Position Information

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Deputy Sheriff I (up to $61.20/hour) followed by Deputy Sheriff II (up to $67.42/hour)
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $0.90 an hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $750 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

The Sheriff's Office is seeking motivated individuals to become Deputy Sheriffs who thrive in team environments, demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, and possess the cultural competence needed to effectively serve our diverse community. Successful candidates remain calm under pressure, exercise sound judgment during emergencies and other high-stress situations, and are committed to serving others with professionalism and integrity. The most competitive candidates will also demonstrate many of the following qualities:

• Integrity and sound ethical judgement
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Physical fitness and readiness
• Resilience under pressure
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently
• Basic computer proficiency, including email and word processing

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Future bilingual positions require English and Spanish skills at either the basic (conversational) or fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) level. An examination is conducted before employment in a bilingual position to confirm the level of skill in this area. Bilingual premium pay is $0.90/hour for fluent or basic skill sets. Additional information can be found in the Deputy Sheriff’s Association Memorandum of Understanding (DSA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: None

Education: Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable General Education Development Certificate.

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License and a good driving record.

Background Requirement: Incumbents shall not have been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, or of any offense in any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, which would have been a felony if committed in this state, nor be under current formal probation supervision.

Citizenship Requirement: Permanent resident aliens who wish to be employed as peace officers must apply for citizenship prior to application for such employment. Permanent resident aliens must cooperate with the U.S. Department of immigration in meeting all requirements for U.S. citizenship, or he or she shall be disqualified for peace officer status.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to: understand and follow oral and written directions, and to speak and write effectively; read, learn,, and understand various laws, policies, rules, procedures, law enforcement techniques and first aid; analyze situations and/or problems and to rationally and calmly take quick, effective action in emergency and stress situations; undergo strenuous physical training; successfully complete a structured academic training program as required to successfully complete law enforcement recruit academy.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

• Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities, which relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position.
• The POST Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) multiple-choice, written examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to further evaluate each candidate's qualifications as they relate to the position. The written examination will measure the core knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position, such as:

• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Clarity
• Reading Comprehension

• Name of the exam
• Date you took the exam
• T-score
• Name of the agency that administered the exam
• Should you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Hernandez at 707-565-1751.

Additional Information

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: AK

HR Technician: VH