: total phone calls answered in 2025 were reported at 74,975 and average ring time was 3.36 seconds, which he said compares favorably with state averages. "I'm pretty impressed with our dispatch center to answer the phone that fast," he told commissioners.

Roach reviewed law-enforcement operations including drug-enforcement activity (28 cases and 24 arrests reported, with a preponderance of felony charges) and patrol and calls-for-service volumes such as traffic stops and property-damage incidents. He also described the evidence and property-room throughput and victim-services responses, noting the unit traveled thousands of miles to serve victims and responded to a range of serious incidents.

During the presentation Roach introduced the sheriff's office's newest K-9, KJ, a 9-week-old puppy purchased with donations made in memory of a late dispatcher. "This is KJ," Roach said, adding that donors asked that contributions be made in the dispatcher's name to fund the K-9 program. He described plans for KJ's socialization and training and said the dog will take part in public outreach, including visits for reading-month activities at schools.

Roach emphasized continued partnerships that underpin in-custody programming and reentry supports, naming local partners cited in his slides including Woodlands, Cass Treatment Courts, Carol's Hope Healing Center and Cass Family Clinic. He concluded by offering to email commissioners a copy of the full report and slides for review.

The board did not take separate action on the sheriff's report during the meeting; it was presented for information and oversight.