Deputy Sheriff - Detentions 2027

Arapahoe County Government; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 84 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office in Centennial, CO is seeking a Detention Officer to maintain security and safety within the Detention Facility.

You will enforce laws, supervise inmates, conduct searches, and respond to emergencies while upholding the department's standards and community policing principles.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Colorado P.O.S.T. certification or out-of-state equivalent.
• Preferred: college coursework in criminal justice.
• Ability to follow safety procedures and maintain discipline.

Responsibilities

• Ensure health, safety and security of inmates, staff, visitors and the public.
• Maintain interior and exterior security of the Detention Facility and persons contained therein.
• Conduct inmate escorts and transports.
• Process and release inmates and inventory their property.
• Conduct head counts and supervise inmate activities.
• Respond to emergencies and follow evacuation procedures.
• Operate control rooms and monitor video systems.
• Testify in court when required.
• Follows and supports Sheriff’s Office mission, values and policies.

Skills

Law enforcement knowledge

Firearms proficiency

Vehicle operation

English communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Colorado P.O.S.T. certification / out-of-state equivalent

Tools

Office software

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Job Number:798
Salary: $40.53 - $55.10/hr.
Department:Sheriff's Office
Division: Detention Facility
Location: 7375 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO, 80112
Job Type:Hourly Full-Time
Posting Date:09/11/2026
Closing Date: 02/28/2027

• The 2027 hiring range is $84,302 - $114,608 annually
• Salary depends on education and/or experience
• You MUST be Colorado P.O.S.T. Certified or have similar out of state Certification to be eligible for this position

This position is responsible for performing a variety of complex law enforcement duties. Enforces Federal and State laws and County ordinances for the protection of life, health, safety, welfare and property. This position works under the general supervision of a Sergeant or designee.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required.

• Ensures the health, safety and security of inmates, staff, visitors and the public inside the Detention Facility.
• Maintains interior and exterior security of the Detention Facility and persons contained therein.
• Conducts inmate escorts and transports.
• Receives, processes and releases inmates, to include inventorying and releasing their property.
• Conducts accurate head counts to ensure proper accounting and allocation of inmates.
• Supervises inmate activities within the facility for extended periods of time.
• Maintains life functions for inmates, including, but not limited to exchanging laundry, serving meals, time in the dayroom, and providing hygiene products.
• Monitors and inspects the facility for contraband, maintenance issues and overall condition.
• Conducts investigations of incidents and criminal offenses that occur within the facility and gathers related facts and statements.
• Conducts scheduled and random searches of inmates, cells and the facility.
• When necessary, physically restrains inmates using control holds, handcuffs and other restraints or methods to maintain order and discipline.
• Appears in court to provide testimony.
• Ensures that emergency/evacuation procedures are followed in the event of an occurrence.
• Maintains the functions of various electronic control rooms, operates control panels and observes video monitors to oversee the security of the facility.
• Operates computers and standard office equipment including commonly used computer software programs.
• Maintains regular and acceptable attendance at such level as determined at the Sheriff’s Office discretion.
• Is available and willing to work such overtime per day or per week as the Sheriff’s Office determines is necessary or desirable to meet its needs.
• Is available and willing to work such weekends and holidays as the Sheriff’s Office determines is necessary or desirable to meet its needs.
• Performs duties onsite, except those job duties that are customarily or by nature performed offsite.
• Follows and supports the mission, values, organizational philosophies, operational principals, code of conduct and policies and procedures of the Sheriff’s Office.
• Interacts effectively with others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques and equipment.
• Working knowledge of the policies, procedures and methods utilized by the Agency.
• Working knowledge of Federal and State law and County ordinances.
• Ability to maintain Agency proficiency standards in the use of firearms.
• Ability to safely operate a County vehicle in normal and adverse conditions.
• Ability to define community policing as an evolving organizational strategy and personal philosophy based on a set of values emphasizing problem solving partnerships with neighborhoods which create and improve communities.
• Ability to acquire skill in the use of related office and field equipment.
• Ability to use computers as required by position.
• Ability to successfully complete in-service/mandatory training.
• Ability to act with tact and impartiality.
• Ability to read and understand applicable Federal, State and local laws.
• Ability to remain calm and respond appropriately to emergency and/or threatening situations.
• Ability to protect oneself and others in threatening situations.
• Ability to physically subdue and control unruly and resisting individuals.
• Ability to perform law enforcement duties requiring good psychological and physical condition.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, detention staff, inmates, contractors, court officials, suspects, witnesses, other law enforcement officials and the general public.
• Ability to pass established annual physical testing.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written English.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or G.E.D.

