COURTS	Court security staffing is comprised of nearly half of our members. The Sheriff's Officers assigned to the courthouse complex are responsible for screening all who enter the various buildings and are constantly taking proactive steps to spot weapons and items not suited for a safe professional environment. Within the courtrooms, the officers are responsible for both maintaining courtroom security and safely transporting inmates to and from the courts. There are several different types of courts and offices within the complex that include criminal, civil, family, and grand jury proceedings. Our officers are also responsible for the safety of the judges, their staff, and the jurors that are constantly moving throughout the courthouse complex. While their jobs can be tension filled and precarious at times, they take pride in the stellar safety record that they hold. They are the backbone of our department and the first impression the public encounters when interacting within the Union County courthouse. They are as professional as they are committed to their tasks.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE TEAM	The officers assigned to the Emergency Medical Response Team are certified by the State of New Jersey Department of Health as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's). They have all successfully completed the EMT Basic course along with the Healthcare Provider CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) certification. They respond to all medical incidents within the Union County Courthouse complex and triage the situation prior to notification of any additional help. If the Sheriff's EMT's deem other medical assistance is needed, they attempt to stabalize the patient(s) prior to the arrival of Elizabeth EMS or the Elizabeth Fire Department. The Elizabeth Ambulance Service Bureau provides our emergency medical aid and transportation to area hospitals. The Elizabeth Fire Department can also provide first responder and additional medical aid to us until an ambulance arrives. Our EMT's are credited with aiding and providing life saving treatment to hundreds of citizens since their inception. They provide an immeasurable service to the Union County Courthouse Complex and the City of Elizabeth.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT	The Domestic Violence Unit is is responsible for serving all temporary and final restraining orders and related warrants. Every year there are hundreds of orders and warrants issued and served. During the course of executing these orders, there may be a need for the confiscation of weapons that at times include firearms. While this may seem like a daunting task, the unit carries out their responsibilities with safety being paramount. Despite all efforts, this job has inherent risks that cannot be avoided. Several years ago, officers of this unit were involved in a situation that escalated to gunfire and unfortunately both the suspect and one of our officers were injured in the firefight. Our officer thankfully survived a shot to the face and has miraculously returned to duty. The suspect did not survive the wounds he received. While this reminder looms in all our minds, the men and women of this unit continue to do their jobs with exemplary performance.           The purple ribbon denotes domestic violence awareness and is prevelant during the month of October; domestic violence awareness month.
IDENTIFICATION BUREAU	The Identification Bureau has two functions within the Union County Sheriff's Office. The first and paramount responsibility is the identification of all persons that enter the Union County Jail or are scheduled to appear in Superior Court. This is accomplished through fingerprint analysis and classification as well as each person being interviewed, photographed, and identified as a possible security threat through their association with gangs and criminal activity groups. The second responsibility is to process crime scenes within Union County. The members of this bureau are highly trained and some have graduated from a 10 week forensics course in Tennessee. These officers use the newest technology to identify and collect possible evidence, identify and document blood spatter patterns, plot projectile trajectory and reconstruction of the scene, DNA collection, fingerprint identification and collection, fire scene evidence documentation and collection, autopsy documentation, and all processing of scenes as dictated by the Union County Prosecutor's Office. These officers are also entrusted to train other police departments in the skills of evidence identification and collection at the Union County Police Academy in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The men and women of this unit have earned their reputation throughout Union County and continue to excel in their endeavors.
