New task force comes to the region to address mental health and community safety concerns

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Cass and Clay County sheriff offices announced a new task force coming to the region. This new group will be named the Cass Clay Threat Assessment Threat Management Team.

This new task force is a partnership between law enforcement, the court system and community service representatives working to address potential threats and individuals exhibiting signs of violence.

“Dedicated to the prevention of targeted acts of violence through the cooperative sharing of information, resources and the knowledge gained through training with leading experts in the field of threat assessment.” said Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner.

With focuses on mental health and community safety through the collaboration between the two areas across the Red River.

“We should be an example I feel for other parts of the country in how well you can do things and how well you can protect the community when egos get set aside and it’s all about community safety and that’s what we’re here for.” said Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting.

This system has been used in other regions in Minnesota. Washington County for example had a situation with a man who was exhibiting odd and strange behaviors which included bringing a gun to a school. This man was a veteran who returned from the battlefield recently, and thanks to the task force out there he was able to get the help he needed before tragedy could strike.

“It helps you come up with systems to collect the dots, the behaviors, the police reports, the mental health reports. And it can connect them all together to see a pattern of concerning behaviors.” said Randy McAlister, a police captain with Cottage Grove.

Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner says this new task force will be made of representatives of different entities in the metro area.