Job Description

DETENTION DEPUTY

BIG COUNTRY. CLOSE TEAM. Serve Gunnison County.

Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office | Gunnison, Colorado

Salary: $66,682.96–$94,322.95 annually, depending on experience

Status: Full-Time | Benefits Eligible

Experience: No previous law-enforcement experience required

Start a Career in Public Safety

You don't need a law-enforcement background to begin a meaningful career with the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office. We will train you to maintain a safe and professional detention environment, communicate effectively with people in challenging situations, recognize security, medical, and behavioral-health concerns, and work as part of a close, dependable team.

You bring good judgment, integrity, composure, and the ability to communicate. We'll provide the training.

Detention Deputies play an important role in the safety of our community. This is hands-on public-service work where your ability to observe, communicate, solve problems, and treat people fairly matters every day.

What You'll Do

As a Detention Deputy, you'll help provide for the safety, security, care, custody, and control of individuals housed in the Gunnison County Detention Center.

Your work will include:

• Maintaining a safe and secure detention environment
• Supervising and interacting with individuals in custody
• Using communication and de-escalation skills to manage challenging situations
• Recognizing potential security, medical, and behavioral-health concerns
• Completing documentation and working within established policies and procedures
• Working closely with fellow deputies and other public-safety professionals
• Responding calmly and professionally when situations change quickly

This is a position where communication, observation, sound judgment, teamwork, and accountability are just as important as physical readiness.

View the full job description here.

Who We're Looking For

Great Detention Deputies come from many different backgrounds. You may be a strong fit if you have experience in:

• Customer service, hospitality, resorts, or other people-focused work
• Security or public safety
• Healthcare, EMS, behavioral health, or residential treatment
• The military or National Guard
• Corrections or law enforcement
• Other positions requiring teamwork, responsibility, conflict resolution, or sound decision-making

You may also be a recent graduate, a local candidate looking for a long-term career, or simply ready for a career change.

No previous law-enforcement experience is required.

What matters is your ability to stay composed, communicate effectively, make sound decisions, work as part of a team, and treat people with professionalism and respect.

Build Skills That Go With You

A career in Detention gives you the opportunity to develop skills that can serve you throughout your career, including:

• Crisis communication and de-escalation
• Conflict management
• Report writing and documentation
• Legal and criminal-justice processes
• Security procedures
• Emergency response
• Behavioral-health and medical awareness
• Teamwork and leadership
• Decision-making under pressure
• Public service

Whether you build your career in Detention, pursue future opportunities within the Sheriff's Office, or take your experience in another direction, you'll gain skills and experience that matter.

Why Gunnison County?

Gunnison County offers something that's increasingly hard to find: meaningful work, a close professional team, and a community where your contribution is visible. Our employees serve a geographically large and diverse mountain community, and the people behind the badge are an important part of that community.

Outside of work, the Gunnison Valley offers access to millions of acres of public lands, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, cross-country skiing, community events, restaurants, arts, and the mountain communities of Gunnison and Crested Butte.

For candidates considering a move to the Gunnison Valley, housing designated for Gunnison County employees may be available to rent.

A Schedule That Gives You More Days Off

Detention Deputies work 12-hour rotating shifts, which means you typically work 14 days per month—giving you more full days away from work throughout the year.

Shift Hours:

• Day Shift: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Night Shift: 7:30 p.m.–7:30 a.m.

The Gunnison County Detention Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Detention Deputies rotate between day and night shifts, and the schedule includes weekends and holidays.

Public safety doesn't stop after 5:00 p.m., and neither does our team. In return, the 12-hour schedule provides extended stretches of days off and means deputies typically report to work only 14 days each month.

Pay & Benefits

Annual Salary: $66,682.96–$94,322.95, depending on experience

Gunnison County offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports you and your family, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Vacation leave beginning at 8 hours per month
• Sick leave at 8 hours per month
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account options
• Employer-paid basic life insurance equal to 1x annual salary
• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance options for employees, spouses, and children
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-paid Norton LifeLock membership
• Discounted pet insurance and gym memberships
• Uniform allowance provided by the Sheriff's Office
• Housing is held for Gunnison County Employees and may be available for you to rent.

Retirement

Gunnison County contributes toward your long-term financial future:

• 3% automatic employer contribution to a 401(a)
• Up to 3% employer match for voluntary contributions to a 457(b)
• 6.2% employer Social Security contribution
• 1.45% employer Medicare contribution
• Maximum Employer Contribution: 13.65%

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old at the time of employment
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Be able to communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing
• Possess a valid Colorado driver's license without a record of suspension or revocation in any state
• Meet the Sheriff's Office physical and employment standards
• Have no felony convictions or other disqualifying criminal history
• Be able to obtain CPR/First Aid certification
• Complete ICS 100 and ICS 700 within your first year of employment
• Be available to cover shifts or respond during emergency situations when required

Successful candidates must also meet the Sheriff's Office's background and selection requirements.

Ready to See if This Career Is Right for You?

You don't have to come to us with a law-enforcement résumé. We're looking for people with judgment, integrity, dependability, communication skills, and a commitment to serving others.

If you're ready for meaningful work, professional growth, and the opportunity to serve alongside a close team, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION:

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.
• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• Must be able to communicate in English, both written and orally.
• Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license without record of suspension or revocation in any state.
• No felony convictions and/or serious misdemeanor, disqualifying criminal histories.
• Ability to meet Department's physical standards.
• Ability to obtain certification for CPR/First Aid.
• Must complete ICS 100 and ICS 700 within the first year of employment.
• May have to cover shifts or be on call in emergency situations.

BIG COUNTRY. CLOSE TEAM. Serve Gunnison County.

Hiring Manager: Gunnison County Sheriff's Office Phone: (970) 641-1113 Posting: Open until filled