Deputy Sheriff Trainee/Deputy Sheriff

Under immediate supervision, support and instruction, the Deputy Sheriff Trainee undergoes Academy training in preparation for appointment as a Deputy Sheriff.  

About The Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center (Academy): 
Attendance is paid time and is a non-residential academy which means you go home at the end of each day.  A pre-academy orientation is provided to ensure you can maximize your experiences. Support and training is provided during the Academy in areas including, but not limited to, leadership, professionalism and ethics, criminal law, laws of evidence, vehicle operations, arrest and control, firearms, patrol procedures, traffic enforcement/investigation, criminal investigation, custody operations, community policing and problem solving, cultural diversity, oral/written communications, first aid and physical fitness.
 
Upon successful completion of the Academy, Deputy Sheriff Trainees may be promoted to Deputy Sheriff.  Under general supervision, a newly appointed Deputy Sheriff will be assigned to custody and will perform a wide variety of custody and related duties including providing secure and humane detention for incarcerated individuals.  After a period of time, a Deputy Sheriff will rotate to patrol and will perform a wide variety of patrol and related duties including building strong community partnerships; the prevention of crime; the protection of life and property; the enforcement of laws and ordinances; conducting investigations; assisting in the preparation of cases and testifying in court; and providing assistance to the public.

The Successful Candidate
The successful candidate demonstrates the:

• Ability to enforce laws;
• Ability to protect lives and property;
• Ability to take effective courses of action in emergencies;
• Ability to communicate with diverse community members;
• Ability to organize and work cooperatively with diverse communities;
• Ability to empathize with people of different cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Starting Salary: 
Deputy Sheriff Trainee -  approximately $40.17 per hour
Upon successful academy completion, incumbent is eligible for promotion to Deputy Sheriff with a salary of approximately $42.18 per hour / $87,734.83 annually.
 
 BENEFITS/INCENTIVES 
Ventura County offers an excellent benefit package that helps support healthy peace officers and effective work-life balance.

• NEW HIRE PRE-SERVICE/ REFERRAL INCENTIVES: Upon the Sheriff's recommendation, with the approval of the CEO or his/her designee, and subject to the applicable section of the VCDSA MOA 2021-2024 Amendment #1 (Article 36 Section 3601) (Download PDF reader) newly hired employees may be eligible to receive a one-time New Hire Pre-Service Incentive of up to $10,000
• Biweekly contribution towards a flexible benefits program (including medical, dental, and vision insurance options) 
• Up to 2.5% matching funds in a 401(k) plan
• Annual leave (depending upon years of service)
• 12 paid holidays (including a floating holiday)
• Wellness Program (including health club discounts; free health coaching, onsite wellness, and online health education) 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and peer support
• WorkLife Program (including Lactation Accommodation Policy, Child Care Discounts and Coastal Housing Partnership)
• Possible educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on the completion of Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree or, if qualified, for POST certification; plus other premium/incentive/bonus payments
• Biweekly contributions towards a secure, lifetime retirement benefit ("pension")
• Possible bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational need and certification of skills, for those qualified
• Textbook and tuition program
• GI Bill on-the-job training program (for those eligible)
• For more details regarding the benefits offered by Ventura County click here: https://hr.ventura.org/benefits

Deputy Sheriff Trainees and Deputy Sheriffs are represented by the Ventura County Deputy Sheriff's Association (VCDSA) and are eligible for overtime compensation.
 
For more information about us and the application process, please visit our website: https://applyventurasheriff.org 

• Acts as a jailer for inmates committed to the jail;
• Supervises housekeeping activities of the inmates;
• Escorts and transports inmates both to and from jail, courtrooms, and state institutions;
• Books, searches and releases inmates; 
• Admits and logs visitors, assuring conformance with rules and regulations governing visiting privileges; 
• Maintains records and prepares reports; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Deputy Sheriff assigned to Patrol:

• Receives and answers complaints of law violations in County areas;
• Prepares investigative reports;
• Issues citations and makes arrests;
• Takes descriptions of wanted persons and stolen property;
• Intervenes in public and private disputes to protect the public and maintain order;
• Investigates crimes committed by and against juveniles;
• Appears in court as a witness;
• Serves warrants and other legal documents; 
• Uses intelligence-led policing strategies to address crime trends in the community;
• Facilitates community-based policing and problem-solving solutions; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
To qualify for this classification an individual must possess some experience that demonstrates possession of and competency in the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Some examples of qualifying education are:

• Graduating from high school, OR
• Passing the General Education Development (GED) Test, OR
• Passing the California High School Proficiency Examination, OR
• Having attained a two-year, four-year or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must:

• be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at time of appointment as a Deputy Sheriff;
• be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law; and
• possess and maintain a valid California driver license and POST certificate.

NOTE: An adult felony conviction is disqualifying. Any illegal activity including illegal drug use/possession or prescription drug abuse may be disqualifying.

