The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of Summit County. The Sheriff's office is responsible for apprehending criminals, receiving/executing processes and writs from the appellate and Common Pleas courts, and auctioning property taken for non-payment of taxes. The Summit County Sheriff also operates a County Bomb Squad. Their services extend into surrounding counties that do not have their own unit. The Sheriff's Marine Patrol enforces state laws in the Portage Lakes area during the boating season. A primary responsibility of the Sheriff is as the custodian of the County Jail and the inmates incarcerated there.