Exceptional Entry Level Deputy Sheriff

Salary

$46.11 - $64.56 Hourly

Location

Multiple locations in King County, WA

Job Type

zzDNU_Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2025MA25491

Department

KCSO - Sheriff's Office

Division

Patrol Operations

Opening Date

10/01/2025

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Q1 : KCPOG-Sheriff

Full- or Part-Time

Full Time

Hours/Week

40 hours/week

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions
  
  

Summary

Join the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) as an Exceptional Entry Level Deputy! KCSO Exceptional Entry Deputies will have graduated from a Basic Law Enforcement Academy that meets or exceeds the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's standards (720 hours) within one (1) year of application or have fewer than 12 months of experience as a full-time commissioned police officer within one (1) year of application.

No PST testing required! This opportunity will provide candidates who qualify with an expedited onboarding experience.

To ensure success as a KCSO Deputy, the KCSO's Training Unit will review candidate experience and develop an individualized training program for our Exceptional Entry hires.

Make a Difference as a KCSO Deputy! The King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) mission is to be a trusted partner in fighting crime and improving the quality of life for our residents and guests. Deputies serve many different communities, including unincorporated King County, 13 contract city police departments, and transit police agencies.

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with a commissioned staff of more than 700, we are among the largest sheriff's departments in the country. We are seeking individuals who share our values: Leadership, Integrity, Service and Teamwork!

Job Duties

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to the public.

The Exceptional Entry Deputy is a civil service classified position. The recruitment and hiring process will be administered in accordance with King County Civil Service Rules. You can access these rules at Civil Service Rules.

Requirements

For more information about application requirements go to civil-service-application-requirements.pdf

For more information about King County Service please visit our King County Civil Service website.

HIRING PROCESS

STEP 1 – COMPLETE PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (PHS) VIA WWW.PUBLICSAFETYTESTING.COM

• Create a Public Safety Testing (PST) profile and complete the personal history statement (PHS). This is required to move forward in the application process.
• The PST physical exam and written testing is not required for Exceptional Entry candidates. The PHS is the only requirement through PST.
  
  

STEP 2 – SUBMIT APPLICATION VIA WWW.GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM

• Applications must be complete, detailed, and current within 6-months. We do not need a cover letter or resume. We will not accept "please see resume"
• The PST Personal History Statement (PHS) is required and will be evaluated at time of application. The PHS must not be over (6) six months old.
  
  

STEP 3 – ORAL BOARD EXAM

• Candidates who meet all application requirements will be invited to self-schedule an oral board exam.
• Candidates who pass the oral board will advance to the background investigation.
  
  

STEP 4 – KCSO BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

• Candidates who pass the oral board will receive a link to complete the electronic statement of personal history (eSOPH) packet.
• A fully completed eSOPH must be submitted to move forward.
• A thorough background investigation is required, including a polygraph, medical and psychological exam.
  
  

STEP 5 – DEPUTY ELIGIBLE REGISTER

• Candidates who pass steps 1 – 4 will be placed on the Exceptional Entry Deputy Eligible Register.
• Deputy Sheriff vacancies will be filled from the Exceptional Entry Deputy Eligibility Register in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
  
  

The KCSO Training Unit will review previous experience to develop individualized Exceptional Entry onboarding for those that qualify. Out-of-state Exceptional Entry Deputies will be required to complete an 80-hour equivalency academy.

Job Duties

All deputies begin their career on patrol. Jail service in not required. Our deputies gain a strong sense of ownership in their communities by interacting with the residents, business owners, and visitors in the area. Job duties include but are not limited to:

• Patrol a designated area of the county and respond to calls of service.
• Interview victims and witnesses, secure and gather evidence.
• Complete all administrative tasks such as incident and arrest reports.
• Investigate family disputes, reports of maltreatment of children.
• Respond to calls of service involving persons with social or behavioral problems.
• Be a resource to the community and seek opportunities to participate in community activities.
• Testify in court and present facts and observations accurately and objectively.
  
