Sergeant - Detentions

Theuniversityunion; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilpin County Sheriff's Office in Colorado seeks a Detentions Sergeant to supervise the detention facility, ensure safety and compliance, and lead staff with a hands-on approach.

Responsibilities include managing booking, housing, transport, and investigations; maintaining security and documentation; and coordinating with courts, emergency responses, and administrative processes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and training may be considered.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must meet standards established in Colorado Revised Statutes.
• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License with no restrictions due to driving record. Must also be able to drive a county vehicle.
• Must have no felony convictions or disqualifying misdemeanors designated by POST or any significant prior criminal activity.
• Must pass background investigation, drug screening, psychological evaluation, and physical assessment.

Responsibilities

• Supervises day-to-day operations of the Detention Facility, ensuring safety, security, and compliance.
• Oversees booking, intake, classification, housing assignments, and releases in accordance with policy.
• Provides direction, guidance, and support to staff and inmate workers.
• Reviews previous shifts’ pass-ons, incident reports, logs, and activity summaries to ensure continuity and compliance.
• Conducts briefings and communicates operational priorities, safety concerns, and staffing needs.
• Assigns, evaluates, coaches, trains, and mentors staff to ensure professional development and adherence to standards.
• Assists in hiring processes, employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement.
• Ensures staff compliance with policy, procedure, and best practices in direct supervision, safety, and inmate management.
• Maintains overall facility security through staff oversight and direct intervention when needed.
• Responds to disturbances, fights, medical emergencies, fire alarms, panic alarms, and critical incidents.
• Performs crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and de-escalation as required.
• Oversees facility searches, contraband detection, and inspections.
• Ensures proper use and documentation of force consistent with training and policy.
• Supervises operations of central control systems, including cameras, door controls, radios, and JMS.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Decision making

Communication

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

• Location 2960 Dory Hill Road,Suite 300,Black Hawk, CO, 80422,United States
• Base Pay $50.50 - $71.81 / Hour
• Job Category Sheriff's Office
• Employee Type FT Non-Exempt

Description

Primary Responsibility: Under general direction, the Detentions Sergeant provides daily supervision, leadership, and operational oversight within the Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility. The Sergeant ensures safety, security, and compliance with facility policies, Colorado Jail Standards, and applicable laws. This position functions as a working supervisor, providing staff guidance, responding to critical incidents, conducting investigations, and ensuring the smooth & efficient operation of the facility.

Supervisedby:

• In absence of a Sergeant, use the chain of command established by the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office.
• Detentions Deputies/Officers, Court Security Deputies, and Detentions Specialists

FLSAStatus: Non-Exempt

MAIN JOB DUTIES:

Facility Operations & Staff Supervision

• Supervises day-to-day operations of the Detention Facility, ensuring safety, security, and compliance.
• Oversees booking, intake, classification, housing assignments, and releases in accordance with policy.
• Provides direction, guidance, and support to staff and inmate workers.
• Reviews previous shifts’ pass-ons, incident reports, logs, and activity summaries to ensure continuity and compliance.
• Conducts briefings and communicates operational priorities, safety concerns, and staffing needs.
• Assigns, evaluates, coaches, trains, and mentors staff to ensure professional development and adherence to standards.
• Assists in hiring processes, employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement.
• Ensures staff compliance with policy, procedure, and best practices in direct supervision, safety, and inmate management.

Se curity, Safety & Direct Supervision

• Maintains overall facility security through staff oversight and direct intervention when needed.
• Responds to disturbances, fights, medical emergencies, fire alarms, panic alarms, and critical incidents.
• Performs crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and de-escalation as required.
• Oversees facility searches, contraband detection, and inspections.
• Ensures proper use and documentation of force consistent with training and policy.
• Supervises operations of central control systems, including:
  • Security cameras
  • Door controls
  • Radio communications
  • Body-worn cameras
  • Jail Management Systems (JMS)
• Ensures accurate recordkeeping of inmate movements, incidents, and facility operations.

Transportation, Court & Extraditions

• Supervises scheduling and performance of inmate transports for court, medical, and external appointments.
• Oversees and coordinates interstate/intrastate extraditions and maintains required documentation.
• Ensures security of County and District courtrooms and assists judges and court staff as needed.

Communication & Inmate Interaction

• Interacts professionally with inmates, resolving conflicts, mediating disputes, and advising on rights, rules, and procedures.
• Addresses inmate grievances, investigates concerns, and implements corrective measures.
• M aintains communication with patrol, dispatch, courts, and external agencies.

