Hillsborough County Sheriff Department
In Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, the deputy sheriff works under the supervision of the elected sheriff who is the county’s chief law enforcement officer. As a deputy sheriff, you would assist the sheriff in preventing crime and ensuring law and order.
Hillsborough County deputy sheriff jobs involve patrolling, investigating reported crimes, answering calls for assistance, making arrests, collecting evidence, interviewing victims/witnesses, interrogating suspects, testifying in court and assisting the sheriff in any way requested.
The number of employees in a sheriff’s office depends upon the county’s size and population. Hillsborough County has 393,207 residents, covers 876 square miles and has sheriff offices in Goffstown and Nashua, New Hampshire’s second largest city. There is also a satellite office in the newly renovated courthouse in Manchester, the state’s largest city. In addition to the sheriff and the chief deputy sheriff, the sheriff’s department employs a sheriff’s assistant, six commissioned officers, five administrative support workers, two court officers and six 911 receivers/dispatchers.
The steps you must take to become a deputy sheriff in Hillsborough County, Florida are:
- Meet Minimum Requirements and Apply
- Background Investigation/Fingerprinting
- Written Examination
- Physical Fitness Test
- Polygraph Test/Oral Interview
- Medical Examination and Psychological Evaluation
- New Hampshire Police Academy
Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements and Apply
You must meet these basic requirements in order for your application to be considered:
- U.S. Citizen
- At least 18 Years Old
- High School Diploma or GED
- No Felony or Serious Misdemeanor Convictions
- Good Driving Record
- Good Credit History
You can check job openings and request an application at any of the sheriff offices located at 329 Mast Road in Goffstown (604) 627-0168; 19 Temple St. in Nashua (603) 882-1456; or 300 Chestnut St. in Manchester (603) 836-2920.
Step 2. Background Investigation/Fingerprinting
There will be a thorough investigation of your educational, employment, financial and criminal (if any) histories as well as well as any evidence of alcohol/drug abuse and/or violent behavior.
Step 3. Written Examination
You will probably be asked to take a written examination that covers math, reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, writing, grammar, working with charts/graphs, etc.
Step 4. Physical Fitness Test
You must pass a physical fitness test based on Cooper Aerobics Institute standards. The following components of the test will be adjusted depending on your age and gender:
- Push-ups
- One-minute continuous sit-ups
- 1.5 mile run
- Bench press
Step 5. Polygraph Test/Oral Interview
An oral interview will assess your ability to communicate clearly. You may be asked to take a polygraph test administered by a professional examiner.
Step 6. Medical Examination/Psychological Evaluation
You will undergo both a thorough physical exam by a licensed physician and a psychological evaluation to determine your suitability for work as a deputy sheriff.
Step 7. New Hampshire Police Academy Training at the Police Standards and Training Council Facility in Concord
You will attend 14 weeks (M-F) at the 4.5-acre New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council facility in Concord. The paramilitary-oriented academy incorporates a physical fitness program, driving exercises, firearms training, defensive tactics, realistic field experiences and classroom courses in such subjects as laws, ethics, human relations and report writing.
Merrimack County Sheriff Department
Merrimack County is home to 146,445 people (2010 census) and covers 956 square miles and 27 cities/towns, including Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. The Merrimack County Sheriff’s office has 63 full and part-time employees who work out of the main office in Boscawen and a civil office in the Concord Superior Court Building. The duties of deputy sheriffs include:
- Prisoner Transport
- Court Security
- Investigations
- Service of Arrest Warrants
- Assistance to local police departments
In addition, Merrimack County’s deputy sheriffs are involved in D.A.R.T. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense), and “National Night Out Against Crime.” They also teach school and adult classes on subjects like bicycle safety, gun safety and stranger abduction safety.
This guide describes the steps you must take if you are interested in joining these proud ranks by becoming a Merrimack County sheriff’s deputy. These seven steps are:
- Make certain that you fulfill the qualifications needed to apply
- Take a general knowledge written examination and meet New Hampshire police physical fitness standards
- Participate in an oral interview
- Undergo a background investigation and polygraph test / Pass a medical exam and psychological evaluation
- Attend the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Training Academy
Step 1. Fulfill the Qualifications Needed to Apply
Because they are instruments of the court, deputy sheriffs in Merrimack County have broader powers than local police officers. Therefore, to become a deputy sheriff in Merrimack County you must have one year of relevant experience in addition to meeting the requirements for becoming a police officer. These basic qualifications are:
- Possess a valid driver’s license.
- Have no major motor vehicle violations in the past 10 years.
- Do not have an excess of minor motor vehicle violations.
- Be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays.
