K-9 Unit

Established in 1993, the K-9 Unit of the Mercer County Sheriff's Office began with just two specially trained dogs. Since then, it has grown into an extensive law enforcement unit specializing in the pursuit of missing persons, criminal searches, explosive detection, tracking and much more. Today, Federal, State and local law enforcement, including Presidential security details and post-disaster recovery teams depend on the unit’s specialized services.

Having served in the K-9 Division of the Trenton Police Department early in his career, Sheriff Jack Kemler supports the significant role K-9 units can play in demanding and extraordinary law enforcement situations.

Explosive detection dogs respond to the needs of every law enforcement agency in Mercer County and the surrounding area for bomb threats and suspicious packages. The unit participates with the NJ Detect and Render Safe Task Force to assure homeland security and provide infrastructure security checks. The K-9 Unit plays a major role in protecting the terminal areas of the Trenton-Mercer Airport, mostly called on to search unattended luggage and suspicious packages. The unit also assists at large sports venues, transit stations, special events, and dignitary details. The K-9 Unit responds swiftly on requests for missing children and adults, Alzheimer's patients and the search for fugitives. The unit also responds to crimes and special situations including disturbances, street fights, public unrest, and building searches for dangerous suspects. K-9 teams generally average over 150 assignments per year.

• Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler
• K-9 Unit Administrator:  Undersheriff Robert James
• K-9 Unit Head:  Lt. Christopher Corban
• K-9 Supervisor:  Sgt. Steven Caruso

Our K-9s and their trained specialties: 

• K-9 Bohdi – Explosives detection
• K-9 Goose – Tracking / Bloodhound
• K-9 Griffin – Explosives detection
• K-9 Ragnar– Explosives detection
• K-9 Santiago “Santo” – Explosives detection
• K-9 Deryl – Explosives detection

All requests for emergency K-9 services or demonstrations should be made to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office at (609)-989-6111.

Tactical Response Team

In 2016, Sheriff John Kemler directed the effort to provide a professional tactical unit to better meet law enforcement needs within Mercer County. The Mercer County Tactical Response Team was modeled on a regional Special Weapons and Tactics team concept. The Team recruits and trains qualified officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, and every municipal police department within the County.

Today, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team is trained and equipped to safely resolve critical incidents that exceed the capabilities of traditional law enforcement units. The Team employs state-of-the-art equipment and tactics to save lives and de-escalate incidents that pose a threat to public safety.

Crisis Negotiation Team

In 2021, the Tactical Response Team formed the Crisis Negotiation Team to provide a much-needed communications capability to assist with de-escalation during tactical operations. The Crisis Negotiation Team is comprised of several officers who will respond to attempted suicides, barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and any other incident where a crisis negotiator could potentially resolve the crisis and/or critical incidents while attempting to avoid unnecessary risk to officers, citizens, and subjects.

Detective/Fugitive Unit

The Detective / Fugitive Unit is responsible for serving warrants issued by the Superior Court and the Probation Department. Warrants are issued for non-appearance, non-support, probation violation, and any other judicial edict. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for making every attempt to apprehend the individuals on these warrants.