Deputy Sheriff - Trainee

The Sheriff's Office currently has 8 vacancies for Deputy Sheriff - Trainee. Qualified applicants will undergo an extensive background investigation to determine if they meet the high standards set by the Sheriff's Office in the areas including, but not limited to: high moral character, honesty, and exemplary work ethic. The Sheriff's Office also highly values those with a positive attitude toward fellow workers and the community they will be serving. Once graduation from the academy is complete, assignment locations may include Auburn, South Placer, or Tahoe.

(Non-Safety)

To attend a course of study necessary to complete the Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy to become a Peace Officer.

The Deputy Sheriff Trainee is a recruiting and training level classification established to qualify candidates for duties as a Deputy Sheriff I in the Placer County Sheriff's Office.  Incumbents of this class undergo a formal and comprehensive training program in a POST certified academy.  Incumbency in this class is limited to a period not to exceed twelve months and to those who have not completed the basic POST academy.  Positions in this class are distinguished from Deputy Sheriff I in that the Deputy Sheriff Trainee position is a non-sworn classification which has no police officer powers.  Upon satisfactory completion of the training and graduation from the academy, the trainee will be sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff I with full police powers.  Failure to successfully complete training as prescribed and therein graduation from the academy will result in termination.

Receives immediate supervision from supervisors and training staff.

As a trainee, receive instructions and perform the following duties in a learning capacity:

• Identification and utilization of principles and techniques that promote community service, crime prevention and appropriate behavior; enforcement and procedural aspects of criminal laws and the legal obligations inherent in enforcement of those laws.
• Proficient application of the rules of evidence; effective and professional communication through written, oral and mechanical media.
• Operation of an emergency vehicle which includes skid training, high speed pursuit, defensive driving and emergency driving; firearm training in order to learn good judgment and competency in the use of deadly force, ancillary police weaponry and weaponless defense.
• Safely and effectively accomplish the patrol function consisting of patrolling a designated area of the County in a patrol car in order to preserve law and order and to prevent and discover the commission of crimes; effectively dealing with common vehicle violations by learning to recognize the violations, locating the violations in the Vehicle Code and safely and professionally contacting the violator.
• Basic criminal investigation processes and techniques, including the identification, collection and preservation of evidence, courtroom testimony, witness interrogation.
• Processing, confining and caring for adult and juvenile prisoners in such a manner as to protect the prisoner's rights and welfare.
• Physical fitness and defense techniques program; first aid, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques; and other related course or programs as required.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No experience is required.

Training: Completion of the twelfth grade or G.E.D.

License or Certificate: May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• No previously related law enforcement knowledge is necessary.

Ability to:

• Acquire, through training, a knowledge of modern approved law enforcement principles, practices and procedures; state laws, local ordinances and first aid.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for law enforcement work.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instruction; observe, assimilate, remember, record and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a radio system.
• Apply selected knowledge (i.e., laws, statutes, court decisions, Department policies, criminal investigation theories, etc.) in collecting, organizing and analyzing diverse information in order to decide upon an appropriate and reasonable course of action.
• Analyze problems and have the potential to rationally and calmly take appropriate action in emergency and stressful situations; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions within a variety of circumstances.
• Plan and effectively present material to large and diverse groups of people.
• Work courteously, but firmly, with the general public.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Develop skill in the use of firearm and other law enforcement tools.
• Work irregular hours and shift work, including holidays, nights, weekends, and overtime. 
• Undergo strenuous physical conditioning.

Performance Examination (Pass/Fail)

The performance examination will consist of a series of job related exercises and will be scored on a pass/fail basis.

Note: Applicants who have taken and passed an approved California POST Academy physical agility performance examination within six (6) months of their application submission date and who attach their official score report notice (including academy name, exam name, exam date, and exam scores) to their application materials will be considered to have met the physical agility criteria for this classification and will not be required to take the performance examination.

Written Examination (100%) 

The written examination consists of the POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB). T-scores received from this examination will determine applicant ranking on the eligible list. For more information regarding the PELLETB, click here.

Note: Applicants who have already taken the POST PELLETB exam within six (6) months of their application submission date may attach their official score report notice (including agency name, exam name, exam date, and exam scores) to their application materials to forward their scores to Placer County.

Note: Different agencies use different cutoff scores for the PELLETB exam. Therefore, it is possible for an applicant to pass the exam with one agency and fail it with another using the same score.

Note: Per California POST, applicants may not take the PELLETB exam more than once within a thirty (30) day calendar period. Applicants who have already taken the PELLETB exam within 30 days of a Placer County exam administration will not be permitted to test again. Please contact Laura Craig at (530) 886-4664 or lcraig@placer.ca.gov with any questions.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph) and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications, and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for Deputy Sheriff's Assoc - Safety bargaining unit

Tentative Recruitment Timeline:

01/18/19 - Recruitment Opens

02/01/19 - Recruitment Closes

02/04/19 - Minimum Qualifications Screening

02/25/19 & 02/26/19 - Physical Agility and Written Examinations

03/25/19 - Eligible List Established

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Laura Craig, Administrative Technician, at lcraig@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4664.