EXPERIENCE: No specific requirements.

CERTIFICATIONS: Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) certification or out-of-state equivalent (Colorado P.O.S.T. Provisional).

OR

Any combination of education and experience that satisfy the requirements of the job as approved by the Sheriff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• College course work in criminal justice.
• Two (2) years of experience working in a detention facility.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License
• Must be able to work rotating shifts, weekends and holidays
• Must possess current CPR and First Aid certifications within the initial status period
• Must be able to obtain Colorado P.O.S.T. Certification/Provisional
• Must be 21 years of age

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position. They are included for informational purposes and are not all inclusive.

Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.

Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.

Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

• Spends 90% of the time standing, walking or running and 10% of the time sitting while working in the housing areas, control rooms or booking area.
• Must possess sufficient strength to carry a human being from a hazardous area (average - 150 lbs.).
• Frequently pushes, pulls, climbs, balances, stoops, kneels, crouches, reaches, handles and feels in the daily performance of duty.
• Must possess sufficient physical capability to overcome and restrain a combative or resistive subject.
• Oral and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication as well as communication through automated devices such as the two way radio, intercom system and telephone.
• Visual and fine/gross motor skills enabling the use of firearm, office and field equipment.
• Visual capacity including color vision to monitor movement within and around the facility utilizing close circuit monitors.
• Visual and fine/gross motor skills enabling the operation of control panels within the facility.
• Olfactory sensory capabilities to detect criminal/hazardous situations.

JOB-RELATED CONTACTS:

Contacts are with individuals within the Sheriff’s Office, with other Departments/Organizations and the general public. Specifically, extensive contact occurs with superiors, detention staff, inmates, contractors, court officials, suspects, witnesses, other law enforcement officials and the general public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in circumstances involving hazards such as crimes, accidents, fires and disturbances which may be threatening to life or cause bodily harm. Work environment becomes extremely stressful during peak activity periods demanding full attention and coordination of numerous tasks simultaneously. Personal contact with any individual of the public, an inmate or arrestee occurs on a daily basis. This position requires physical contact of touching, controlling, sitting by, as well as the examining of an individual’s extremities and body cavities. Hand-to-hand exchanges and face-to-face verbal communications between the member and the public are required on a constant basis. This position may require immediate response to medical emergencies where blood, body fluids or other medical hazards may be present. The member may or may not have time to take precautionary and protective measures. May be assigned to work schedules requiring work on rotating shifts, weekends and holidays.

BIO-HAZARD NOTICE:

This position has been determined to be an EXTREME exposure risk to \"biohazards\" including, but not limited to, viruses, toxins, and blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HBV (hepatitis B virus), and air-borne transmissions of TB (tuberculosis). Members are advised that exposure to a \"biohazard\" may result in severe illness and/or death. Members are required by agency policy to use protective equipment and clothing. Inoculation may be required to prevent and/or treat exposures to \"biohazards\".

YOU MUST PROVIDE A CURRENT VALID EMAIL ADDRESS FOR APPLICATION STATUS NOTIFICATIONS (only one email address is accepted by the system).

