Road Patrol

Purpose

With more than 30 men and women dedicated to service within their communities they live and serve, the Enforcement Division is responsible for maintaining peace and order within the entire county. This includes more than 500 square miles of roadway and 15 townships. Officers assigned to the Patrol and Investigative sections are available to respond to calls for service to the citizens of Cass County 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Road Patrol Section enforces and investigates state and local laws in Cass County such as:

• Crimes against Persons
• Crimes against Property
• Michigan Motor Vehicle Code

Programs

Each officer receives at least 24 hours a year in continuous in-service training and most of the officers receive much more as they are assigned to various teams that include:

• Accident Investigation Team — Officers assigned to this team are skilled and trained in the investigation of serious traffic crashes, often involving fatalities.
• Evidence Collection (Crime Scene Investigation) Team — Assigned officers have received extensive training in the discovery, recovery and transportation of evidence from crime scenes.
• Tactical Warrant Service Team — This team is charged with executing high-risk search warrants and arrest warrants as well as special tactical operations within the county.
• K-9 Program — This officer is assigned a patrol canine. K-9s and their trainers are trained in officer security, search and narcotics detection.
• Secondary Road Patrol (P.A.416) — These Patrol Officers are strictly available for traffic control and enforcement on all non-state maintained roads. They also investigate traffic crashes on non-state maintained roads. These officers also help with parades, funeral processions, and other traffic control.
• Drone Team — A police drone team is a specialized law enforcement unit that uses unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to enhance public safety, operational efficiency, and officer safety. They conduct aerial sweeps and use thermal imaging to locate missing persons, trapped individuals, or people in dangerous environments, often finding them minutes instead of hours faster than ground searches. In high‑risk situations (e.g., armed suspects, building raids), drones can identify threats, clear areas before entry, or even retrieve dangerous items without putting officers at risk.
• Negotiation Team — A crisis negotiation team is a specialized group of trained professionals whose primary purpose is to de‑escalate high‑risk, life‑threatening situations through communication and negotiation, rather than force.
• Cass County Drug Enforcement Team — A specialized law enforcement unit dedicated to identifying, investigating, and dismantling organized drug trafficking networks.
• Dive Team — A dive team conducts underwater operations for rescue, recovery, investigation, and security, often in hazardous or complex aquatic environments.

Equipment

Road Patrol Officers have a variety of tools at their disposal in order to assist them in this task. The Sheriff's Office Patrol cars are equipped with many life saving and investigative tools including:

• Mobile Data Terminals
• Patrol Rifles
• Automatic Portable Defibrillators
• Drones
• Tasers
• Less-Lethal Launchers

For patrol during inclement weather:

• Four-wheeled drive vehicles
• Snowmobiles 
• All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) 

Contract Patrols

The Cass County Sheriff's Office also provides contract Patrol Officers for communities in the county, including Howard Township, Marcellus Township, and the Village of Marcellus.