Deputy Sheriff - Shift - Lateral

Amended: 7/30/2024

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time without notice
Please ensure ALL applicable certificates are attached to your application
If you are unable to attach the certificates to your application, you may e-mail them to Nesrine Annan at 


* $25,000 Recruitment Bonus - More information below*

Examinations:

Appraisal (Weight 100%):  Will be conducted for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's training, education, experience, interest and personal fitness for the position
Appraisal can be based on any combination of the following: Investigation, oral exam and rating of the application.

Minimum Qualifications / Employment Standards:

* Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License at the time of appointment
Specialized licenses required for some assignments.
* High School Diploma, G.E.D
or equivalent AND successful graduation from a California P.O.S.T
approved Police or Sheriff's Academy (Basic Peace Officer Course); or possession of a Basic or higher P.O.S.T
Certificate.

Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.

In accordance with Government Code Section 1031 to be appointed as a peace officer in California, incumbents must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law


Physical and Psychological Requirements: Applicants must be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.

Physical Examination: A rigid medical examination by a county physician is required
Includes spine and chest x-rays, blood chemistry and electro cardiograph test
Weight must be proportionate to height and age


Psychological Examination: Emotional and mental conditions shall be evaluated by a psychologist that meets the applicable education and training requirements as set forth by the Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training Evaluation is designed for the conduct of pre-employment psychological screening of peace officers


Vision: 20/100 uncorrected in each eye (corrected to 20/20) - no color deficiency
No permanent or progressive abnormalities


Hearing: No hearing deficiency


Minimum Age:  21 years of age by the final filing date.

Character:  A thorough background investigation, including fingerprinting is required
Applicants must have a reputation for honesty, trustworthiness and be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
Felony law violations will be disqualifying and except for a limited number of minor traffic offenses, misdemeanor offenses may be disqualifying


Background / Pre-employment Polygraph Examination / Psychological Evaluation (Qualifying Only):  The background evaluation will include a pre-employment polygraph examination and psychological evaluation and will assess overall suitability for employment only as a Kern County Deputy Sheriff
 This evaluation may not indicate present suitability for other law enforcement positions or future suitability as a Kern County Deputy Sheriff
 Candidates must be found satisfactory in all respects on the Background Evaluation
Candidates determined to be unsuitable on this evaluation, or who have previously been found unsuitable, must wait a minimum of twelve months before they may reapply for this classification
Additionally, those found unsatisfactory as a result of the background evaluation will be removed from eligibility in accordance with Civil Service Rule 608.00.

Full Job Description For: Deputy Sheriff

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community
Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.

To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:

High Performance Culture

Kern County is actively engaged in creating a culture that promotes excellence, innovation and continuous improvement
LaunchKern is Kern County's continuous improvement initiative based on the principles of Lean Six Sigma
LaunchKern empowers our valued employees to change the way government works by improving their work environment, saving taxpayer dollars and enhancing services to residents.

Growth Mindset

We always encourage our employees to grow and develop
Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work
We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.

Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification
Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.

A background check may be conducted for this classification.

Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.

This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made at the Sheriff's Office
Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed
Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.

You will be required to submit to a pre-offer drug screening test at county expense
Following an offer of employment, you will be required to submit to post offer medical tests at county expense


This recruitment is eligible for the Employee Referral Award Program. For information on the Employee Referral Award Program, or to submit a referral form, please use the following link: Employee Referral Award Program




For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.

This position works within the Kern County Sheriff's Office
For more information about the department, please view their website here.

Kern County Sheriff's Office will seek and retain qualified individuals who maintain a high moral character, are ethical in all facets of life, and are trustworthy and professional when serving our community
To learn more about the 7 pillars of the ideal candidate please click here


Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply




Summary of Benefits for Deputy Sheriff

Recruitment Bonus: The non-pensionable $25,000 recruitment bonus to the Deputy Sheriff position with the Kern County Sheriff's Office shall be payable in full upon appointment by the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator subject to completion of a five-year term of service as a sworn peace officer with the County of Kern


Lateral appointees who do not complete the agreed upon term of service shall be subject to repayment of the bonus with the following amortization schedule:

i
Less than one year of service - $25,000

ii
Less than two years of service - $20,000

iii
Less than three years of service - $15,000

iv
Less than four years of service - $10,00

v
Less than five years of service - $5,000

Vacation, Holidays & Sick Leave

Vacation: 13 days and accrual rate increases yearly

Vacation Cash-In:  Employees may sell back a combined maximum of forty (40) hours of accrued vacation or compensatory time off each November
The hours shall be paid out at the employee's regular hourly rate of pay at the time of the sell back


Holidays: 12 paid holidays a year & 3 days of Paid Winter Recess Leave

Sick Leave: Up to 12 Paid Sick Days Per Year

Sick Leave Bonus: Employees shall be eligible for 24 hours Sick Leave cash out or 24 hours of CTO banks subject to items noted in the specified, MOU agreement for Sick Leave Bonus


Compensatory Time Off (CTO): CTO is accumulated as hours at the rate of 1.5 times the number of overtime hours worked and is compensated at the employee's regular hourly rate of pay


Additional Benefits

Overtime Pay: Ample opportunities for Overtime pay
 Employees compensated at the rate is 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked more than 80 hours (8-hour or 10-hour schedule) or 84 hours (12-hour schedule) per pay period.

Standby Pay: Employees required by the department head to be on standby (e.g
court) shall receive one-quarter (1/4) of their regular straight time rate of pay, or the minimum wage, whichever is higher, for all hours they are required to be on standby


Shift Differential:  The County will pay shift differential pay of 7.5% of base pay for any time worked between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Uniform Allowance: $1,300 annually
Paid bi-weekly at approximately $50 per paycheck
Safety equipment provided
Employees designated as SWAT receive an additional $11.50 per paycheck


Canine Handler: Employees assigned as canine handlers receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary for possessing specialized training and skills pertaining to the handling and training of Department canines, and for home care of assigned canine

Swat Team/Crisis Negotiations Team:  Employees assigned to the SWAT Team or Crisis Negotiation Team receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary while assigned to the SWAT Team or Crisis Negotiation Team.

Field Training Officers: Employees assigned as an FTO will receive additional "special assignment pay" equal to 5% of their base salary


Bomb Detail: Employees assigned to the Bomb Detail receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary for possessing specialized training and skills in the handling of explosive devices and for the hazardous duty.

Education: An employee shall be entitled to P.O.S.T Certificate Pay (5% for POST Intermediate Certificate and additional 7% for POST Advanced Certificate)

(Basic Certificate) 4493 Deputy Sheriff -Salary Range 64.1 ($32.14 - $38.41)

(Intermediate Certificate) 4492 Deputy Sheriff - C - Salary Range 65.1 ($33.78 - $40.37)

(Advanced Certificate) 4491 Deputy Sheriff - CA - Salary Range 66.5 ($36.22 - $43.29)

Bilingual Pay: $25 bi-weekly for qualified employees & The Bilingual Pay Program will include the payment of $50 per pay period for those positions, which require written bilingual skills to perform a critical part of the employee's job


Health Benefits

County contributes 80% of cost for all health plans.

EAP - No Cost

Retirement Benefits

* Tier 2B: 2 % @ age 50 PEPRA Member

Deferred Compensation Program:  Deferred Compensation: 457 plan which allows employees to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire


All above provisions are based on the Kern Law Enforcement Association (KLEA) and are for the duration of the Deputy Sheriff Academy
This is a summary of benefits
It does not confer any rights upon any employee
Please refer to the unit MOU for more information.