Deputy Sheriff

Grays Harbor County; Montesano (WA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

1 day sick leave per month

Vacation time starting 8 hours per mo.

Employer paid life-insurance

Job summary

Grays Harbor County seeks entry-level Deputy Sheriff to serve in the Sheriff’s Office. The position participates in a 12-month probation and must meet exam requirements for the civil service process.

Applicants must be 21+, pass medical and background checks, and hold a WA driver’s license. Salary range is $7,417 to $8,587 per month with benefits.

Qualifications

• Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident and at least 21 years of age by hire date.
• No felony conviction or disqualifying criminal history; no gross misdemeanor/misdemeanor involving controlled substances or harm.
• Must pass medical examination to verify physical fitness; undergo polygraph and extensive background check.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver's license; 12-month probation period.

Responsibilities

• Provide law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of Grays Harbor County.
• Maintain good geographical knowledge of the county and observe for suspicious activity.
• Perform investigations: gather evidence, interview witnesses, and prepare reports as required.
• Support public relations and community education as part of the role.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

****IMPORTANT**** PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY THE NOTICE OF EXAM BELOW

- IT CONTAINS VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION PROCESS WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR POSITIONS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

DEPUTY SHERIFF: NOTICE OF EXAMINATION

The Grays Harbor County Civil Service Commission is establishing a 2026 eligibility list for entry-level Deputy Sheriff for the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office. The salary range for Deputy Sheriff is $7,417 to $8,587 per month plus benefits. Testing will include physical ability, written, background, and oral exams. See the full 2026 schedule of quarterly exams at this link which includes all closing dates and exam dates. Applicants must be 21 years of age by date of hire. Names will be added to the established eligibility list on a quarterly basis; eligible names may remain on the list for six months. All filled positions require successful completion of a 12-month probationary period. Please read this entire notice to clearly understand the application, testing, and screening process. Please retain a copy of this notice to refer to for times and locations throughout the exam process.

DEFINITION

A commissioned law enforcement officer whose primary duties are to provide law enforcement services in the unincorporated portions of Grays Harbor County.

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND ATTITUDES

A Deputy Sheriff performs duties commensurate with professional ethics and attitudes demanded by the police code of ethics, departmental goals and community needs.

MENTAL DEMANDS

The Deputy Sheriff position requires a mature and stable personality and must be able to work under stressful conditions. A Deputy Sheriff must be able to make decisions and take affirmative action in dangerous and unpredictable situations. A Deputy Sheriff must make decisions based on knowledge and experience rather than emotional impact. A Deputy Sheriff must be duty responsive 24 hours a day. Deputy Sheriffs must be able to assimilate large amounts of complicated information and put this into a clear and concise written form.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Majority of working time is spent outdoors which requires a Deputy Sheriff to be subjected to temperature extremes.

ACCOUNTABILITY

A Deputy is required to make independent decisions without supervision subject to departmental review. A Deputy’s actions may be subject to community and departmental criticism. A Deputy may also be subject to department discipline and/or lawsuit.

ROUTINE PATROL

A Deputy Sheriff must have a good geographical knowledge of the county and ability to read maps; be aware of problem areas including commercial, traffic, high crime and known criminals. A Deputy Sheriff is required to be observant and have the ability to distinguish suspicious and irregular activities. A Deputy Sheriff collects information on criminal activity through shift briefings. Deputies conduct preliminary inquiry regarding possible law violations, obtaining and verifying factual information from examination of persons, vehicles and premises.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND COLLISION INVESTIGATION

Deputy Sheriff must have proficient knowledge of traffic laws as required to investigate traffic collisions and facilitate the flow of traffic through the issuance of traffic citations and warnings. A Deputy must observe and identify pedestrian and vehicular irregularities and give information and assistance to motorists. Deputy must have ability to use enforcement aids such as radar, breath testing, for example.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Knowledge of criminal law is necessary to determine what crimes have been committed. Investigations require that Deputies preserve the crime scene, gather, collect and preserve evidence, interview witnesses and suspects, take necessary steps to locate, identify and return property taken from the rightful owner, and take into custody persons responsible for criminal activity per department policy as well as prepare the necessary reports, court appearance and testimony as required.

