Criminal Deputy - Entry Level

Linn County Sheriff's Office; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Linn County Sheriff's Office is recruiting for Deputy Sheriff. The role involves enforcing traffic and criminal laws, patrolling communities, and assisting in investigations. You will prepare detailed reports, testify in court, and participate in searches, arrests, and evidence handling.

Candidates must meet DPSST and general law enforcement requirements, work outdoors in varied conditions, and maintain professional conduct and integrity at all times.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Federal, State and local laws and ordinances.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise reports and testimony in court.
• Ability to assess and act in high-stress situations with sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Patrol roads and areas to enforce traffic and criminal laws; issue warnings or citations.
• Maintain written records and prepare reports for investigations and prosecutions.
• Make arrests and transport suspects while following procedures.
• Investigate traffic accidents, provide first aid, and secure scenes.
• Investigate crimes; preserve crime scenes, collect evidence and interview victims/witnesses.
• Serve subpoenas, warrants, and testify in court; may assist in search and rescue.

Skills

Laws & ordinances

Investigative procedures

Firearms operation

Motor vehicle operation

Written reports

Interpersonal communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Police radios

Intoxilyzers

Fingerprinting equipment

Radar / Laser

Job description

Keeping the peace with dignity, honesty and compassion

Linn County, located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, is surrounded by beautiful landscape year round and is just a short drive away from the mountains, beaches and waters of Oregon. If you enjoy the great outdoors and four seasons of change, this is the place for you! The Linn County Sheriff's Office offers meaningful work, unique professional challenges, endless learning opportunities, and excellent benefits! Join our team of professionals that make a difference in the lives of others.

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The Sheriff's Office may close this recruitment at any time, without further notice.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES/JOB OBJECTIVES

Enforces State and local traffic, criminal and civil laws and County Codes. Patrols roads, waterways and business and residential areas. Investigates traffic accidents, crimes and complaints relating to criminal law enforcement in the County. Arrests and books suspects; serves warrants of arrest, subpoenas, summons and other civil process. Appears as witness in Court. Administers first aid, assists with search and rescue, receives and maintains evidence, prepares necessary reports. Duties may include assignment as a Resident Deputy Sheriff in a community or broad geographic area located at some distance from the central operations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of a Sergeant on an assigned shift who coordinates and directs Deputy's activities during the shift. Sergeant or Shift Supervisor advises Deputy as to proper procedures or interpretations of the law as necessary. Work is regularly reviewed for conformance to laws and office policies and regulations. While a Deputy Sheriff works within a framework of laws, rules and regulations which guide the performance of duties, there are instances where direct or immediate supervision will not be available and the Deputy must exercise judgment as to the appropriate procedures and methods to be exercised.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision of other employees is not a regular responsibility of this classification. In some instances the Senior Deputy responding to an accident or crime scene may be responsible for supervising the activity of other Deputies at the scene. Senior Deputies also assist in training new Deputies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

A person employed in this classification must possess the capability to perform the following duties to be considered for this position. The duties are essential functions requiring the critical skills and expertise needed to meet job objectives. Additional specific details of these essential functions may be provided by the specific office or department job announcement, if applicable.

