The Road Patrol Division of the Jackson County Office of the Sheriff provides the only dedicated 24hour county wide patrol services to the nineteen (19) townships located within the 720 Square miles of Jackson County. The division provides full time contract services for the Village of Grass Lake and Summit Township. The Sheriff Office also provides seasonal part time patrol services to Rives Township.

Traffic control and enforcement is a major component of Deputies daily activities with I-94, US127 North, US127 South, M124, M50, M60, M52, M99 and M106 all running through Jackson County. The division experiences traffic issues daily ranging from minor accidents to serious and fatality accidents. Traffic enforcement Deputies trained as accident investigators address these issues and provide a comprehensive traffic enforcement strategy for the entire county.

Division members respond to and investigate a wide range of crimes, from minor crimes to more serious criminal acts. Division members also patrol several large seasonal celebrations including fireworks displays, Civil War re-enactments, festivals and most importantly NASCAR and IRL races at Michigan International Speedway. Jackson County becomes the 2nd most populous county in Michigan for 3 weekends a year as a result of MIS races.

Under the direction of Sheriff Dan Heyns and Captain Kevin Stellingworth, the men and women of the Road Patrol Division continually strive to create functioning partnerships within our community through organizations such as Special Olympics Torch Run, Mothers against drunk driving (MADD), Students against Drunk Driving (SADD), the United Way Campaign, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, American Red Cross, all Jackson County Schools and countless other organizations that members dedicate their time, financial support and energies to.

Jackson County is not unlike other counties in the State of Michigan that struggle with budgetary restraints and increased police service requests. The Road Patrol Division is always striving to overcome these obstacles through utilization of technology. By implementing in-car computers, mobile field reporting, digital in car video cameras, spike strip tire deflation devices, less lethal projectile force options deputies are well equipped to handle any and all situations encountered using their patrol car as their mobile office in this post 9/11 era. The result has been deputies staying in their patrol areas, submitting police reports wirelessly and increasing patrol service time dramatically.

The Road Patrol division also engages in cooperative policing efforts with the Michigan State Police, City of Jackson Police Department, and other township police agencies. Engaging in these cooperatives increases overall law enforcement efforts and effectiveness, and puts the public safety needs of the citizens of Jackson County first.