Supplemental Information:

• Applicants must be willing to work at any station throughout the County and must be able to work any shift including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Incumbents may be required to work under adverse conditions and must be prepared to successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life-threatening events.
• Incumbents must have strength, endurance, and physical agility to restrain rebellious and/or violent offenders.
• According to the Ventura County Sheriff Office's non-smoking policy, all employees who attain the rank of Deputy Sheriff or a higher classification must refrain from smoking while employed by the department.
• Incumbents with any body art (tattoo(s), brands, etc.), will be required to wear uniform clothing that covers the artwork while on duty.  For example, wearing a long sleeve shirt to cover a full arm tattoo.
• In addition, all deputies must be willing and capable of wearing specialized protective equipment, such as gas masks, bio-hazard suits, radioactive protective gear and other hazardous material protective equipment that may be developed. By wearing said gear, deputies will be subjected to future health screenings, including submission of medical information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Some ability to: learn the various California codes, County ordinances, and departmental rules and regulations pertaining to the specific responsibilities of a Deputy Sheriff; learn the methods used in law enforcement, the rules of evidence, laws of arrest, security, and civil procedures; understand written and oral directions; take effective courses of action in emergencies; prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence; and establish and maintain effective relations with others.WRITTEN EXAMINATION - Pass/Fail:  A job related, written examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which have been determined to be essential for successful performance of the job.   Applicants must take and pass one of the following written exam testing options:
 

Option 1: On-Line

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office offers proctored, on-line, internet based testing services through the National Testing Network (NTN).  To register with NTN and schedule a test, go to National Testing Network select "Find Jobs", then select Law Enforcement Jobs and sign up for Ventura County Sheriff's Office.  You may test anytime you wish after submitting a Ventura County employment application through this job announcement.  You must pass all three sections in order to continue to the next step of the screening and selection process. The passing scores are Video: 60.00, Writing 70.00 and Reading 70.00. 

It is highly recommended that candidates review the frequently asked questions (FAQs) located on the NTN website including the Virtual Testing FAQs before scheduling an exam to verify your computer system can support the test environment.  

 

Option 2: In-person

The alternative to NTN is an in-person (pencil and paper) examination.   The Ventura County Sheriff's Office offers the California P.O.S.T. Entry Level Law Enforcement Battery Test (PELLETB) throughout the year on a quarterly basis.  Instructions to schedule for this exam will be provided in your exam invitation notice.  The PELLETB is an aptitude test and evaluates writing, reading and reasoning ability.   Applicants can review a preparation guide, available on the internet at no charge, to assist in preparing for this exam. https://post.ca.gov/portals/0/post_docs/publications/poWrittenPracticeTest.pdf

The passing score for the PELLETB is a minimum t-score of 42.0.

Option 3: 

Applicants may submit their PELLETB results that have been issued by another agency.  The results must show a minimum t-score of 42.0 to be accepted and are valid for one year from the date the test was taken.  Applicants must submit a copy of the letter from the testing agency on agency letterhead.  Acceptance of the other agency's t-score is subject to verification with the testing agency.  Please provide your documentation in a PDF to Stephanie Gallagher by email to stephanie.gallagher@ventura.org or by uploading a copy with your employment application.   

Upon passing a written exam, applicants will be placed on the eligible list for a period of one year and will be contacted regarding the on-line submission of a Pre-Investigative Questionnaire (PIQ).  

PRACTICAL (PHYSICAL AGILITY) EXAMINATION - Pass/Fail: A job related physical agility examination will be administered.  The physical agility exam may include, but is not limited to, the following events: one-mile run, weight drag, obstacle course, and fence climb.

SELECTION INTERVIEWS: Applicants submitting complete and appropriate PIQs will be invited to a selection interview for further continuation in the process.
 
PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (PHS) REVIEW - Pass/Fail: Top applicants will be invited to meet with a Sheriff's Investigator who will conduct a PHS Review Interview.  
 
Assuming sufficient vacancies, a selected number of applicants will be chosen to proceed in the selection process.  As part of the selection process, applicants will be expected to complete the following:

1. In-Depth Background Investigation
2. Practical Examination
3. Polygraph Examination
4. Psychological Examination
5. Medical Examination

MEDICAL STANDARDS: The stringent medical standards to become a Deputy Sheriff Trainee/Deputy Sheriff have been developed over many years.  Some of the most common reasons individuals are unable to pass are listed below.  These are minimum/maximum standards and are significantly different from the ideal or average.

a. Hearing Loss. Hearing must be within California POST standards as verified by a medical background.

b. Color Blindness. Applicants must pass a color vision test as verified by a medical background.

c. Poor Vision (in either eye). Individuals must have uncorrected visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye, correctable to 20/20 in better eye and 20/40 on weaker eye.

d. Liver Function. Use of bodybuilding diet supplements, including, but not limited to, "Creatinine" (in any form) will often affect liver function tests. Therefore, it is important that you do not take bodybuilding diet supplements within several weeks of the blood test. Abnormal test results will require investigation at the applicants' expense before approval can be granted.

e. Weight and Body Fat. Applicants must be in excellent physical condition with weight proportionate to height (body fat <20% for males and <30% for females) as determined by an agility test and an examining physician.

UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS IN ANY ASPECT OF THE FOREGOING, INCLUDING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS, MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST. 

Applicants placed on the eligible list developed as a result of this recruitment who are not hired as Deputy Sheriff Trainees or who, subsequent to being hired, are unsuccessful during their probationary periods may, at the discretion of the department's management, be offered positions as Sheriff's Service Technicians (SST's) or Sheriff's Cadets.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Stephanie Gallagher by email at stephanie.gallagher@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2848.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.