Reports, Documentation & Investigations

• Reviews and prepares reports regarding:
  • Incidents
  • Rule violations
  • Grievances
  • Staffing issues
  • Investigations
• Conducts administrative and criminal investigations related to inmate or staff behavior.
• Ensures accurate data entry, logs, and documentation in all required systems.

AD DITIONAL JOB DUTIES

• Responds to major incidents as on-call supervisor and may be called in for emergencies.
• Maintains cleanliness and professional standards of work areas, uniforms, and equipment.
• Provides basic first aid, CPR, and emergency medical assistance.
• Supports other divisions within the Sheriff’s Office (Patrol, Dispatch, Admin) as needed and appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support facility stability and emergency operations.
• Pr ovides cross-training and knowledge transfer to staff as needed to support continuity of operations and government services.
• Exercises sound judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information, ensuring appropriate disclosure only to authorized individuals and entities.
• Assists in stabilizing emergent or unforeseen operational situations to ensure continuity of services and effective organizational response.
• Adheres to all County policies, procedures, regulations, and applicable laws.

SPECIALIZED ASSIGNMENTS

Sergeants may be assigned additional specialized responsibilities such as:

• Training Coordinator: Maintains Detention Division training records, FTO program oversight, and manual updates.
• Transport Coordinator: Oversees inmate transportation logistics, TAC documentation, and transport records.
• Work Release & Trusty Program Manager: Maintains program contracts, compliance, records, and scheduling.
• Recruitment & Backgrounds: Conducts applicant outreach and completes background investigations.
• Inmate Services/Programs: Oversees inmate phone systems, commissary, program scheduling, and supply ordering.

LEGAL AUTHORITY (CERTIFIED)

• Full peace officer authority under the Colorado Revised Statutes, including arrests, warrant service, transports, and investigations.

Hours:

• Must be able to work shift schedules, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime.
• Subject to on-call or emergency recall as required.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and training may be considered.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must meet standards established in Colorado Revised Statutes.
• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License with no restrictions due to driving record. Must also be able to drive a county vehicle.
• Must have no felony convictions or disqualifying misdemeanors designated by POST or any significant prior criminalactivity.
• Must pass background investigation, drug screening, psychological evaluation, and physical assessment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to effectively manage staff and maintain professional relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm, decisive, and professional in high-stress situations.
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations using verbal communication and crisis-intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of constitutional rights, jail procedures, security protocols, and inmate management practices.
• Ability to use computers, JMS software, report-writing tools, cameras, and security systems.
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance withdrawal, or behavioral issues.
• Ability to follow complex instructions and adhere to policies, laws, and professional standards.

Certifications (Required with timelines):

• Is a Colorado Certified Peace Officer, or has all requirements necessary for, and nothing that would prevent, such certification within 30 days of employment, from an approved Colorado Post Academy.
• Out-of-State peace officers must obtain a Provisional Certification from the Colorado Department of Law POST Board to obtain employment. You must then successfully obtain your Colorado POST certification within 6 months.
• CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification (within 90 days).
• FEMA IC-100 and IC-700 (within 6 months).
• OSN within 6 months of the request from CBI
• Narcan (Naloxone) Administration.
• Arrest Control Certification
• Taser Certification.
• Firearms proficiency, as determined by a Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office Firearms Instructor (completed during Field Training).
• Any additional certifications mandated by the Sheriff’s Office.

Mental/Physical Requirements:

• A Detentions Sergeant must be able to perform the main job functions listed, unassisted, and at a pace or level of performance consistent with the actual job performance requirements. This necessates a high level of physical abilities and perceptual senses to include vision, hearing, speaking, flexibility, strength, etc.

COMPLIANCE

This role must operate in accordance with:

• Sheriff’s Office Policies and Procedures
• Use-of-Force standards
• Federal, state, and local laws

Experience

• Minimum two (2) years of Law Enforcement or Detentions Experience as a Colorado POST-Certified Peace Officer.
• Supervisory experience preferred, but not required.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is not an employment contract and may be updated to meet the operational needs of the Sheriff’s Office.

Summary

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, duties and responsibilities. Gilpin County provides reasonable job-related accommodations for disabled persons. Must pass drug screen and pre-employment screening.

*Part-time and Temporary staff are ineligible for the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401A, Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability plans in additional to Long-term care. See the benefit details at the end of the job posting for part-time options.

Benefits for Full Time Employees:

Paid Holidays: Gilpin County provides 13 paid holidays per calendar year. An employee will be paid ten (10) hours per holiday.

