Request for Sheriff’s Office Investigation May Bring Changes to the Cass County Commission

A retired Cass County Sergeant is asking the Cass County Commission to investigate Sheriff Paul Laney.

Gail Wischmann is saying Laney bullied her.

KVRR spoke on the phone with Cass County commissioner, Chad Peterson, who says this situation is an opportunity to improve and organize how human resource issues are handled.

Gail Wischmann retired after 34 years with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

“I need to walk away, take the weight off of my shoulders,” said Wischmann, a former Sergeant. “I’ve done my duty to the best of my ability.”

Wischmann says Sheriff Paul Laney, who’s been in the spotlight  for being head of Command Operations at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest since August, bullied and verbally abused her when they met after she resigned.

“I’d like to suggest to the Cass County Commission that you consider more vigilance on monitoring the sheriff’s office,” Wischmann added.

“What she is saying, what she is alleging, are faceless facts,” said Sheriff Laney. “If you notice everything that she’s saying, it’s opinion. It’s an opinion of Gail Wischmann.”

Currently in Cass County’s Employee Handbook, it says an individual has the option to make a written complaint to the department head.

The Human Resources Department then goes through an administrator and follows up with the commission.

“There is so much more that needs to be spoken,” said Wischmann.

The incoming commissions hopes to create a Human Resource Director position so that someone can see things as they go on, rather than an individual reporting to an administrator.

Peterson wants this new approach to be much more formal but personal.

Rather than a department, it’s a director who can be the contact that decides how to move forward.