SEARCH & RESCUE K-9 UNIT MONUMENT HONORING GIT & OTHER CANINES	The K-9 Search and Rescue Unit was created in 1983 with one tracking dog and has grown to the current level of 12 canines and is also a training facility for other agencies. The unit utilizes German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers, and Bloodhounds. They can perform various functions in several different specialties as follows:                                                                                      Patrol           Searching building for hidden suspects, tracking suspects from the scene of a crime, tracking lost/missing persons, criminal apprehension, or article search for evidence, the officers canine partners are also trained to protect their handler.                                                                                      Scent           Detection of narcotics, explosives, cadaver, or accelerants. All officers assigned to the Unit take their partners home with them. The Unit provides 24 hour, 7 days a week coverage to all municipalities within Union County as well as mutual aid to any other canine unit or police department in the State of New Jersey. This unit is credited with thousands of narcotics arrests and millions of dollars in confiscated items. The members of this proud unit also served countless days at ground zero after the towers fell on September 11, 2001. Their dedication and camaraderie serves as a model for us all to follow.            The K-9 Search and Rescue Unit is also responsible for the implementation of the Project Lifesaver Program. The Program utilizes a watch sized transmitter worn by an elderly person suffering from Dementia or a young child suffering from Autism that can be tracked by a receiver operated by a member of the unit. The transmitter works on a radio frequency that is always emitting a tractable signal. There is a fee associated with the program for all participants.           The K-9 Search and Rescue Unit is also a statewide training facility. There are four state certified K-9 trainers in the unit that have assisted in the training and creation of numerous K-9 units throughout the State. Numerous Federal, State, County and Local K-9 Units come to the K-9 training facility in Summit for initial training, re-certification or in-service training on a monthly basis.           The K-9 Search and Rescue Unit has had the unfortunate incident of one of the K-9’s being shot and killed in the line of duty only days after searching Ground Zero in September of 2001. A memorial stands in Git Anders honor at the entrance to the K-9 Training Facility. The monument also contains the names of other dogs that have proudly served the Union County Sheriff's Office and have passed.
LEGAL PROCESS	The members of legal process are responsible for the serving of various types of notices and warrants that are generated as the result of civil proceedings. Civil orders and evictions are not without their complications and dangers. While the officers of this unit conduct themselves with a professional attitude, it does not mean that the citizen served will reciprocate. Unfortunately, even this unit has had occurrences with beligerent and unruly individuals. It takes a certain type of officer to be able to handle the situations they are faced with and avoid serious confrontations. They are applauded for their dedication to civility in the course of their duties.
SHERIFF'S LABOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM	The officers assigned to the Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program (S.L.A.P.) are tasked with the responsibility of maintining watch over men and women who have been placed on this program. If requested and recommended, the courts can assign people to labor that aids the communities of Union County in lieu of incarceration in the Union County Jail. The individuals sentenced to S.L.A.P. are assigned to Sheriff's Officers and they are taken throughout the county and put to work. They can be seen in the county parks or on the roadsides throughout the county. The benefit is two fold, for while they are serving their sentences their labor helps to beautify, clean, and maintain certain aspects of the 21 municipalities within Union County. The officers of this unit can be credited with the daunting task of maintaining the integrity of the work these people perform, while being a visible deterrent to others.
TRANSPORTATION UNIT	The core function of this unit is the safe and secure transport of inmates from the Union County Jail to other correctional facilities, hospitals and specialized institutions for medical and/or psychiatric treatment, and municipal courts. They are burdened with the care and responsibility of many different types of county inmates, some of which may be extremely dangerous. Members of this unit have also been utilized, along with local police departments, in various types of raids and during times of civil unrest. The officers that comprise this group are credited with the movement of thousands of inmates year after year and hold an incredible safety record. Their dedication to duty and professional attitude make them an asset to our ranks.
WARRANT SQUAD	The warrant squad is responsible for locating and apprehending fugitives with active bench warrants primarily from Union County. These men and women are wanted for many reasons which may include failure to appear in court, violation of probation or parole, jumping bail, violation of temporary or final restraining orders, and other crimes and violations. There are also individuals with criminal warrants from other counties and/or states that are brought to the attention of Union County officials because they may be in the surrounding area. This unit also works together with various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to accomplish these goals. While the execution of any arrest warrant is an extremely dangerous undertaking, our members take all the precautions possible to ensure that dangerous situations are kept to a minimum. The warrant squad has a long history of successful apprehensions and continues to make the rest of us proud.