Operations Division
Captain Jack Campbell
The
Operations Division is comprised of the following entities:
PATROL
The Patrol Section operates
on a 24/7 basis, every day of the year, and is divided up into three shifts:
7am – 4pm, 3pm – 12am and 10:30pm – 7:30am; the overlaps provide for continual
protection and law enforcement availability.
Each shift is commanded by a Lieutenant, supervised by two Sergeants
and supported by [an average of] 13 Deputies. The men and women in the Patrol
Division are usually the first responders to all calls for service, such as:
accidents, crimes in progress, traffic enforcement, criminal reports and initial
investigations; this is in addition to all officer-initiated calls that they
initiate. New personnel, who have completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training
course and have successfully completed their Field Training Officer program,
are initially assigned to a shift, and are on ‘probation’ for one year from
the date they are hired. Once they are assigned to their shift, they are generally
‘on their own’ and expected to perform the same duties as their veteran counterparts.
Every member of the Patrol section is encouraged to acquire advanced training
in matters relating to their specific duties, as well as any areas of personal
interest. Many of these personnel receive training, which qualifies them to
function as I.D. Technicians, Traffic Crash Reconstructionists, radar/LIDAR
operators, Field Training Officers and a variety of other specialized duties.
Although the Investigations Division is [generally] responsible for conducting
extensive follow-up investigations, it is not unusual for Patrol personnel
to take the initial complaint and continue with an investigation, which has
lead to case clearance, arrest, property recovery or all of the preceding.
COURT SECURITY & JUVENILE TRANSPORT
Twelve full-time Court
Security Officers are charged with the responsibility of protecting the entire
court complex facility, including screening everyone who enters the building,
as well as their packages/cases, securing the halls, every office and courtroom,
and providing personal protection for Judges, elected officials, attorneys,
county employees and all other personnel within the building. These personnel
are trained in various aspects of security and law enforcement, inclusive
of explosive recognition and detection, crowd control and arrest/apprehension
techniques. A staff of 1 full-time and 4 part-time bailiffs, who assist with
daily court operations and trials, compliments them. In addition, a Juvenile
Transport Officer, who is assigned to the unit, is responsible for transporting
and securing JV’s from the detention facility to court and back.
DUI/TRAFFIC UNIT
The recently formed
DUI/Traffic unit is staffed by two Deputies and supervised by a Sergeant.
The goal of the unit is to reduce the number of traffic violations, accidents
and impaired drivers. Reducing violations and accidents is accomplished through
a comprehensive enforcement plan that includes analyzing traffic accidents
to determine frequency, causes and other patterns, assessing the priorities
and initiating an effective manner to detect and enforce violations; monitoring
and enforcing non-accident related violations, such as speeding, passing stopped
school buses, etc. is another daily function. The Deputy assigned to traffic
duty works various hours, adjusting the hours to match the times [most] correlated
to the violations. The Deputy designated for DUI enforcement is charged with
identifying the most prevalent areas for DUI offenses and taking the necessary
enforcement action to detect stop and arrest DUI offenders. The Deputies working
in these capacities do so as a voluntary assignment and it is their primary
duty.
K-9 UNIT
The
K9 unit consists of three handler/canine teams and is supervised by a Lieutenant.
They are integrated into the Patrol shifts, with two of the teams assigned
to 2nd shift and one is assigned to 3rd shift. All
of the canines are ‘dual purpose’, which means they are trained in basic patrol
functions (tracking, building/article searches, handler protections) and have
specialty training. All of our canines are specialty trained in narcotic detection,
have been credited with finding thousands of dollars in drugs and drug money,
and are used regularly by various school administrators to search for drugs
within the schools. The teams are available for call-out on a 24/7 basis and
have been used extensively by our department, as well as other agencies within,
and outside of, Sangamon County. In addition to the ‘typical’ law enforcement
duties, the teams provided numerous community service demonstrations every
year. The United States Police Canine Association has certified each of the
teams as being PDI and PDII qualified. In addition, they have received numerous
awards for their [duty] performances and trail competition. All of the handlers
and the supervisor volunteered for this position and execute their K9 duties
in addition to their regular patrol duties.