• 1. Patrol roads, business and residential areas to enforce traffic and criminal laws; issue warnings or citations for violations, make security checks and check for suspicious persons or vehicles. Respond to calls including major crimes, civil complaints, theft, assaults, family disputes, juvenile complaints and take appropriate action.
• 2. Maintain written records of all activities and prepare reports necessary for accident and criminal investigations, crime prevention, prosecution and office activities.
• 3. Make arrests as necessary in the performance of various duties; handle suspects and prisoners in accordance with established procedures; transport suspects and prisoners.
• 4. Investigate traffic accidents checking for injured persons, administering emergency first aid, securing the accident scene to insure safety of all persons, gather information by interviewing participants and witnesses.
• 5. Investigate crimes and criminal complaints; preserve crime scene, interview victims, witnesses and suspects; collect and mark evidence; conduct follow‑up investigation, including the apprehension of suspects.
• 6. Serve subpoenas, summons, warrants for arrest and other civil process papers; appear as a witness in Court to testify on matters relating to accidents, crimes and investigations. May extradite and transport persons back to Linn County.
• 7. Assist with search and rescue operations.
• 8. Patrol waterways; enforce all marine, fish and game laws.
• 9. Develop and maintain proficiency in the use of law enforcement equipment including firearms, police radio and communication codes, vehicles, intoxilyzers, crime scene kits, fingerprinting equipment, radar/laser, still and video cameras.
• 10. Investigate unattended deaths which result from natural, accidental or suicidal circumstances.
• 11. Assist with crime prevention activities which include surveillance, patrol and dissemination of information to the public.
• 12. Answer public inquiries, complaint procedures and provide other general assistance as required.
• 13. On a rotating basis, Deputy Sheriffs may also be assigned to the Detective Division for more intensive participation in felony and misdemeanor crime investigation duties.
• 14. May have special responsibilities associated with receiving evidence and recovered property, marking for proper identification, custody of evidence, transporting evidence to crime lab, and testimony in Court as to the care and custody of evidence.
• 15. Must prepare for and prosecute criminal cases on the State's behalf in those areas where the District Attorney will not appear, (traffic infractions, less than one ounce marijuana possession, dog violations, marine offenses and minor game violations) and in the Justice Courts of Linn County.
• 16. Develop and maintain effective, harmonious and reasonable work relationships with others.
• 17. Maintain regular and predictable work attendance.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

18. This classification covers the most significant essential functions performed by an employee in this position but it does not include other occasional work which may be similar to, related to or a logical assignment for the position. Any one position in this classification may be assigned some or all of the duties listed under essential functions or that arise as other functions. The balance of the various duties, responsibilities and/or assignments of this position may change from time to time based upon management’s decisions on how to best allocate resources. Any shift, emphasis or rebalancing does not constitute a change in the essential functions of the job classification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Some knowledge of the pertinent Federal, State and local laws and ordinances, including traffic, criminal, civil, juvenile, fish and game and marine statutes. Some knowledge of investigatory procedures and the gathering and preservation of evidence. Some knowledge of the use of law enforcement equipment including firearms, vehicles, radios and Intoxilyzers. Demonstrated skill in the efficient and safe use of firearms and motor vehicles, including the operation of vehicles at high speeds and under adverse road conditions. Ability to learn a considerable amount of factual material relating to laws, ordinances, procedures and regulations, and apply this knowledge to on-the-job situations. Ability to comprehend and interpret laws, ordinances and regulations. Ability to understand sometimes complex oral and written instructions and to act upon them accordingly. Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, exercising considerable judgment to determine a proper course of action, in some instances without consulting a supervisor. Ability to prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports. Ability to assist persons undergoing emotional stress or mental disorder while maintaining a professional and objective posture. Ability to exercise appropriate physical actions in the arrest and restraint of persons to insure the safety of all persons. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow officers, supervisors, complainants, crime victims and suspects, witnesses and the general public.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Graduation from a senior high school or possession of the equivalent GED certificate.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Be a citizen of the United States. Be 21 years of age or older. Be of good moral fitness, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Be free of any conviction for any felony; any misdemeanor involving violent behavior; or unlawful use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled substance, narcotic or dangerous drug. Pass a written test and oral interview as prescribed by the Sheriff's Office. Be willing to work weekends, holidays, varying shifts and extra hours. Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment may be a condition of employment. Must pass a general physical examination as required by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and a comprehensive psychological examination. Possession of a Basic Certificate from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and Law Enforcement Data Systems (LEDS) certification within one year of hire date are required. Must possess and maintain a valid First Aid and CPR card including instruction of the operation of Automatic External Defibrillators. Additionally, meet the standards set forth in OAR 259-008-0010.