- Have no visible tattoos or voluntary mutilations (nose piercing, etc.).
The Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer; one out of every 10 officers is a female. You can request an application at the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, 333 Daniel Webster Highway, Suite 1, Boscawen 03303; (603) 796-6600.
Step 2. Take a General Knowledge Written Examination and Meet Physical Fitness Standards
It covers areas like math, reading comprehension, spatial perception and writing skills.
You will be required to take a physical fitness test involving push-ups, sit-ups, bench presses and a 1.5-mile run. The number of repetitions and/or timing of each activity is based on Cooper Aerobics Institute standards and adjusted for your age and gender.
Step 3. Participate in an Oral Interview
It allows the interviewer to both assess your ability to express yourself clearly/effectively and to learn more about you, your life, your ambitions and your expectations.
Step 4. Background Investigation, Polygraph, Medical and Psychological Evaluation
Looks into your past employment, school transcripts, financial history, driving record, illegal drug usage, criminal or violent behavior, alcohol use, etc.
These medical exams help to determine your phy6sical and mental suitability for the job.
Step 5. New Hampshire Law Enforcement Training Academy Through the Police Standards and Training Council in Concord
You will spend 14 weeks at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council in Concord (you can go home on weekends). The military-style camp entails a rigorous schedule of classroom work, physical exercises, firearms training and simulated situations.
Rockingham County Sheriff Department
Rockingham County, New Hampshire has a population of 295,223, covers 794 square miles and includes 37 towns, making it the second largest county in New Hampshire. The mission of the Rockingham County sheriff’s office is to ensure public safety services and enforce laws of the U.S. and New Hampshire. The office recently established a narcotics tip line allowing citizens to report suspected drug activity (anonymously if desired).
The Rockingham sheriff’s office is headed by an elected sheriff who is the county’s chief law enforcement officer. Rockingham also employs four officers, 17 deputy sheriffs, 13 dispatchers and clerical/administrative personnel. There are three categories of deputy sheriff duties:
- Patrol. Rockingham County is divided into seven areas that are patrolled by a deputy sheriff in a marked police cruiser equipped with radar and a mobile data terminal or laptop. Deputy sheriffs keep the roads safe and bring a law enforcement presence to communities and neighborhoods.
- Court Services. Six deputy sheriffs and two officers work with state police and other law enforcement agencies to transport inmates to and from court, move inmates from prisons to hospitals and transport individuals being involuntarily admitted to medical facilities.
- Warrants/Investigations. Three deputies and one officer are assigned to locating and apprehending individuals for whom warrants have been issued. They are also responsible for finding and apprehending fugitives from justice.
Steps in the hiring process for those interested in learning how to become a deputy sheriff in Rockingham County are:
- Satisfy Basic Requirements and Apply
- Investigation Into Your Background
- Multiple Choice Examination
- Physical Abilities Test
- In-Person Interview
- Routine Medical and Psych Evaluation
- Attend Training Academy
Step 1. Satisfy Basic Requirements and Apply
Your application will not be accepted unless you satisfy these basic requirements:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen
- You must be 18 years old or older
- You must be a high school graduate or have passed the GED test
- You must not have had any felony convictions
- You must have a good DMV record
- You must not have a poor credit history
You can review a list of county job openings at the Human Resources Department or online. An application form can be downloaded here.
Step 2. Investigation into Your Background
Your past employment, school, financial and criminal histories will be scoured, along with any background evidence of alcohol/drug abuse or domestic violence.
Step 3. Multiple Choice Examination
You will be scheduled to take a written, multiple-choice test that examines your reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, writing/grammar/punctuation, math ability, etc.
Step 4. Physical Abilities Test
Your physical strength and endurance will be evaluated according to how you perform the following activities:
- Push-ups
- 1.5 mile run
- One-minute continuous sit-ups
- Bench press
Adjustments will be made depending on your age and gender.
Step 5. In-Person Interview
The in-person interview will exhibit your ability to communicate effectively and succinctly in a professional manner.
Step 6. Medical Exam/Psychological Evaluation
You must have a medical exam and a psychological evaluation to determine your physical ability and mental suitability for work as a deputy sheriff.
Step 7. Academy Training at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council Facility in Concord
You will spend 14 weeks living on-site (except for weekends) at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council facility in Concord. The training schedule includes classroom work in federal, state and constitutional law, ethics, report writing, etc. The intensive physical fitness program is designed to improve your strength and endurance. You will also receive firearms training, take part in driving exercises, and experience simulated but realistic situations that are likely to occur while on the job.
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Deputy sheriffs in New Hampshire earn an average salary of $60,960, with the top ten percent earning more than $81,800.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Sheriff’s Patrol Officers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2021.