Crime & Public Safety
Horace council votes to remove Flock cameras; sheriff warns investigations may slow
Cass County law enforcement and Horace city leaders are contending with the aftermath of a city council decision to remove Flock Safety license-plate cameras from Horace. The council voted 3-1 at its Sept. 21 meeting to take the cameras down; the mayor says the cameras have already stopped recording and there is no short-term replacement planned.
Sheriff Jesse Jahner told the council the cameras were installed at no cost through a Cass County grant and that his department has relied on the system to speed investigations, particularly of crimes affecting rural areas. He advised the council that investigations “will take a lot longer” without the video surveillance, and said the original intent was to create a perimeter to catch people who travel from the metro area into rural communities.
Council members raised privacy and long-term control concerns as reasons for removal. Mayor Jeff Trudeau said he personally opposed the council’s decision and affirmed there is no plan to install a different camera system in the near term. Trudeau also noted the sheriff’s office is facing staffing challenges, and that reduced surveillance could lengthen investigative timelines.
At present, the cameras have stopped recording, there is no timeline for physical removal or redeployment elsewhere in the county, and the council’s decision stands. Agency statements describe potential operational impacts; no arrests, crime outcomes, or injuries are reported in the available facts.
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