BENEFITS:

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office employees are provided benefits to include, but not limited to, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, retirement plan and paid time off. For a complete summary of benefits review them at: 2026 Benefits Summary

401(a) DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN:

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office employees participate in a mandatory defined benefit program designed to help employees establish a source of income for retirement years. Through the Plan, eligible employees set aside 9.00% of their salary on a pretax basis of which the County matches at 10%. The County also contributes 6.2% to Social Security.

APPLICANT DISQUALIFICATION FACTORS:

Applicants are advised that areas for disqualification from further consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Illegal Drug Use – Marijuana use will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have used any other illegal drug use within the past five (5) years will be disqualified.
• Any conviction involving an act of Domestic Violence
• Driving Record -This includes receiving a DUI within the past five (5) years, having your driver's license suspended for any reason within the past five (5) years, and having five (5) or more tickets within the past five (5) years.
• Outside activities which may be deemed a conflict of interest
• Revelation or discovery of assaultive behavior
• Documented record of prior poor work performance
• Unsuccessful completion of any basic requirement
• Inability to perform the essential functions of the position
• Police history - type, frequency and nature of contact(s)
• Providing false or misleading information during the application/selection process

It is the policy of the Sheriff's Office to not discuss the reasons why applicants were not selected for hire. There is no flexibility to this policy. Applicants may be notified of their disqualification at any point in the selection process. If you receive such a notice, it simply means that you do not meet our standards at this time. Receiving this notice does not indicate that you are ineligible to apply with other agencies.

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS

The screening process for any position within the Sheriff's Office may include written test(s), an oral interview, skills test(s), and/or other selection methods designed to measure applicants' ability to perform the essential functions of the job they are seeking.

Additional required examinations also include:

• Medical Examination, including a drug screen
• Background Investigation - This will include, but is not limited to, contact with the applicant's former employers, associates, neighbors, and other pertinent sources. Applicant's military history, school records, police records, and driving record will also be investigated. All examinations are conducted by qualified/licensed individuals designated by the Sheriff's Office at the Sheriff's Office expense.

EXPECTED DURATION OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

Due to the nature of the application and selection process for the Sheriff's Office, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately fourteen (14) to twenty (20) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.

WORK SCHEDULES:

Employees are required to work the time periods and/or shifts, rotational and/or stationary, and location assignment, consistent with the needs of the Sheriff's Office.

DUTY ASSIGNMENTS:

All applicants hired by the Sheriff serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff of Arapahoe County and may be assigned to any of the agency's bureaus, sections, or units at the discretion of the Sheriff or his duly appointed representative. Employment is at the will and pleasure of the Sheriff, per Colorado State Statute: 30-10-506. Written policies and other manuals do not alter the at will status of employment.

COMMUNITY POLICING:
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is committed to the implementation of the community-policing concept. Community policing is an organizational strategy and philosophy which emphasizes problem solving partnerships between the Sheriff's Office, neighborhoods, and businesses working together to create a better quality of life within the community.

INITIAL STATUS PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT:

Successful applicants are subject to an initial status period of employment. This initial status period is twelve(12) months for all positions. The initial status period is regarded as part of the applicant's examination process and will be utilized for purposes of employee evaluation, training, and adjustment to the demands of the profession. New employees, who fail to perform satisfactorily during the period, may be separated from the Sheriff's Office, depending on the circumstance of each case.

POLICY ON REAPPLICATION:

Applicants who failed a written test may reapply and retest no sooner than three (3) months from the date they took the written test. Applicants who failed an interview may reapply and retest no sooner than six (6) months from the date they received notification of non-selection. All other applicants who are disqualified can reapply with the Sheriff's Office no sooner than one (1) year from the date of notification of non-selection.

This job announcement does not constitute a contract of employment. Should there be any discrepancy or error in this job announcement, the applicable policy or pay rate will apply. The Sheriff's Office retains the right to amend this job announcement at any time without notice.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Should you require an accommodation to apply for this position please contact Human Resources.