  

Basic Requirements

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• You must be a United States citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, or deferred action childhood arrival (DACA) recipient.
• You must have the ability to read, speak and write in the English language fluently.
• You must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of application.
• You must have a high school degree or a GED.
• Verify that you do not meet any of the KCSO Automatic Disqualifying Behavior requirements.
• In addition to minimum qualifications, candidates for Exceptional Entry Deputy must have successfully completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) within one (1) year of application OR have fewer than 12-months of experience as a full-time commissioned police officer within one (1) year of application. Federal law enforcement certification (FLETC) is not accepted at this time.
• You must be able to meet all KCSO background standards as listed in section 10.14 of the Civil Service Rules. Background requirements will be evaluated throughout the hiring process.
• If living outside of Washington state, you must be certified as a law enforcement officer and meet the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission WAC requirements. Out-of-state Exceptional Entry Deputies will be required to complete an 80-hour equivalency academy upon hire.
• Documentation or certifications may be requested by HR personnel for verification purposes.
  
  

INCUMBENTS WILL HAVE DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY IN THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Skilled in verbal communication with the ability to be clear and direct.
• Skilled in problem solving under stressful conditions.
• Ability to intervene effectively in high intensity situations, using de-escalation skills.
• Ability to act with integrity on and off duty.
• Skilled in empathic and active listening.
• Ability to relate to people and communities from diverse racial, cultural and economic backgrounds with respect.
• Skilled in working with vulnerable populations, including individuals with chemical dependency and/or behavioral health challenges.
• Ability to manage conflicts and work effectively with others.
• Ability to represent the King County Sheriff’s Office through effective inter-personal relations with the public and business community.
• Ability to follow maps well and familiarize self in assigned patrol area.
• Ability to maintain physical fitness, self-care and manage stress.
• Ability to write clearly, using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Basic computer skills are required to complete administrative tasks.
  
  

This position is represented by the King County Police Officer Guild (KCPOG). This position is eligible for overtime. Deputies are scheduled for day, swing, or graveyard shifts. Shifts are determined based on need and assigned location.

This position is an open and continuous recruitment.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request an accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Any questions regarding the position and its duties, please reach out to the KCSO Recruiter at kcsorec@kingcounty.gov.

Please direct questions about the application and recruitment process to Sr. Human Resource Analyst, Marc Alvarado, at Marc.Alvarado@kingcounty.gov.

The King County Sheriff's Office offers competitive wages and a generous benefits package that includes fully-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. We also provide fully paid premiums for basic life insurance, a generous vacation and sick leave program, and membership in Washington State's LEOFF retirement plan.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/benefits/YourKingCountyBenefits.aspx

01

You must be a current US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or DACA recipient to qualify for civil service positions with the King County Sheriff's Office. Are you now a United States citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or DACA recipient?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

Can you read, write and speak the English language?

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

Within the past year, candidates must have graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Academy that meets or exceeds the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's standards (720 hours) OR have fewer than 12-months of experience as a full-time commissioned police officer. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

Provide the name of the academy, date you graduated the academy and the number of hours of training you received as a cadet. Your application work experience must reflect the time you were a fully commissioned officer and not your pre-BLEA or BLEA time.

05

Are you currently employed as a law enforcement officer?

• Yes
• No
  
  

06

If you answered "No" to the above question, when did you last serve as a law enforcement officer. Please provide Month and Year. (Use N/A if you are an actively employed LEO)

07

Are you requesting Veteran's Preference Points?

• Yes
• No
  
  

08

A copy of your DD 214 or other proof of military service is required. Please confirm that you have either attached the required document to your application or will provide it upon hire.

• Proof is attached
• Proof will be provided upon hire
• Not Applicable
  
  

09

Are you requesting King County Sheriff's Office Explorer Points? You must have served as an active KCSO Explorer for two (2) years and have completed a minimum of 850 hours of KCSO Explorer training and/or service hours.

• Yes
• No
  
  

10

The King County Sheriff's Office maintains a list of automatic disqualifiers for employment. This list can be accessed by clicking on this link Automatic Disqualifiers. Please review the disqualifiers and respond to the following question before proceeding. Based on your review of the automatic disqualifiers, do any of the sections pertain to your background? Note - This information will be verified prior to scheduling an oral board interview.

• Yes
• No
  
  

11

The background of all King County Sheriff's Office employees and applicants are thoroughly checked. The required background investigation will review and evaluate driving records, criminal records, criminal behavior, employment histories, military records, personal and employment references, and related information. Candidates who pass the initial background investigation will be required to complete a polygraph, medical and psychological exam. Are you willing to undergo a background investigation and polygraph examination as part of the employment process?

• Yes
• No
  
  

Required Question

Employer King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone 206-477-3404

Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/