Deputy Sheriff Trainee

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office; French Camp (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office invites applications for a Deputy Sheriff Trainee. This full-time, on-site position trains at a POST Certified Academy, with extensive academic instruction and physical training in law enforcement.

The trainee will learn departmental policies and procedures while receiving hands-on assignments to prepare for sworn status as a Peace Officer upon graduation and age requirements are met.

Responsibilities

• Attends the POST Certified Basic Academy and meets all academic and physical requirements.
• Receives training in law enforcement equipment, physical fitness techniques, arrest control, and related trainings.
• Learns community-based policing and interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects; determines appropriate actions.
• Develops positive relations with the public to resolve issues, gain compliance, and share information with other agencies.
• Learns to operate electronic communications equipment to transmit and receive messages from agency vehicles and stations.
• Learns to prepare reports and correspondence to meet department policy and protocol.
• Assists deputies on routine calls in a learning capacity.

Job description

Deputy Sheriff Trainee

Approximate Salary $6,073.35 - $7,382.19/month

Opening Date 9/4/2026 08:00:00 AM

Closing Date Continuous

Employment Type Full-Time

Introduction

The San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office is seeking highly motivated individuals who are interested in a career as a law enforcement officer. The Deputy Sheriff Trainee will receive intensive academic instruction and rigorous physical training in law enforcement at a California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Certified Academy and will receive other assignments on a training basis to learn departmental policies and procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to view the Sheriff's Office Candidate FAQ to learn more about the hiring process. Candidates must pass the physical agility test and written exam to move forward in the recruitment process for this position. Click the link to view a video demonstration of the physical agility test: PAT Video. Candidates may provide POST PELLETB T-scores from other agencies in lieu of taking the written examination. A T-Score of 42 or higher is qualifying with San Joaquin County. T-Scores must be on official agency letterhead in PDF format and have been within the last 12 months. You may attach your T-score letters to your application or e-mail them to [e-mail]. Please note, San Joaquin County WILL NOT waive the physical agility exam in lieu of another physical agility exam from another law enforcement agencies and/or basic training academies. If you retest within 30 days either with the same or a different department/agency, your test results will be invalidated. you must wait at least 30 calendar days prior to retaking the test (e.g., you will be eligible to retest on the 31st day after you have taken your last PELLETB exam.) For more information regarding the Entry-Level Test Battery exam please visit LE Entry-Level Test Battery Applicant FAQs. Study guide/material may be found at the CA POST website: PELLETB Preparation Guide If you have failed either the Physical Agility Test or the Written Exam and are still interested in participating in the process, please reach out to Melissa Lopez at [e-mail] so you can continue to receive notices for upcoming exam dates.

Upcoming Testing Schedule

• Apply by: Thursday, October 29, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PAT/Written Exam: 8am - 2pm, Friday, November 6, 2026 (Please note, only candidates that successfully complete the agility test will be invited to the written exam)
• Apply by: Thursday, December 31, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PAT/Written Exam: 8am - 2pm, Friday, January 8, 2027 (Please note, only candidates that successfully complete the agility test will be invited to the written exam)
• Apply by: Thursday, May 6, 2027 by 11:59 p.m. PAT/Written Exam: 8am - 2pm, Friday, May 14, 2027 (Please note, only candidates that successfully complete the agility test will be invited to the written exam)
• Apply by: Thursday, September 2, 2027, by 11:59 p.m. PAT/Written Exam: 8am - 2pm, Friday, September 10, 2027 (Please note, only candidates that successfully complete the agility test will be invited to the written exam)

Definition

Under immediate supervision, receives intensive academic instruction in law enforcement at a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified Basic Academy; receives other assignments on a training basis to learn departmental policies and procedures; and does related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

Class Characteristics

This is the trainee level class in the Deputy Sheriff series. Incumbents in this class are assigned to attend a POST Certified Basic Academy and may perform non-enforcement duties. Emphasis is placed on community-based policing, familiarization between law enforcement and the community, and collaborative problem solving. Upon successful completion of the Academy, trainees will be sworn in as Peace Officers and are eligible to move to the entry-level class of Deputy Sheriff I - Academy Certified upon graduation from the Academy and reaching 21 years of age.

Typical Duties

• Attends the assigned POST Certified Basic Academy and successfully meet all academic and physical requirements.
• Receives training in the use of a variety of law enforcement equipment, physical fitness techniques, arrest control techniques, and other required trainings.
• Learns the principles and techniques of community-based policing and of interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects; learns how to determine appropriate courses of action when faced with potentially violent situations.
• Develops and maintains positive relations with the public to resolve issues, gain compliance, and build trust; exchanges crime related and general information with other law enforcement agencies.
• Learns and may assist in operating electronic communication equipment to transmit and receive messages from electronic communication equipped vehicles and other stations.
• Learns to prepare a variety of reports and correspondence to meet department policy and protocol.
• May assist Deputy Sheriffs on routine calls in a learning capacity.
• May assist with supervisio