TACTICAL NEGOTIATIONS TEAM
The Tactical Negotiations
Team, or ‘TNT’, is a multi-jurisdictional entity that has 10 members; 9 are
from the Sheriff’s Department, and 1 is from a municipal agency. Regardless
of a member’s rank, the team operates on a democratic principle wherein each
team member’s vote has equal value. However, there is a coordinator and a
co-coordinator, which are elected by the members, to oversee the team’s operation
and function during practice and actual incident activations. After volunteering,
undergoing an extensive interview, and being selected to serve with the team,
every member undergoes basic negotiations training and training as an Electronic
Criminal Surveillance Officer I (ECSOI). This team was one of the first in
the state to require this additional training for every member. Several members
are also certified as an ECSOII. The team members acquired a former postal
van and converted it into a modern mobile negotiators platform. Their equipment
is state-of-the art and provides them, and the Tactical Response Unit, with
an advanced technological support system. With ‘stand alone’ capabilities,
the negotiators can operate anywhere and at anytime. This team is already
credited with several confirmed ‘saves’ ranging from suicidal subjects to
armed/barricaded individuals.
TACTICAL RESPONSE UNIT
The Tactical Response Unit, also referred
to as the ‘TRU’, is a multi-jurisdictional unit consisting of 26 sworn members
commanded by Captain Jeff Berkler. There are [also] 4 Tactical Paramedics
and 2 Tactical M.D’s attached to the unit. The team is charged with various
tasks; inclusive of executing high-risk warrant service, securing and resolving
barricaded/hostage situations and responding to any situation wherein the
need for highly trained security and/or entry personnel are needed. Team members
utilize a [team] converted van and an armored personnel/rescue carrier. The
TRU have some of the best equipment and weapons systems available. Members
of the unit are trained in perimeter security, sniper/observation, dynamic
entry, explosive entry techniques, and hostage rescue and threat neutralization.
A substantial part of their training was by an internationally recognized
expert, at a training facility outside of Illinois, and the unit members raised
much of the money needed, for training and equipment, through various fund-raising
efforts. The unit members are also responsible for providing training to officers,
from various other agencies in/around Illinois, on matters related to unit
operation.
The Honor Guard represents the department in various manners; members provide funeral/burial services, parades and public demonstrations, presentation of the national colors, as well as other flags, and have participated in international competition. Merit Deputies and Correctional Officers, all volunteers, are accepted into the unit based upon a consensus agreement between current members. All members have an equal voice and vote upon the operation of the unit. The unit provides representation at the Illinois Police Memorial services, as well as the National Police Officer’s Memorial services in Washington, D.C. every year; much of the money needed to facilitate the trip to D.C. is raised be the unit members through various fund-raising events. The unit is regularly requested by different agencies and groups to participate in parades and events and has received numerous awards, including several for 1st place. The unit members take exceptional pride in representing the department in the most professional manner possible.
The Sheriff’s Department
auxiliary unit is a volunteer organization, which maintains a compliment of
[approximately] 20 non-sworn members. While ‘on-duty’, they carry the same
authority as a merit Deputy. The Auxiliary personnel function as an invaluable,
well-trained, supplement to sworn personnel. They have and continue to, assist
in numerous functions such as patrol procedures, event security, responding
to disaster-scenes and assisting in special operations, such as roadside safety
checks and under-aged drinking party details. Prior to accompanying Deputies
on patrol, every member receives training in the use of deadly force and firearms
proficiency, followed by continual training in communication procedures, domestic
disturbance response, traffic stops, search/seizure, and any other legal aspect
of law enforcement, which they may encounter. The Auxiliary also has an equestrian/mounted
unit and assist in functions such as evidence/suspect/missing person searches,
crowd control and security details. A merit Deputy and Sergeant serve as a
liaison between the Auxiliary/Mounted personnel, Deputies and the Sheriff’s
administration. Virtually all members have other full-time vocations and volunteer
their time, and talents, to the department on a regular basis.