Deputy Sheriff (Recruits) - Sheriff's Office

Howard County Government; Ellicott City (MD); On-site; USD 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Job summary

Howard County Government is seeking a Deputy Sheriff to uphold safety and order in central Maryland. Deputies perform court security, serve civil and criminal papers, transport prisoners, and ensure compliance with laws across county operations.

Applicants must have a High School Diploma or GED, pass the MPCTC requirements within a year, and be prepared for shift work including weekends and holidays. Travel may be required for extradition cases as needed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of law enforcement practices, court procedures, and process serving regulations.
• Knowledge of Civil process procedures.
• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal laws.
• Ability to use issued/approved firearms.
• Ability to prepare records and reports.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and/or written directions.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Responsibilities

• Laws enforcement officers perform duties in the county.
• Serve civil and criminal papers and transport prisoners.
• Provide court security and enforce laws.
• Maintain accuracy in records and reports.
• Coordinate with other agencies as needed.

Skills

Law enforcement

Court procedures

Process serving

Report writing

Communication

Physical fitness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

STARTING SALARY:

$57,262 Annually

$27.53 Hourly

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Deputy Sheriff's are law enforcement officers, recognized in the State of Maryland, and have state wide powers when dealing with certain issues. Howard County Deputies provide many duties in this County.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

• Performs technical level sheriff operations work under general supervision from a technical superior. Work includes serving civil and criminal papers; maintaining court room security; and maintaining security of and transporting prisoners.
• Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Processes and serves civil and criminal summons, from in and out of state.
• Transports prisoners as per court orders.
• Preserves order during court sessions and maintains court security.
• Enforces all Federal, State, and County laws.
• Levies and seizes property on judgment, and collects money and fees.
• Makes arrests on warrants and civil body attachments.
• Investigates domestic animal kills in the County.
• Works with various Local, State, and Federal officers in cooperative law enforcement efforts.
• Provides court ordered protection.
• Participate on extradition out of state with respect to prisoner transportation.
• Maintain valid driver's license.
• Issue Maryland State Citations as required.
• Issue Howard County Parking Citations.
• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

NOTE:

Shift work, which includes weekends and holidays, is required.

Deputies may be required to remain in court for the duration of the daily proceedings resulting in irregular duty hours.

Deputies, on occasion, may be required to travel to other states and stay overnight in extradition cases.

Deputies are fully constituted peace officers and are responsible for taking law enforcement action.

Individuals selected to fill vacancies in this classification within the Howard County Sheriff's Office are designated as essential employees.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST:

If you are selected to move forward, you must first pass a physical agility test. If selected, the Howard County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) will notify you of the date, time and location of the physical agility test. You will be required to bring with you a completed HCSO Physician's Authorization Form in order to complete the physical agility test.

The physical agility test is comprised of three physical tests; sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. Standards for each test are based on your age and gender, which are detailed on the Physician's Authorization Form. You must pass in order to move forward in the hiring process, and prior to attending an Academy.

MALE:

• 18-29: 37 sit-ups, 27 push-ups, 12:53 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 30-39: 33 sit-ups, 21 push-ups, 13:25 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 40-49: 28 sit-ups, 16 push-ups, 14:10 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 50-59: 22 sit-ups, 11 push-ups, 15:53 1.5MileRun/Walk

FEMALE:

• 18-29: 31 sit-ups, 14 push-ups, 15:32 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 30-39: 24 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, 16:43 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 40-49: 19 sit-ups, 8 push-ups, 17:38 1.5MileRun/Walk
• 50-59: 12 sit-ups, 7 push-ups, 19:43 1.5MileRun/Walk

You will be required to pass the physical agility test described above in order to enter the required training at the Academy.

High School Diploma or GED.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of law enforcement practices, court procedures, and process serving regulations.
• Knowledge of Civil process procedures.
• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal laws.
• Ability to use issued/approved firearms.
• Ability to prepare records and reports.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and/or written directions.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedures manuals.
• Ability to write reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

The selected candidate(s) will be required to successfully complete entry level police training as per Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission (MPCTC) requirements within one year of employment.

Class C Maryland Driver's License.