Lateral Deputy Sheriff

King County, WA; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Take-home car

Fully paid medical, dental and vision

Generous vacation and sick leave

Education incentive

Uniforms/Gear

Job summary

The King County Sheriff's Office is seeking experienced lateral deputies to join a large, mission-driven agency serving unincorporated King County, contract cities, and transit police units. Starting pay is commensurate with experience, with strong benefits and a take-home vehicle after swearing in.

This civil service role requires prior commissioned time, a probation completion, and eligibility for background and polygraph review.

Qualifications

• Experience as a full-time commissioned police officer with 12+ months of active patrol after academy.
• Probation successfully completed with a city, county, state police or sheriff's department.
• Willingness to complete background and polygraph requirements as part of the process.

Responsibilities

• Patrol a designated area, assist people in trouble and provide public safety services.
• Respond to calls, secure scenes, interview victims and witnesses, collect evidence and file reports.
• Investigate family disputes and maltreatment, and refer to appropriate authorities when needed.
• Complete administrative tasks with accuracy, testify in court, and maintain chain-of-custody in evidence.
• Engage in community policing and serve as a resource to residents and businesses.
• Perform related work across administrative, investigative, and special operation units.
• Work schedule: 24/7 coverage with day, swing, or graveyard shifts based on need.

Skills

Active patrol experience

Commissioned officer

Job description

Summary

With a commissioned staff of more than 770, we are among the largest sheriff's departments in the country. Our deputies have opportunities to serve in many different communities, including unincorporated King County, numerous contract city police departments, transit police agencies, and so many more.

We serve unincorporated King County and operate numerous city police departments plus transit police units. We offer dozens of unique assignments that range from school or community-based positions to drug enforcement and bomb disposal. As a lateral hire, your take-home patrol car is issued to you soon after being sworn-in and qualifying with your weapon. Starting pay is commensurate with experience and evaluated individually.

Lateral Hiring Incentives

• All laterals hired as a KCSO deputy on 09/11/25 or after are eligible to receive 40 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick time credited to their leave banks on their first day of employment.
• Washington State Laterals hired as a KCSO deputy on 9/11/25 or after may be eligible to receive a signing bonus of $40,000.
• $25,000 for lateral candidates; receive $10,000 on your first paycheck and $15,000 when you pass probation, with a three (3) year commitment. Any questions regarding the hiring incentive please reach out KCSO recruiters at [e-mail].

KCSO Deputy Benefits Includes

• 100% employer paid premiums for medical, dental and vision for you and your dependents.
• Take-home car upon swearing in and qualifying with your weapon.
• Liberal accrual of compensation time
• For more information about medical benefits go to the Deputy Sheriff Benefits Group Benefits summaries - King County
• Additional Benefits Include: Assignment Premium, Longevity Pay, Education Incentive, Take-home car, Uniforms/Gear and Special Sick Leave.

WHO MAY APPLY

This position is open to the public.

The Lateral Deputy is a civil service classified position. The recruitment and hiring process will be administered in accordance with King County Civil Service Rules. You can access these rules at Civil Service Rules.

Requirements

For more information about application requirements go to civil-service-application-requirements.pdf

For more information about King County Service please visit our King County Civil Service website.

Job Duties

All deputies begin their career on patrol (no jail service required). Our deputies gain a strong sense of ownership in their communities by interacting with the residents, business owners, and visitors in the area.

• Patrol a designated area of the county, assisting persons in trouble and rendering other public safety services as needed.
• Respond to calls of service and act as the situation requires, such as securing the scene, interviewing victims and witnesses, securing and gathering evidence, completing incident and arrest reports, investigating persons suspected of being engaged in crime.
• Investigate family disputes, reports of maltreatment of children, and complaints about persons with social or behavioral problems. Required action includes taking principals into custody or referring them to appropriate agencies, such as juvenile and medical authorities.
• Complete administrative tasks, such as report writing, on time and with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Testify in court including presenting facts and observations accurately and objectively and attesting to chain-of-custody in evidence handling.
• Participate in community policing activities and serve as a resource to the community.
• Perform related work as required, including assignments in administrative, investigative, and special operations units.
• Work schedule: 24/7 position, shift of day, swing, or graveyard are determined on need and assigned location. Schedule is dependent upon assignment. Patrol assignments are typically rotating ten-hour shifts on a "four days on, three days off, four days on, four days off" schedule.
• This position is an open and continuous recruitment.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LATERAL APPLICANTS:

