Merit Deputy

Company Description The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana is dedicated to sustaining and protecting the quality of human life in Hamilton County by providing responsive, efficient, and high-quality public services. The agency serves individuals, families, businesses, and the broader community with a focus on public safety and community partnership. Teamwork and collaboration are central to its operations, guided by shared values of accountability, commitment, compassion, integrity, professionalism, and responsiveness. Employees are expected to uphold these values in their daily work and interactions with the public. The Sheriff’s Office offers a professional environment where team members can make a meaningful impact on community well-being.

Pay

Starting pay: $70,000

Lateral pay: Up to $83,300

Lateral Applicant Qualifying Credentials 

1. U.S. Citizen or U.S. citizenship established by time of appointment
2. Valid Driver’s License (Valid Indiana License by the time of appointment) and has no more than six (6) active points
3. No felony convictions or any misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence
4. Have legal ability to possess a firearm
5. High School Graduate or high school equivalency diploma
6. Ability to read and write English
7. Must be at least 21 years of age by Merit Board Interview
8. Ability to pass all the components of the selection process.
9. Merit deputies are required to maintain primary residency within a 20-mile radius of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, 18100 Cumberland Road, Noblesville, IN 46060. Newly hired merit deputies who do not live within the 20-mile radius shall have nine (9) months from their date of hire to meet the residency requirement. 
10. No convictions for Operating While Intoxicated or operating under the influence of drugs within the previous five (5) years
11. Shall not have been dishonorably discharged from the military
12. Shall not have used an illegal drug in the last two (2) years
13. Meet one of the following:
14. A) ILEA Tier I graduate 
15. B) Graduate from another Indiana academy recognized by the ILETB as equivalent to Tier I
16. C) Eligible to receive a waiver from ILEA for Tier I, https://secure.in.gov/ilea
17. Meet one of the following: 
18. A) Currently employed as a Law Enforcement Officer 
19. B) Meet the IC 5-2-1-9 Rules
20. Have a minimum of 2 years of Law Enforcement experience 
21. Shall not have been suspended by another law enforcement agency in the twelve (12) months prior to the application deadline. Shall not have been decertified as a police officer or "Brady" disqualification. 

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office allows reapplication, retesting, and re-evaluation of candidates not appointed unless the condition(s) which previously eliminated them from appointment are of a nature that another rejection is assured (e.g. criminal background), or an insufficient amount of time has passed to allow the applicant time to show a pattern of appropriate characteristics for reconsideration. These determinations will be made by the selection review committee. When reapplying, the applicant will restart the screening process from the beginning. There shall be no reference made to the candidate's first testing, and it shall not be held against the candidate in any manner.

Lateral Hiring ProcessDateLocationRecruiting7/1/2026 HCSOApplication Due9/2/2026HCSOFormal Interviews 9/10/2026 (Thurs) or 9/12/2026 (Sat)

RSVP REQUIRED: 

Pre-App (link below) 

& 

e-mail:

bryan.melton@hamiltoncounty.in.gov

Admin Main 

Conference Room

Truth Verification Test SeptemberHCSOMerit Board Interview 11/18/2026HCSOPsychological ExaminationNov - DecTBDMedical ExaminationNov - DecTBDPre-Employment Drug ScreenNov - DecTBD

Open Applicant Qualifying Credentials

1. U.S. Citizen or U.S. citizenship established by time of appointment
2. Valid Driver’s License (Valid Indiana License by the time of appointment) and has no more than six (6) active points
3. No felony convictions or any misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence 
4. Have legal ability to possess a firearm
5. High School Graduate or high school equivalency diploma and at least one of the following:
6.  A) completed at least 60 credit hours or equivalent from an accredited postsecondary college or university  
7.  B) two (2) years military experience
8.  C) two (2) years prior law enforcement experience (to include correctional and law enforcement reserve experience)
9. Ability to read and write English
10. Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the Merit Board
11. Ability to pass all the components of the selection process including the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Entrance Physical Standards
12. Merit deputies are required to maintain primary residency within a 20-mile radius of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, 18100 Cumberland Road, Noblesville, IN 46060. Newly hired merit deputies who do not live within the 20-mile radius shall have nine (9) months from their date of hire to meet the residency requirement.
13. No convictions for Operating While Intoxicated or operating under the influence of drugs within the previous five (5) years
14. Shall not have been dishonorably discharged from the military
15. Shall not have used an illegal drug in the last two (2) years
16. Shall not have been suspended by another law enforcement agency in the twelve (12) months prior to the application deadline. Shall not have been decertified as a police officer or "Brady" disqualification. 

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office allows reapplication, retesting, and re-evaluation of candidates not appointed unless the condition(s) which previously eliminated them from appointment are of a nature that another rejection is assured (e.g. criminal background), or an insufficient amount of time has passed to allow the applicant time to show a pattern of appropriate characteristics for reconsideration. These determinations will be made by the selection review committee. When reapplying, the applicant will restart the screening process from the beginning. There shall be no reference made to the candidate's first testing, and it shall not be held against the candidate in any manner.

Open Hiring ProcessDateLocationRecruiting7/1/2026HCSOApplication Due9/2/2026HCSOPhysical Agility Test 8:00AM9/10 (Thurs) or 9/12 (Sat)RSVP REQUIRED:

Pre-App (link below)

&

e-mail:

bryan.melton@hamiltoncounty.in.gov

HCSOWritten Test 10:30AM9/10 (Thurs) or 9/12 (Sat)JSC Large

Training Room

Formal Interview 1:30PM-6:30PM9/10 (Thurs) or 9/12 (Sat)HCSOTruth Verification TestSeptemberHCSOMerit Board Interview11/18/2026HCSOPsychological ExaminationNov - DecTBDMedical ExaminationNov - DecTBDPre-Employment Drug ScreenNov - DecTBD

Entrance Standard TimeExit Time4:083:58This test reflects the job task analysis of what a police officer will do as part of their everyday work.Obstacleshttps://www.in.gov/ilea/physical-fitness-standards/ILEA Webpagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj_IztmHIUo&feature=youtu.beVideo Demohttps://www.in.gov/ilea/files/ILEA-Obstacle-Course_Diagram.pdfCourse Diagramhttps://www.in.gov/ilea/files/ILEA-FFT-Scoresheet-1-13-26.pdfScoresheethttps://www.in.gov/ilea/files/ILEA-PAT-PROTOCOLS_UPDATED_V1.pdfTesting Protocols

• Beards allowed (may not exceed ½ inch & shall be neatly trimmed)
• Take-home vehicle
• Health Insurance
• Full Time In-House Athletic Trainer through Riverview Health
• Paid Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Deferred compensation plan
• Off-duty detail opportunities
• Continuous training opportunities
• Retirement plan (requires no employee contribution)
• Weapon and Uniform issue
• Life Insurance 
• Paid Vacations
• Military Reserve Leave
• Paid overtime opportunities
• Promotional opportunities
• Educational Assistance Program

Not everyone can be a member of the Sheriff's Office. The work can be rigorous and even potentially dangerous at times. We are searching for gifted individuals of unquestionable integrity who can demonstrate sound judgment and decision-making skills under all conditions. We seek leaders who possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the strength of character to show compassion and charity in the face of adversity. We will demand your commitment to public service and dedication to the betterment of our community.

Hamilton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.