Vacation: The first year of employment, (based on the anniversary of the hire date) full-time employees are given 40 hours of vacation and earn 3 hours of paid vacation leave bi-weekly. After that time, leave shall accrue as follows:

Lump Sum on Date of Hire (Hours)

Hourly Accrual Rate

40

3

13 – 60 months

-

5

61 – 120 months

-

7

121+ months

-

8

Full-Time employees are encouraged to take their earned vacation leave each year. Vacation time accrual shall cap at the maximum amount and shall not exceed the maximum accrual amount, based on total months of service.

Months of Service

248

61 – 131

268

132 – 192

288

193 – 239

308

240+

328

Sick Leave: Full-Time employees shall accrue four (4) hours of sick leave each bi-weekly pay period. The maximum sick leave that may be accumulated by such an employee is 600 hours.

Medical Plans: Gilpin County offers two medical plans with Kaiser and United Health Care. Gilpin County offers a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for all employees to cover co-pays, deductibles, and other medical expenses. Employees are eligible for benefits the first of the month following 30 days of service. This HRA card will have $3,000.00 on it for an individual or $6,000.00 for a family. Both plans have a max out of pocket for $1,000 individual or $2,000 per family after the use of the HRA card for in network expenses.

United Health Care Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$80.85/$167.72/$149.40/$234.30

Kaiser Permanente Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$72.60/$152.62/$134.47/$210.90

Dental Plan: Gilpin County offers dental coverage through Delta Dental with PPO and Premiere network coverages. Individual deductible at $50 and family deductible at $150. In network coverage for preventative and diagnostic services are covered 100%, basic services covered at 80%, major services at 50%, and ortho covered at 50% with a $2,000 max. The plan offers a “Right Start 4 Kids” plan that covers most children basic services up to their 13th birthday 100% with no deductible (some exclusions apply). Annual max this plan pays for covered dental services is $2,000 per individual covered on the plan.

Delta Dental Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$28.71/$54.00/$72.50

Vision Plan: Gilpin County offers vision coverage through VSP. In network coverage includes copays at $10 copays with an allowance of $175 per pair of either one prescription eyeglasses or contacts yearly on a 12‑month calendar basis and discounts on Lasik.

VSP Vision Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$3.20/$3.40/$5.60

Retirement: Two retirement savings plans are available through the Colorado Retirement Association: 401(a) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

The 401(a) has a 5% required full match with a 4-year vesting period.

The 457 Plan is optional and has Pre‑tax and Roth Options available. After four years of service, this plan could also include a County match as described below.

Social Security, as required by law: 6.2% required full match.

Effective July 8, 2025, for all new employees hired on or after this date, the graduated vesting schedule for the 5% match on employees’ 401(a) plan is as follows:

Years of Service

Vesting Amount

0 to less than 1 year

0%

1 year to less than 2 years

25%

2 years to less than 3 years

50%

3 years to less than 4 years

75%

4 years or more

100%

Starting January 1, 2026, two new voluntary retirement plan matches will be initiated, with one plan for POST (law enforcement officers) and a second for all other employees, based on years of service. The employee would need to make voluntary contributions into a 457 account at the minimum level in order to be eligible for the County match into the employee’s 401(a).

POST 401(a) eligible positions, 1:1 match

Years of Service

POST Employee Contribution to 457

County Match to 401(a)

4 to 8 years

1%

1%

9 to 12 years

2%

2%

13 or more years

3%

3%

All other 401(a) eligible positions, 1:2 match

Years of Service

Employee Contribution to 457

County Match to 401(a)

4 to 8 years

1%

0.5%

9 to 12 years

2%

1%

13 or more years

4%

2%

Short-Term Disability: Short-term disability pays 60% of your earnings with a max of $1,000 per week for up to 11 weeks. Benefits begin on day 15 and your first two weeks you will have to cover with sick, personal, or vacation time. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee. Long-Term Disability: Long-term disability kicks in after 90 consecutive calendar days of a qualified disability. The plan will pay 60% of your earnings with a max of $5,000 monthly. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All one Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free memberships, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.

Benefits for Part Time and Temporary Employees:

Sick Leave: Leave accrues at the rate of 1 hours of sick leave per 30 hours worked to a maximum of 45 hours per year.
Retirement: As a part time or temporary employee, you may participate in the optional 457b or 457 Roth plan. These plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All One Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Retirement: Gilpin County offers optional 457b or 457 Roth plans. The optional 457b plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free membership, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.