Special Operations Division

The Special Operations Division has multiple functions and employs specialists to support the other divisions. Vice & Narcotics Unit The Vice & Narcotics Unit is responsible for conducting long term, undercover investigations into illegal drug activity, gambling, and prostitution. Most narcotics and vice investigations take extensive man-hours to complete; therefore, it may take several weeks or even months to develop enough evidence to arrest and successfully prosecute perpetrators and to effectively shut down a drug or vice operation. Gang Task Force The Anderson County Gang Task Force was formed in February 2009 by Anderson County Sheriff and the Anderson City Police Chief. Read more about the Gang Task Force here. Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Unit The ACE Team, as it is more frequently called, is a unique unit which provides targeted, directed patrol efforts to curtail street-level criminal activity and traffic issues. Being highly mobile, the team will move frequently to "hotspots" throughout the county providing a rapid response to enforcement concerns. Drug Interdiction As the illicit drug trade has evolved, so has the method of transporting narcotics. Formed by Sheriff Crenshaw shortly after taking office, the Drug Interdiction Unit has been a tremendous success. The team is responsible for decreasing the flow of drugs through our communities and is currently recognized as the top interdiction unit in the U.S. and Canada. Warrant & Civil Unit The Warrant & Civil Unit is responsible for the service of criminal warrants and all civil papers received from any court of record. This function is mandated by State law and, therefore, the unit provides one of the most important functions within the Sheriff's Office. The unit is also responsible for transporting prisoners to and from court, as well as prisoner extradition from other jurisdictions. Court Security Unit Personnel assigned to the Court Security Unit are in place to protect the integrity of court proceedings and maintain courtroom decorum. The process of securing court facilities begins with the security screening of individuals entering the building. This involves the application of security procedures and measures designed to deter, detect and/or prevent weapons and contraband from entering the building or areas surrounding the facility. Officers are responsible for patrolling the interior and exterior of the building and for monitoring individual courtrooms in order to provide safety for court personnel, jurors, victims, prisoners, and the general public. Lake Patrol Unit With over 56,000 acres of water, nearly 1000 miles of shoreline and over 1000 registered docks, Lake Hartwell serves as a major recreation destination for citizens across the upstate of South Carolina and Northeastern Georgia. Over the years, as lake usage has grown so has activity and the importance of safety on the lake. As a result, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office now provides for improved safety by assigning officers to patrol the lake. Aviation The Sheriff's Office has one 1970 OH58A Bell helicopter for use in law enforcement missions. The Sheriff's Office has several pilots that are on-call as a collateral responsibility to their regularly assigned duties. Mutual Aid agreements with surrounding agencies allow the Sheriff's Office to provide assistance to jurisdictions that may not have aviation capabilities. This service provides a reduced response time for critical incidents with only the cost of fuel reimbursement to the requesting agency. Canine Unit The Canine Unit is responsible for providing trained police dogs to assist in the location of illegal narcotics, apprehend fleeing felons, and locate lost or missing persons. The Canine Unit is highly mobile and is often used to assist other units involved in drug interdiction, especially along the Interstate 85 corridor. Training The Sheriff's Office maintains and staffs a training facility that serves as a Regional Training Facility for the SC Criminal Justice Academy. This allows officers from surrounding agencies to capture training requirements mandated by the SC Criminal Justice Academy here locally rather that having the expense of travel and the loss of additional man hours if taken in Columbia. Deputies are required to receive annual updates on law enforcement practices as required by law and agencies nationwide have found that training must be conducted constantly and consistently to stay current with the ever-changing trends and legal updates.