• Experience as a full-time commissioned police officer with at least 12 months of active patrol after completion of all academy training. Time training on active patrol (PTO/FTO or similar) will count towards the 12 months of active patrol requirement.
• Successful completion of probation as a commissioned officer with a city, county or state police or sheriff's department.
• Federal Law Enforcement experience may qualify, pending a review from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC). Please reach out to Marc Alvarado, Civil Service Sr. HR Analyst, at [e-mail] for next steps in the process.
• Less than a two-year break in service from a former police officer position.
• Academy training that meets or exceeds the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's standards (720 hours).
• Out-of-state applicants will be required to complete an 80-hour equivalency academy.
• Verification that you do not meet any of the Sheriff's Office Automatic Disqualifying Behaviors.

APPLICATION AND TESTING PROCESS

• Oral Board Exam – Qualified candidates will be invited to self-schedule for an oral board examination. This is a formal interview with of a panel of King County deputies, detectives, and/or sergeants. The panel will evaluate you on the following criteria: communication skills, background, skill in serving diverse communities, experience, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, and problem solving.
• Civil Service Eligibility List – Candidates who pass the oral board examination will advance to the background investigation phase of the process. Candidates must successfully complete all steps of the background process to be eligible for hire. The final score is based on your oral board interview and, if applicable, one of the approved preference points (see below). Ranking on this list determines the order in which background investigations are conducted.

PREFERENCE POINTS

• Veteran's Preference: a valid copy of your DD214 must be provided prior to or at the time of your oral board appointment to be valid. To learn more, review RCW 41.04.010

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Upon successful completion of the Oral Board Interview candidates will.

• Receive a background packet that must be completed within two weeks.
• Once the background packet is submitted it will be assigned to detective for the investigation process.
• The background investigation process takes approximately six (6) weeks to complete for qualified lateral candidates.

Benefits

The King County Sheriff's Office offers competitive wages and a generous benefits package that includes fully paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. We also provide fully paid premiums for basic life insurance, a generous vacation and sick leave program, and membership in Washington State's LEOFF retirement plan.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/benefits/YourKingCountyBenefits.aspx

The King County Sheriff's Office offers competitive wages and a generous benefits package that includes fully-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. We also provide fully paid premiums for basic life insurance, a generous vacation and sick leave program, and membership in Washington State's LEOFF retirement plan.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/benefits/YourKingCountyBenefits.aspx

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Are you a United States Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipient. Are you now a United States citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or DACA recipient?

Can you read, write and speak the English language?

At the time of application, candidates must have at least 12 months of active patrol and successful completion of probation as a commissioned officer with a city, county or state police or sheriff's department. Federal experience will be verified upon application submission. DO YOU MEET THIS REQUIREMENT?

Are you currently employed as a law enforcement officer?

If you answered "No" to the above question, when did you last serve as a law enforcement officer. Please provide Month and Year. (Use N/A if you are an actively employed LEO)

Qualified candidates must have academy training that meets or exceeds Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's Standards of 720 hours. Provide the name of the academy and number of hours of training your received as a cadet. This information must be provided in order to be moved forward in the process. Leaving this blank means your application is incomplete.

Are you requesting Veteran's Preference Points?

A copy of your DD 214 or other proof of military service is required. Please confirm that you have either attached the required document to your application or will provide it upon hire.

Candidates who have been previously disqualified by KCSO within the 12-months of application will be automatically disqualified from the recruitment process. Note: This information will be verified prior to moving forward in the oral board process.

The King County Sheriff's Office maintains a list of automatic disqualifiers for employment. This list can be accessed by clicking on this link Automatic Disqualifiers. Please review the disqualifiers and respond to the following question before proceeding. Do you certify that based on your review of the automatic disqualifiers that you are qualified for employment with the King County Sheriff's Office? Note - This information will be verified prior to scheduling an oral board interview.

The background of all King County Sheriff's Office employees and applicants are thoroughly checked. The required background investigation will review and evaluate driving records, criminal records, criminal behavior, employment histories, military records, personal and employment references, and related information. Candidates who pass the initial background investigation will be required to complete a polygraph. Are you willing to undergo a background investigation and polygraph examination as part of the employment process?

• Yes
• No
• Required Question