The Patrol Division is comprised of uniformed deputies that consist of four different Patrol Squads, the Traffic Unit, and the K-9 Unit. Each Patrol Squad includes a Sergeant, two Corporals, and eight to nine Deputies. The Patrol Division provides the core police services to the community. The operations of the Patrol Division include various activities to include responding to dispatched Calls for Service (CFS), maintaining visibility in high crime areas, conducting investigations and ensuring the safety and security of Cecil County.

Cecil County is divided into five separate Patrol Areas (click here to view Patrol Area Map). Deputies are assigned to each patrol area and are responsible for providing police service to that area. Deputies are generally assigned to a specific patrol area which allows them to become very familiar with the area and provide efficient law enforcement services.

Patrol Division Commander
Lieutenant Joseph Costa
410.392.2179
Joseph.Costa@cecilsheriffmd.gov

Each Patrol Squad includes a Sergeant, two Corporals, and eight to nine Deputies. The Patrol Division provides the core police services to the community. The operations of the Patrol Division include various activities to include responding to dispatched Calls for Service (CFS), maintaining visibility in high crime areas, conducting investigations and ensuring the safety and security of Cecil County. 

Traffic Unit

The Traffic Unit is comprised of a corporal and a deputy and is a new and growing unit within the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.  The operations of the Traffic Unit include Directed Enforcement, Crash Reconstruction, and Traffic Analysis. 

Crash Reconstruction - Deputies within the Traffic Unit are trained as Crash Reconstruction Specialists. During crash reconstruction, the Traffic Unit will identify factors involved in crashes such as speed and mechanical defects. The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit responds to the scene immediately after the accident to gather evidence, take measurements and take photographs in an effort to identify the cause of crashes. 

Directed Enforcement - The Traffic Unit works closely with the Highway Safety Administration (HSA) and is a member of the State Highway Safety Plan Committee, to reduce traffic deaths and injuries in Cecil County. The mission of the partnership with HSA is to effectively and efficiently administer traffic safety by focusing efforts on DUI drivers, speed violators, distracted drivers, seat-belt violations and high collision intersections. 

Traffic Analysis - Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is working with Washington College’s Geographic Information System’s Program who partner with Maryland Highway Safety Office and the Governor’s Office for Crime Control and Prevention to provide the Traffic Unit with detailed analysis to include monthly summaries, quarterly analysis, and holiday DUI enforcement analysis.  The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office has also partnered with the Cecil County Roads Division to supply and analyze data in an effort to re-engineer roads to be safer in high crash areas.  

 K-9 Unit

The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit plays a vital role in assisting in law enforcement operations. The agency maintains four K-9 teams made up of a handler and canine partner. All four dogs are trained for tracking, article searches, and narcotic detection. Three dogs are also trained in offender apprehension techniques. The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams performed 166 CDS Scans/Searches that resulted in 264 bags of heroin and $66,478 in U.S. currency seized among the four K-9s in 2024. 

The police dogs are chosen for their superior ability to detect and locate persons, property, and evidence. They are trained to track and locate persons who have fled on foot from crime scenes. However, the teams are also used for backing up other officers on alarm calls, building searches, fight calls, locating lost or missing persons, and conducting security checks of businesses. The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams provided backup to patrol over 1200 times and provided 8 building/area scans during 2024. 

One K-9 team has the potential to save the agency hundreds of work hours per year because of the dog's superior sense of smell and hearing. These highly trained teams are a valuable resource to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office and are often called upon to assist other agencies. The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams assisted other agencies over 160 times during 2024. 

The K-9 teams performed 13 demonstrations at numerous community events throughout the year. The         demonstrations provided attendees of all ages with insight into how canines are trained and how the K-9 teams provide services to the community.  

Pictured Above:  The Cecil County K9 Team had the opportunity to train with the Maryland National Guard during 2024.