Specialty Units
The Summit County Sheriff's Office has a number of units that fill specialized roles with a particular skill set. These specialty units are a unique facet of the Sheriff's Office, serving the entirety of Summit County and assisting other agencies and neighboring counties as well.
Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad consists of skilled deputies and our explosives-detecting K-9s who take part in year-round local and national training to maintain their FBI accreditations. They serve Summit, Portage, Medina, Stark, Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas, Carroll, and Harrison counties, and remain on-call at all times.
SWAT Team
The SWAT Team consists of Sheriff’s Deputies and a team of tactical medics from the Green Fire Department. All members have completed specialized training in their fields and are required to complete regular training each month, and an annual recertification training.
K-9 Unit
The K-9 Unit consists of multiple dogs with specialties ranging from narcotics detection, to explosives detection, to tracking and apprehension, to article search. They work in patrol, at the airport, within the jail, and accompany our specialty units on callouts. Click here to learn more.
Crash Investigation Unit
The Crash Investigation Unit is a group of highly trained deputies responsible for investigating fatal and serious-injury crashes involving motorcycles, pedestrians, and commercial vehicles using accident reconstruction, vehicle dynamics, diagramming, and other skills. The Unit is also a part of the Summit Metro Crash Response Team.
Crime Scene Investigation Unit
The Crime Scene Investigation Unit collects and processes physical, biological, and trace evidence at crime scenes, which is presented to detectives, prosecutors, and the courts.
Crisis Negotiators
The Crisis Negotiation Team is dispatched to resolve incidents involving barricaded subjects, hostage takers, or persons threatening suicide. Members accompany the SWAT Team on all high-risk operations. Negotiators partake in yearly training, including addressing those with mental illnesses or in altered mental states.
Mounted Unit
The Summit County Sheriff's Office has the largest Mounted Unit in the state. It consists of deputies and civilian auxiliary members who participate on a voluntary basis. They are dispatched to perform crowd control at public events, demonstrations, festivals, VIP visits, and more.
Honor Guard
The Honor Guard consists of current and retired Deputies who serve as guardians of the colors at special ceremonies and events, and to honor their fallen comrades.
Mobile Field Force
The Mobile Field Force was formed to respond to planned and unplanned events such as riots, protests, mass casualty disasters, and any other large-scale events where a team of deputies is needed.
Dive & Water Rescue
The Dive Rescue and Recovery Team consists of deputies who are certified divers and is attached to the South Summit Water Branch of the Summit County Special Operations Response Team (SORT).
Marine Patrol
The Marine Patrol Unit is the primary law enforcement on the waters of the Portage Lakes. They have been a partner with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for 35 years and have received the Outstanding Marine Patrol Award 16 times.
Drone Response Team
The Drone Response Team was created in 2024. The unit consists of deputies who are FAA certified to fly drones to be used in incidents like missing people, barricaded subjects, fleeing suspects, and more.
