Deputy Sheriff (Grade 256)

Yuma County, AZ; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Yuma County, AZ seeks a deputy to patrol, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and supervise field operations across specialty units. The role includes opportunities in investigations, training, and narcotics task force, with emphasis on accurate reporting and community safety.

The position requires a high school diploma or GED and AZPOST certification within one year, along with strong communication, decision-making, and teamwork skills for demanding law enforcement duties.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• AZPOST certification within 1 year of appointment is required.
• Ability to work on-call status and varying shifts.
• Background check and drug testing may be required.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned area; respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service; conducts investigations on crimes and traffic collisions; arrest violators and prepare detailed reports.
• Maintains evidence, secures scenes, and conducts follow-up investigations; prepares and presents evidence in court as needed.
• Performs field training, intelligence support, and other specialty duties as assigned; may work with narcotics task force and K-9 program.

Skills

On-call availability

Investigative interviewing

Evidence handling

Patrol and pursuit

Education

High School Diploma or GED

AZ POST certification within 1 year

Job description

This position is advertised from the minimum to the mid-point hourly rate. Salary will be determined on education and experience at the time of offer.

NATURE OF WORK

Under general supervision, performs technical work of moderate difficulty in law enforcement and investigative duties; this position has department specific responsibility.

Patrols assigned area for the prevention of crime, enforcement of laws and protection of life and property; responds to emergency and non-emergency calls for service; conducts preliminary and follow-up investigations on crimes and traffic collisions; arrests violators of laws; identifies and interviews witnesses, victims and criminals, prepares and maintains detailed reports and documentation; secures accident and crime scenes, and responsible for crowd control; administers first aid; identifies, collects and secures evidence, and maintains chain of evidence for criminal investigations; apprehends, detains and searches suspects, and cites or arrests for civil and criminal law violations; transports and books arrestees; assists in surveillance work.; executes various writs, subpoenas and court orders; appears in court to present evidence and/or testify as a witness; maintains patrol vehicle and equipment according to Department standards; conducts police related community awareness; regular and reliable attendance; performs other duties as assigned.

Specialty Assignments

An employee in this class series may receive work assignments in any or all of the following: boating safety and enforcement, criminal investigations, field training, intelligence unit, K-9, recruit training, and/or narcotics task force; employees assigned to specialty units perform additional duties, and are required to have additional knowledge, skills, and abilities; in addition, employees must be able to obtain and maintain certain certifications and clearances; employees assigned to specialty units must be off probation, and may have to successfully pass an oral board interview and/or other relevant testing; employees are eligible to receive specialty pay when assigned for a period of time; once an employee is removed from the specialty duty, the employee is no longer eligible for the specialty pay.

Boating Safety and Enforcement

Patrols Yuma County waterways to enforce boating laws; assists with stranded and disabled watercrafts; conducts search and rescue operations, to include, transportation of victims to emergency medical services; assists Federal and state agencies in locating/citing state level infractions; conducts boater education and public relation events on boating safety; conducts routine maintenance on patrol vessels, to include oil changes and minor mechanical issues.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of state boating laws; watercraft survival and tactics; geographic locations of Yuma County waterways; patrol vessel maintenance; skill in investigating boating collisions; operating watercrafts; ability to swim; drive patrol vehicle with attached trailer.

Criminal Investigations

Receives and conducts in depth investigations of serious and complex criminal cases involving sex crimes, homicides, kidnappings, arson, fraud, etc.; conducts multiple suspect, witness, and victim interviews; collects and photographs evidentiary materials, such as, fingerprints, bodily fluids, gunshot residue, and other forensic trace evidence; examines evidence to establish probable cause in order to obtain search warrants and subpoenas; partners and provides assistance to patrol deputies and other agencies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of complex interviewing tactics, to include, basic forensic interview tactics for child crimes and sex crimes; RapidHit DNA equipment; skill in technical photography and collecting trace evidence; processing crime scenes; critical thinking; ability to work on call status and varying shifts; examine sensitive, graphic, and disturbing images/scenes for long periods of time during an investigation; continuously adapt to high stress environments; maneuver interviews with various techniques/tactics.

Field Training

Observes, supervises, and mentors deputies in training; instructs and evaluates deputies regarding Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, officer safety techniques, state laws and application, and how to research/investigate; conducts daily performance evaluations highlighting accomplishments and deficiencies; completes end of phase evaluations with recommendations for continuation or additional training; devises detailed plan for additional training to correct deficiencies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of methods, practices, and techniques of instruction and evaluation; Sheriff’s Office Field Training Manual; skill in mentoring, motivating, leading, and supervising deputies; providing clear and concise instruction; ability to provide conventional instruction, as well as innovative and practical training techniques; provide constructive criticism.

Intelligence Unit

Proactively reviews and assesses police reports, exclusive databases, and subject interviews in order to identify threats in an effort to anticipate, monitor, prevent, and curtail criminal activity in Yuma County; provides patrol, specialty units, and command staff with intelligence of potential threats or investigative information in order to deploy resources; installs, monitors, and maintains equipment and databases issued to the unit, to include, Buckeye Cameras, Advanced License Plate Readers, etc.; collaborates and assists other local, state, and Federal agencies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of current events, politics, and trends; social media platforms; research methods; skill in collecting, analyzing and evaluating data; predicting crimes, threats, and solving cases; being detail-oriented; ability to see patterns in information to classify threats and trends; organize, summarize, and present data; pass a Federal background check for a security clearance.