REPORT WRITING

Reports will be completed in accordance with department policy.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

A Deputy Sheriff must have the ability and desire to deal with and be responsive to individual needs. Deputies aid in improving police and community relations by participating in community education and one on one interaction with citizens.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Deputies must attend, complete and pass the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy as certified by the Criminal Justice Training Commission and those standards set by the Governor’s Commission on training standards as per RCW 43.101.200 or be certified by the WSCJTC Equivalency Academy. Obtain basic first-aid CPR qualifications and maintain qualification as required. Annual ongoing training requirements as per department policy.

BENEFITS

Deputy Sheriff currently work a 4-day on/4-day off 11-hour shift.

• 13 paid holidays
• 1 day of sick leave per month
• vacation time beginning at 8 hours per month the first year and reaching a maximum of 18 hours per month at 15 years of service
• deferred compensation match
• education incentive
• longevity pay
• shift differential
• uniform allowance
• take home car (in-county residents)
• wellness incentive
• employer paid life-insurance
• Teamsters’ health and welfare package currently 100% employer paid for employee and family

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident and at least 21 years of age by the date of hire. Have no record of felony conviction, no record of gross misdemeanor/misdemeanor conviction for crime involving controlled substances or physical harm; be free from any physical condition which might adversely affect performance of duty as a Deputy Sheriff; be free from any psychological condition which might adversely affect performance of duty as a Deputy Sheriff based on an evaluation by a clinical psychologist. Must be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Development Test. Must be examined by a licensed physician to verify that applicant is physically sound and free from any physical defect which might adversely affect performance as a Deputy Sheriff. In addition to the physical and psychological evaluations mentioned above, applicants will undergo a polygraph exam and be subject to an extensive background check. Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license. This job is subject to a 12-month probation period.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Successful candidates must pass four exams. Photo ID is required for admittance. Use the link given above to see each quarter’s testing dates.

Test 1: Physical Ability Test (PAT)

• Location: Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main in Montesano, at 9:00 a.m. in the upstairs meeting room.
• PATs will be held on March 7th, June 13th, September 26th, and December 5th of 2026.
• Standards are as follows: 20 push-ups in 90 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 90 seconds, 35 squat-thrusts in 3 minutes.
• Use this video link to prepare for the PAT: The Physical Ability Test (PAT) | Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• On test day, you must sign a responsibility release before the PAT. Consult your doctor before the exam if you have concerns.
• PAT is scored Pass/Fail; you must pass all three events to advance to the written exam.

Test 2: Written Exam

• Location: Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main in Montesano, at 12:45 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room.
• Same dates as listed for PAT above.
• Electronic devices to remain in your vehicle.
• Multiple choice exam with 80 possible points.
• Must score 70% or better to pass and qualify for Test 3 (PEBE) and Test 4 (Oral Board).
• Two hours are allowed for the exam.
• You may purchase a study guide at the following link: https://www.publicsafetycompass.com/product/poa-cognitive-series-study-guide/ Look for the “POA” version.

Test 3: Pre-Eligibility Background Exam (PEBE)

• Issued via email to those passing the written exam. Return per exam’s included instructions.
• This exam is a 30-question background questionnaire.

Test 4: Oral Board (OB) Interview

• Location: Forestry Building, 310 W. Spruce Ave. in Montesano; sign-in on the 2nd floor.
• Those qualified for the OB will receive appointment information via emailed letter.
• Score of 70% is required to pass the OB and advance to placement on the Deputy Sheriff Eligibility List.

Scoring

Those who pass the civil service exams described above will receive a letter informing them of all scores, final score, and rank on the Deputy Sheriff Eligibility List. Veteran’s points will have been added to passing final scores of qualified veterans. Veterans must have had an honorable discharge and must not yet have been employed by the state of Washington or any of its political subdivisions (e.g., counties, public utilities, schools) or municipal corporations. Veterans must submit a copy of their DD214 or NGB 22.

Selection Procedure

Eligible candidates will be ranked on the Deputy Sheriff Eligibility List in descending order by final score. Those named as eligible will remain on the list for six months unless hired or removed for cause. It is the responsibility of those on the eligibility list to inform Chief Examiner Ballou of any change to their contact information during the life of the list. Failure to do so is cause for removal from the list.

Grays Harbor County is an equal opportunity employer.