WORK REQUIREMENTS

Work is performed indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments in all weather conditions. Work requirements include being able to see (Corrected vision shall be at least 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye. Uncorrected vision worse than 20/100 shall wear soft contact lenses to meet corrected vision requirements. Uncorrected vision of 20/100 or better may wear glasses with frames to meet the corrected vision requirement. Color discrimination, binocular coordination and peripheral vision must be normal.) Additional requirements are the ability to talk and hear (have no significant hearing loss), sit and stand, read and write, walk, run, bend, stoop and the ability to lift or move fifty (50) pounds; use hands to finger, handle or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms and shift from minimal level of physical exertion to high stress/high level of physical exertion at a moment's notice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments in all weather conditions. Work requirements include being able to see (Corrected vision shall be at least 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye. Uncorrected vision worse than 20/100 shall wear soft contact lenses to meet corrected vision requirements. Uncorrected vision of 20/100 or better may wear glasses with frames to meet the corrected vision requirement. Color discrimination, binocular coordination and peripheral vision must be normal.) Additional requirements are the ability to talk and hear (have no significant hearing loss), sit and stand, read and write, walk, run, bend, stoop and the ability to lift or move fifty (50) pounds; use hands to finger, handle or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms and shift from minimal level of physical exertion to high stress/high level of physical exertion at a moment's notice.

Background Check

Finalists for this position will be subject to an extensive background investigation. Some issues that might cause an applicant to be withheld from further consideration include, but are not limited to the following:

• Felony convictions
• Misdemeanor convictions for:
  • Domestic violence (DV);
  • Currently named as the Respondent in a Restraining Order;
  • Crime of dishonesty; and/or,
  • Crime that resulted in serious physical injury to another.
• Illegal manufacture, transport, or sale of a controlled substance.
• Any repeated convictions of an offense, which indicate disrespect for the law, a lack of good moral character or disposition towards violence and disorder.
• Discharge from employment, where such discharge indicates poor behavior and/or an inability adjusting to discipline.
• A Dishonorable Discharge from the armed forces.
• Persons convicted of a petty larceny.

Drug Use Disqualifiers

No arrests or convictions for any felony or any misdemeanor crimes involving the unlawful use, possession, delivery, or manufacturing of a controlled substance, narcotic or dangerous drug. A history of drug use, excessive use of illegal drugs, or other offenses, could disqualify an applicant.

Additional Information

Must be able to read, write and speak English. Must pass a thorough background investigation, psychological exam, drug screen, and integrity interview that establishes strong moral character. Any conduct that could compromise the integrity of the employee, other employees, the Sheriff's Office or the County will be closely evaluated. The individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others in the workplace. Must be able to meet and adhere to agency policy on Personal Appearance Standards. The Linn County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity and Veterans Preference Employer.

Must meet the following Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) requirements

• United States Citizen within one year of employment
• At least 21 years of age at the time of employment
• Declared by a physician as able to perform the physical duties required by the occupation
• Of good moral fitness, without legal conduct involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, and conviction of drug and/or sex crimes.
• Must successfully complete all required training standards established by the Linn County Sheriff's Office and/or DPSST within one year of hire.

Tentative Hiring Process

1. Review of NTN testing scores (Frontline & ORPAT). Applicants must achieve a passing score of 65% or higher on the video exam. Applicants must pass all sections of the testing. ORPAT time must be 5:30 or less. This step is only for entry level applicants; lateral applicants are not required to complete the testing.
2. Review of NEOGOV Application
3. Captain's Interview - Informal 10‑15 minute face‑to‑face interview for eligible and invited applicants (possibly followed by a short job tour).
4. Oral Board Interview - Formal oral board face‑to‑face interview for eligible and invited applicants.
5. Conditional offer of employment extended to selected top candidates only.
6. Complete and submit the Statement of Personal History
7. Pre‑employment background investigation
8. Psychological Evaluation, Medical and Sheriff's Interview
9. Final Job Offer