The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office’s Road Patrol Unit is comprised of more than 130 members who provide 24/7 police protection throughout the county. Duties include enforcing laws, ordinances and regulations, conducting criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, impaired driving enforcement, crime suppression activities and working as a liaison with community groups and organizations. The Road Patrol Unit is overseen by a captain.

The Road Patrol Unit responds to more than 100,000 calls for service and makes well over 1,000 arrests each year. In addition to their law enforcement duties, patrol members are often first on the scene to motor vehicle crashes and other EMS related calls. Through their training and experience, deputies are able to provide assistance until medical and fire department units arrive on scene. All deputies carry tourniquets as well as naloxone (also known as Narcan) and are trained to deploy these life-saving measures. Operations are based at the Paul E. Lent Public Safety Facility in the town of Milton, but deputies also report for duty at five substations located throughout Saratoga County.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a New York State Accredited Agency, meeting the standards set forth by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

The Criminal Investigations Unit of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is comprised of two senior investigators – one of whom is assigned to the Narcotics Unit – and 12 investigators. Their duties encompass the investigation of a variety of crimes, including homicides, burglaries, robberies, sex crimes, suspicious deaths and other significant incidents. These investigators undergo specialized training in areas such as crisis negotiation, interview and interrogation techniques, investigation of sex crimes, crime scene photography and evidence collection. Investigators for the Criminal Investigations Unit rotate on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Narcotics Unit focuses on combating illegal drug activity within Saratoga County. The unit is commanded by a captain.

The K-9 Unit of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office consists of six NYS certified K-9s and handlers. Three of the K-9s are certified for narcotics detection while the remaining three are certified for explosive detection. All K-9s and handlers are trained for tracking, area and building searches, handler protection, criminal apprehension and public relations. K-9 patrols work seven days per week, three shifts per day and are on rotating call 24 hours per day. K-9 patrols respond to requests for assistance from other agencies in Saratoga County as well as out-of-county agencies. Commonly these requests are made for assistance in apprehending a suspect, finding a missing person, locating narcotics, and detecting explosives or weapons. To receive a NYS certification every K-9 team must undergo a rigorous 6-month training period. K-9’s and handlers are evaluated by a NYS DCJS evaluator.

The Special Operations Team is staffed by highly trained deputy sheriffs who are tasked with handling high-risk incidents and critical situations that may require specialized tools and equipment. These incidents may include barricaded subjects, high-risk warrants, hostage situations, and active shooter incidents.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is trained to investigate motor vehicle collisions involving serious physical injury and fatalities.

All members of the CRU attend several weeks of training that covers scene assessment, collision analysis, vehicle dynamics and scene photography. Several members attend more specialized training in the areas of motorcycle collisions, pedestrian/bicycle collisions and commercial motor vehicle collisions. Monthly training for the unit is conducted to maintain and enhance members’ training and to introduce them to the latest techniques and technological changes in the field of collision reconstruction.

Members are also trained in the use of the Leica Viva TS15 Robotic Total Station and the Faro Focus 3D scanner. These devices allow for precision diagramming of collision and crime scenes.

Members have been called upon to testify in major court cases where their investigations have led to significant criminal convictions.

CRU members are also often called upon to assist other law enforcement agencies with serious collisions that occur in their jurisdictions.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Search and Recovery Team (Dive Team) is a public safety dive team. Currently the Dive Team is comprised of 12 divers who are working toward or possess at a minimum, master diver certification. In addition to certification received in a variety of topics, team members practice on a monthly basis to enhance their skills.

Dive Team operations include initiating search and recovery operations in underwater environments, locating and investigating underwater crime scenes, documenting and retrieving evidentiary items from the water, and assisting in the investigation of water-related crimes. The Dive Team conducts both land and boat-based operations in a variety of challenging bodies of water within Saratoga County. Boat based operations are carried out utilizing agency patrol boats and an air boat.

In addition to standard dive equipment, the team has a variety of specialized equipment to carry out operations in any environment. The equipment includes an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with cameras, grabber arm and scanning sonar, underwater metal detectors, lift bags, wireless underwater communications, along with underwater video and photography.

Saratoga County contains numerous lakes and waterways drawing thousands of tourists each year. Residents and visitors alike partake in various kinds of recreational boating activities. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has played a vital role in ensuring boater safety within Saratoga County. The Marine Unit consists of several deputy sheriffs, four patrol boats, personal watercrafts (PWCs), and an air boat. Members of the Marine Unit conduct vessel inspections and engage in enforcement of applicable boating laws and rules. For further information regarding NYS Navigation Law which governs waterways you can download the NYS Boater Safety Guide. The Sheriff’s Office patrols such bodies of water as the Sacandaga Lake which spans a total of 29 miles across Fulton and Saratoga counties and Saratoga Lake in the heart of Saratoga County.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages boaters to practice safe boating by always providing personal flotation devices (PFDs) for all boat occupants. It is the responsibility of boat operators to exercise caution and control when operating motorized vessels and boaters are reminded that all motorized boats must be registered with NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. All boats are required to carry specified safety equipment as outlined by the NYS Navigation Law. For further information download the NYS Boater Guide.

The Community Resource and Traffic Safety Unit works to provide additional targeted enforcement services to identified areas in our county. Some of these areas may include school zones, high traffic collision areas, citizen identified complaint areas, and locations identified for targeted enforcement due to criminal activity. The unit also assists with a variety of special events in our county that may include escorts, parades, community, and mass gathering events.

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