Special Operations Division — Mission Statement & About Us
About Special Operations
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Division focuses on high-level emergency response, training, and specialized technical support for public safety agencies throughout the county. Key units include the Office of Emergency Management, the Police Academy, the STARS training facility, and specialized field units such as K-9 and Drone teams, often collaborating on regional, state, and federal levels.
Operating out of the Sheriff's Office headquarters in Freehold, the Division serves as the command and coordination point for major incident response, mutual aid operations, and the continuous training that keeps Monmouth County's first responders ready for any emergency — from natural disasters to active threats.
The teams and facilities that make up Special Operations
STARS Training Facility
Premier training facility on Dutch Lane Road featuring simulated active-shooter, smoke-filled scenarios, and K-9 training.
Office of Emergency Management
Coordinates disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response for natural and man-made emergencies.
Police Academy
Conducts training for law enforcement officers, including Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO) Class II.
Fire Safety Services
Handles fire investigations, fire safety initiatives, and public education throughout the county.
Technical Services
Maintains secure network infrastructure and communications capabilities for public safety agencies countywide.
EMS / MedStar
Emergency medical services and inter-facility transport supporting countywide healthcare and response operations.
Special Operations Division — Leadership Team
Undersheriff Robert Dawson
Undersheriff Robert Dawson oversees the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Division, which includes the Office of Emergency Management, Police Academy, Fire Safety Services, the Situational Training And Response Simulator (STARS) facility, Technical Services, and the EMS/MedStar Division.
Robert has a wealth of experience in law enforcement, having served as Chief of Police in Spring Lake from 1996 until 2012. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a Certified Public Manager, a Certified New Jersey Law Enforcement Executive, past president of the Monmouth County Police Chief's Association, and a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs.
Situational Training And Response Simulator
About STARS
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Situational Training and Response Simulator, also known as the STARS Facility, located in Freehold, is a premiere training facility used by our public safety partners in Monmouth County and throughout the State of New Jersey.
Officers have to be prepared for an active-shooter scenario. In Monmouth County, law enforcement officers can now train inside the youth correctional building turned training complex — complete with an active-shooter simulator, hallways that fill with smoke and strobe lights, jail cells where unruly prisoners can wreak havoc, and a K-9 agility course.
The Situational Training And Response Simulator, STARS, facility located on Dutch Lane Road in Freehold, is an initiative with the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Monmouth County Police Academy, the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association, the Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office, and the Monmouth County EMS Task Force.
Technical Services Office — Monmouth County Sheriff's Office
About Technical Services
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Technical Services Office is responsible for providing a secure, stable infrastructure which enhances the ability of our Public Safety users to serve and protect the public.
In addition to being responsible for the day-to-day IT needs within the Sheriff's Office, MCSO Technical Services also maintains a secure network infrastructure connecting all Law Enforcement Agencies and a number of Fire and EMS agencies within Monmouth County.
Functional divisions within Technical Services
🌐 Wide Area Network — Gateway Access
Our Wide Area Network provides gateway access to the following State and Federal systems:
- New Jersey Criminal Justice Information System (NJCJIS)
- New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicle file
- State Criminal Information Center (SCIC)
- FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
- National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS)
- New Jersey Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NJLETS)
- State and National Computerized Criminal History Information Repositories
- Automated Traffic System (ATS)
- Automated Court System (ACS)
- Prosecutor's Management Information System (PROMIS)
🚓 Computer Aided Dispatch & Records
The Technical Services office maintains and supports Motorola Flex, a county-wide Computer Aided Dispatch, Records Management System, and Mobile Reporting System used by law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies throughout Monmouth County.
Countywide Public Safety Radio Communications
About Radio Operations
The Radio Operations team within Technical Services manages the countywide public safety radio communications infrastructure, ensuring reliable, encrypted voice communications for law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel across Monmouth County. Our team supports interoperability with regional, state, and federal agencies during routine operations, major incidents, and mutual-aid responses.
From day-to-day dispatch console support to large-scale tower-site maintenance, Radio Operations keeps first responders connected at every moment — twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
P25 Trunked Radio System
Management and maintenance of the countywide Project 25 (P25) public safety trunked radio system.
Tower Site Infrastructure
Operation and maintenance of radio tower sites, antennas, repeaters, and microwave links throughout the county.
Dispatch Console Support
Installation and ongoing support for dispatch consoles used by public safety answering points and 9-1-1 centers.
Mobile & Portable Radios
Programming, maintenance, repair, and inventory management of mobile and portable radio units for public safety agencies.
Encryption Management
Key management and rekeying of encrypted talkgroups to protect sensitive law enforcement communications.
Interoperability
Coordination with state, federal, and mutual-aid partners to ensure seamless radio communications across jurisdictions.
Mapping, Location Intelligence & Next Generation 9-1-1 Support
About GIS at MCSO
While often operating behind the scenes, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a critical role in the daily operations of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. GIS technology provides the mapping, location data, and geographic intelligence that support emergency communications, computer-aided dispatch, and field operations throughout the county.
By maintaining accurate address databases, road centerlines, geocoding services, and mapping applications, GIS ensures that first responders can be dispatched quickly and accurately when every second counts. The GIS function also develops specialized maps and data products for law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety initiatives, while managing the infrastructure that supports countywide mapping services and Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technologies.
Though small in size, this specialized team serves a vital role in helping deputies, dispatchers, and emergency personnel make informed decisions and respond effectively to the needs of the community.
Address Databases & Geocoding
Maintains the authoritative countywide address database and geocoding services used by dispatch and field units.
Road Centerlines
Develops and updates road centerline data used for routing, navigation, and emergency response planning.
NG9-1-1 Support
Manages the spatial data infrastructure that powers Next Generation 9-1-1 call routing and location services.
Specialty Maps & Data Products
Creates custom maps and analytical products for law enforcement investigations, emergency management, and tactical planning.
📄 Monmouth County Town Code Map
Official countywide reference map showing municipal boundaries and town codes used in CAD and dispatch operations.
⬇ Download Town Code Map (PDF)
