Job Description

Posting number: 0995SHF-26AB (DC)

Department: Sheriff

Job classification: DEPUTY SHERIFF TRAINEE

Posting type: Open

Categories: Law Enforcement

Summary

Starting Salary:

Deputy Sheriff Trainee - approximately $45.18 per hour

YOUR CALLING STARTS HERE – BECOME A VENTURA COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF. Get paid while you train, gain hands-on experience, and build a rewarding career dedicated to serving the citizens of Ventura County, with a structured path from custody to patrol and opportunities to grow into specialized assignments.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? Being a Deputy Sheriff is more than a job; it is a calling. It is an opportunity to serve others, give back to your community, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people you serve. You may be called upon to help someone on the worst day of their life. Being there when people need you most is one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of this profession.

The successful candidate must be willing and able to learn, grow, and develop the skills necessary to enforce the law, protect lives and property, respond effectively in emergencies, and communicate and work cooperatively and respectfully with diverse communities. The work is physically and emotionally demanding and requires individuals to be prepared to meet the high standards of the profession. Candidates must meet stringent California POST physical fitness standards, including requirements related to hearing, vision, color vision, and other physical qualifications. Candidates must also successfully complete a rigorous background investigation and selection process.

Before applying, candidates should carefully review the medical, background, and other selection requirements outlined in this job announcement and determine whether they believe they can meet the established standards. If you are ready to answer the call, serve the citizens of Ventura County, and commit to the demands and responsibilities of this profession, your career starts here.

THE POSTION: Under immediate supervision, support, and instruction, the Deputy Sheriff Trainee undergoes Academy training in preparation for appointment as a Deputy Sheriff. The Academy is a paid, non-residential program, meaning you return home at the end of each day. A pre-academy orientation is provided to help you prepare for the Academy experience. Training includes law enforcement fundamentals, vehicle operations, arrest and control, firearms, patrol procedures, criminal investigation, custody operations, community policing, cultural diversity, communications, first aid, and physical fitness.

Upon successful completion of the Academy, the Deputy Sheriff Trainee may be promoted to Deputy Sheriff and assigned to custody. Newly appointed Deputy Sheriffs complete a three-week Deputy Supplemental Core Course followed by a four-week custody facility training course. Deputy Sheriffs then complete an initial multi-year assignment in custody before transitioning to patrol. Once selected for patrol, they complete a five-month Field Training Program at one of six patrol stations throughout Ventura County.

BENEFITS & INCENTIVES: Ventura County offers an excellent benefit package that helps support the health, well being, and financial security of its employees.

• 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)
• 13 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
• Work Life 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.

Examples of duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Deputy Sheriff Trainee:

• The Deputy Sheriff Trainee undergoes Academy training in preparation for appointment as a Deputy Sheriff.

Deputy Sheriff assigned to Custody:

• 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 and prepares reports as needed;
• Issues citations and makes arrests;
• Investigates crimes;
• 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.

Qualifications

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 an accredited 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.

Note: Foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency in accordance with California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) guidelines and Government Code Section 1031(e).

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:

• Must be willing to work at any of the six (6) stations or additional Sheriff's Office locations throughout the County and must be able to work any shift including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• May be required to work under adverse conditions and must be prepared to successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life-threatening events.
• Must have strength, endurance, and physical agility to restrain rebellious and/or violent offenders.
• Deputies with any body art (tattoo(s), brands, etc.), will be required to wear uniform clothing or skin tone patch that covers the artwork while on duty (or have it removed at the Deputy Sheriff Trainee's expense).
• 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.

Supplemental information

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L1970, Ventura, CA 93009 by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

Please thoroughly read the Recruitment Process of this job announcement. Additionally, it is important that you frequently check your email and/or applicant portal throughout this process, as this is the way we will be notifying applicants of their status and providing information regarding the next step in the recruitment and selection process.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

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: (CHOOSE ONE)

OPTION 1: ONLINE EXAMINATION

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office offers proctored, online, internet-based testing through the National Testing Network (NTN). To register with NTN and schedule a test, visit National Testing Network, select "Find Jobs," then select "Law Enforcement Jobs" and select the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Candidates may schedule and complete the examination after submitting an employment application through this job announcement. Candidates must pass all three sections to continue in the selection process: Video – 60.00; Writing – 70.00; Reading – 70.00.

It is highly recommended that candidates review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Virtual Testing FAQs on the NTN website before scheduling an examination to ensure their computer system can support the testing environment.

OR

OPTION 2: IN-PERSON WRITTEN EXAMINATION

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office now offers an in-person, proctored written examination using the CPS HR Entry-Level Law Enforcement Examination. The examination assesses candidates' written communication, reading comprehension, and analytical abilities. A minimum score of 70% must be obtained to pass the examination and continue in the selection process.

OR

OPTION 3: PRIOR PELLETB SCORE

Applicants may submit a PELLETB score obtained through another law enforcement agency. The score must be a minimum T-score of 42.0 and must have been obtained within one year of the date of application. Applicants must submit a copy of the testing agency's letter on agency letterhead showing the PELLETB score. Acceptance of an outside agency's PELLETB score is subject to verification with the testing agency. Documentation may be submitted as a PDF to Denise Carrizosa at denise.carrizosa@venturacounty.gov or uploaded with the employment application.

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.

Note: Candidates must bring a completed Pre-Investigative Questionnaire (PIQ) to the Physical Ability Test (PAT). A PDF of the PIQ will be provided with the PAT reminder email, so candidates should watch for this communication and complete the PIQ prior to reporting for the PAT. The PIQ will be retained and reviewed only for candidates who successfully pass both the written examination and PAT. Candidates who successfully pass both the written examination and PAT will be placed on the eligible list for a period of one year. Candidates whose PIQ meets the established criteria to proceed in the selection process will be contacted to schedule an interview with a background investigator.

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.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Denise Carrizosa by email at denise.carrizosa@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 477-1921.

Please visit our website: applysheriff.venturacounty.gov

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.