Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (Pennsylvania)

About 55 highly trained staff operate as part of the MCSO courts division. Their main task is to work as guards of the county courthouse entrances and to confiscate dangerous weapons, substances and paraphernalia before the harmful items can be brought into the building. Within the division is a special team of deputies assigned to assist domestic violence victims by safely escorting them throughout the complex during processing and hearings.

About 55 highly trained staff operate as part of the MCSO courts division. Their main task is to work as guards of the county courthouse entrances and to confiscate dangerous weapons, substances and paraphernalia before the harmful items can be brought into the building. Within the division is a special team of deputies assigned to assist domestic violence victims by safely escorting them throughout the complex during processing and hearings.

More than a dozen staff make up the warrants division. Their task is to find and arrest defendants who are wanted for criminal, DUI, and unpaid child support charges. They also target and apprehend defendants who avoid hearings and sentencing.

The transportation and detention division consists of 16 deputies and three supervisors. Their role in the department is to transfer prisoners to and from surrounding counties and within the continental U.S.

Annually, approximately 13,000 defendants were safely transferred by the division, Prisoners can also be held in the 16-cell detention center in the county court house, which can hold up to 100 prisoners.

The real estate division is run by one supervisor and three office support personnel. They conduct monthly public sheriff's sales of properties that have been foreclosed. The division takes part in many community relations events to help meet homebuyer's needs. The real estate division are also responsible for the advertising sheriff's sales through local newspapers to increase and diversify clientele.

The special services division receives and processes the applications for permits to carry firearms and is responsible for distributing educational information about Pennsylvania gun laws and gun permits.

The division also conducts monthly Firearm Safety and Awareness Seminars, which are popular with local residents. In the seminar, participants learn how to safely handle and clean firearms, as well as basic shooting fundamentals taught by certified law enforcement firearms experts.

The Bomb & Hazardous Device Disposal Unit is responsible for the recovery and disposal of military ordinance and potentially explosive devices found in Montgomery County as well as Bucks and Chester counties.

The bomb unit consists of seven highly trained bomb technicians and is the 25th busiest out of 466 units in the U.S. according to the National Bomb Squad Commander Advisory Board. Each member of the unit must have completed six weeks of training at the FBI Hazardous Devices School as well as 120 hours, annually, of specialized training with the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit.

The Bomb Unit has a strong interest in its community outreach programs, hosting environmentally safe “ammo burns” of old ammunition. Likewise, the unit loans old equipment to local school robotics programs and participates in mock community demonstrations.

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) consists of 28 law enforcement personnel who are required to meet special physical agility standards and undergo 200 hours of training in areas such as SWAT operations, field force operations, riot control, active shooter response and responses to chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosive emergencies.

The team is also called on special occasions where their expertise is needed, such as securing high-profile murder trial courtrooms and prison cell extractions, as well as assisting with securing public events such as the papal visit to Philadelphia in 2017 and Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Parade in 2018.

The MCSO's K-9 unit has three K-9 partners and a commander who cooperate with other agencies such as bomb and narcotics detection, suspect tracking, patrol, warrant sweeps and finding missing children. K-9 receive months of training overseas before being matched with their handlers, who also undergo special training to build chemistry with their K-9. The unit has won several awards in national competitions.

The nine members of the Bike Patrol Unit serve as part of the Emergency Response Team. Each member must pass a written exam as well as training in riding techniques and various formation drills.

The MCSO's honor guard is called upon to perform ceremonies and patriotic tributes at public events such as memorials, funerals, government ceremonies, and parades.

The MCSO Motorcycle Unit consists of four members who are usually called upon to escort public officials and attend parades, funerals, and other events. Members spend 80 hours learning the skills and exercises needed to be able to operate in high-speed chases, maneuverability and braking.

The MCSO takes a deep interest in maintaining and supporting its relations with the surrounding community. Several events and seminars, such as the domestic violence victims support program, have helped the department to better develop relations not only with the domestic violence agencies but also with the residents of Montgomery County. The MCSO also frequently visits local schools and teaches college students what it is like to be a law enforcement officer. Parades, memorials, and public demonstrations have been implemented to build community spirit and appreciation.