K-9 Handler

Conducts visual pre-inspection of area to be searched with K-9 in order to identify potential hazards, such as, sharp objects, exposed narcotic substances, chemicals, poisons, hiding persons, other animals, etc.; establishes search pattern prior to deployment of K-9; deploys K-9 utilizing trained tactics and methods to search/clear residential areas, vehicles, and large open fields; provides continuous care for K-9 on and off duty, to include, kennel maintenance and cleaning, exercise, socialization, and veterinary appointments; conducts public relation demonstrations at schools and community events promoting drug prevention and K-9 education; manages and maintains narcotic substances, to be utilized as training aids for K-9 teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of standards and techniques to care and maintain canine 24 hours a day; methods, practices, and techniques relating to canine detection of narcotics, contraband, persons, etc; skill in deciphering subtle signals and changes from canine; determining search patterns depending on weather, environmental conditions, and location; ability to work on call status and varying shifts; control the canine at home and during work hours in order to avoid potential liabilities; maintain Narcotics Detection K-9 Certification.

Recruitment Training Officer

Oversees, evaluates, and coordinates the daily recruit activities at the Arizona Western College Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA); instructs classes per Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) curriculum; assists in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of state and local law enforcement programs and courses; assists in preparation of curriculum materials, and program/course evaluation; mentors and provides support to recruits.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of methods, practices, and techniques of instruction and evaluation; Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) physical and teaching requirements; skill in mentoring, motivating, leading, and supervising recruits; provide clear and concise instruction; ability to provide conventional instruction, as well as innovative and practical training techniques; provide constructive criticism; possess and maintain AZPOST General Instructor certification and/or other specialty certifications, to include, firearms, defensive tactics, physical training, etc..

Narcotics Task Force

Investigates narcotics activity in an effort to disrupt trafficking, sales, and distribution of illegal narcotics by targeting, arresting, and prosecuting suspects; creates and maintains professional relationships with multiple confidential informants; conducts interviews and debriefs of informants, witnesses, and violators to gather evidence for search warrants, affidavits, and complaints; assigns, guides, and directs resources based on surveillance, trends, and intelligence.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of complex interviewing tactics, current trends pertaining to narcotics, smuggling patterns, pricing, etc; skill in critical thinking; developing and using informants; coordinating multi-agency task forces; ability to work on call status and varying shifts; continuously adapt to high stress environments; maneuver interviews with various techniques/tactics.

High School Diploma or GED equivalent; AND Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training certification within one (1) year of appointment; AND successful completion of a background check, physical, psychological and polygraph examination and drug test prior to appointment; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience; must be 21 years of age and a United States Citizen; must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge of: Yuma County policies and procedures; County, state and Federal laws, regulations and ordinances; Sheriff’s department policies and procedures; law enforcement principles, methods, practices, equipment and procedures; the geography, roads, and streets of Yuma County; law enforcement investigation principles; Bloodborne pathogens; and hazardous materials, conditions and devices.

Skill in: Learning and applying law enforcement principles, rules, techniques, and the proper use of issued equipment; managing situations firmly, courteously, tactfully and impartially; applying good judgment and making effective decisions under pressure; the use of firearms, motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment; preparing clear, comprehensive, and accurate reports; interviewing and dealing impartially with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds; administering first aid and CPR; operating computerized technology and job-related software applications.

Ability to: Work independently with minimal supervision; comprehend, retain, and recall factual information; maintain proficiency in the use of assigned firearms; establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees, other agencies, and the public; follow written and verbal instructions; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; exercise good judgement in safeguarding confidential or sensitive information; perform the essential functions of the job specifications with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Work is performed outdoors and in general office environment; sork a variety of scheduled shifts, irregular hours and/or on-call status; physical agility to pursue offenders on foot, stop and subdue resisting offenders using necessary force where appropriate, including deadly force; maneuver through and over paved, gravel, rough, uneven, slippery, or turf areas; climb elevations; exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, inclement weather, temperature extremes, traffic hazards, body fluids, communicable diseases; hazardous chemical, firearms, various evidence, and unpleasant orders; exposure to remote, isolate areas, and potentially hazardous, disabling and life-threatening situations; bend, reach, kneel, and crouch to gather evidence, conduct search activities, and other law enforcement duties; stand and sit for long period of time; wear required uniform articles and safety equipment for extended period of time; lift and pull up to 165pounds in emergency situations; use and maintain proficiency with a variety of law enforcement tools including, handguns, baton, and other weapons; visual and muscular dexterity to operate: a motor vehicle, computer equipment, and two-way radio maintaining constant vigilance to the surrounding area; utilized two-way radio to hear and respond to: radio communications, voice instructions, and/or commands under a variety of working situations and background noise levels.

EOE/AA/ADAAA/M/F/V/D DRUG FREE WORKPLACE