Special Units

The Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit is comprised of two teams with one each being assigned to the Uniform Services and Corrections Division.

• Uniform Services Division K-9 Team: K-9 Phoenix and Deputy Josh James are part of the Uniform Services Division and assigned to the Sanilac County Drug Task Force Interdiction Team. This team is cross-trained in narcotics, tracking, and patrol work. K-9 Phoenix joined the Sheriff's Office team in 2021 and was purchased through funding provided by the Sanilac County Drug Task Force. 
• Corrections Division K-9 Team: K-9 Zuzana and Deputy James Anderson are part of the Corrections Division. This team is trained to detect contraband and defend the handler against attackers. K-9 Zuzana joined the Sheriff's Office team in 2019 and is the first K-9 ever to be assigned to the Corrections Division. 

The Honor Guard is comprised of Deputies and supervisors from all divisions of the Sheriffs Office. Its mission is to enhance the professional image of the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office, and the County of Sanilac. The unit’s first priority is to honor and pay respects to fallen Officers and their families. 

Deputies assigned  to this Special Duty have advanced training and experience in crash investigations and are utilized to investigate serious physical injury and fatal motor vehicle crashes. The Unit is routinely requested by local police agencies to assist with crash investigations. 

The Arson investigation team is comprised of Deputies and Fire Personnel who receive special training in Arson Investigation. They are called on to determine cause and origin of the many structure and vehicle fires that occur within Sanilac County and also work closely with the Michigan State Police Fire Marshals Division. Since its inception, the team has already been involved in several fire scenes, some of which involved fatalities. 

The Dive Team is comprised of both active staff members and volunteers.  State Law mandates that County Sheriff's are responsible for recovery of drowned persons.  In addition to the recovery of drowned persons, the team also is crucial in recovery of criminal evidence and/or property put in the water to avoid detection. 

The Sanilac County Victim Services Unit is a trained volunteer group under the direction of the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan Sheriff's Association. Dedicated to helping victims, survivors and their loved ones work through a crisis, they are the helping hands of the police, fire and medical personnel. 

The Victim Services Unit frees authorities to do their job without leaving victims alone or feeling ignored. The objective of the unit is to assist and their efforts are focused on avoiding further victimization. The unit is designed to comfort and help victims immediately after an incident by providing short-term crisis intervention. Having no personal reference for traumatic events, most victims feel lost and in need of guidance. VSU can offer answers to such common questions as what happens next, funeral preparations, why medical exam and/or autopsy is needed, why a crime scene takes so long to process and who will guide them through the court system (if needed). Referrals can also be made to appropriate agencies and services within the community.

On scene, the Victim Services Unit plays a vital role by lending support and assisting victims and witnesses through the initial shock of trauma. The Unit can separate victims from the scene of an investigation while maintaining a link to officers for the victim's questions and concerns. At a secondary site, they can stay after officers leave, working to pull a support system of close friends, family or church personnel into place. For more information on how you can become involved with VSU please contact Sgt. Shelly Park at (810) 648-5644.

The mission of the Aero Unit is to assist the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office by providing air support to Sanilac County law enforcement and other agencies which may require aviation resources to complete their tasks; to ensure the highest level of pilot competency through continual training and a discreet selection process; and to enhance the safety and security of the community by providing an additional cadre of professionally trained personnel to augment the regular forces and furnish unique disaster response capabilities. 

Sanilac County Search & Rescue is comprised of volunteers throughout Sanilac County. They assist in the search for lost hunters, hikers, and snowmobilers as well as assisting at special events. 

The Sheriff's POSSE is made up of volunteers from around Sanilac County. The Posse assists the Sheriff's Office and other local agencies with search and rescue operations and also provide assistance with various traffic details throughout the County.