Cumberland County Sheriff Department Jobs
Cumberland County deputy sheriff jobs are competitive and available only to the top qualifying candidates. Learning how to become a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy will help you to be a better-organized candidate, which will translate into a greater overall confidence about the application process:
- Basic Requirements and Application
- Physical Agility Test
- Interview
- Background Investigation
- Polygraph Examination
- Psych Evaluation, Medical Exam, Final Interview
- Training Academy
Step 1. Basic Requirements and Application
Before you begin to fill out an application for Cumberland County sheriff’s department jobs you should first check to see if you meet the following basic minimum qualifications. You must also provide photocopies of the following documents with your initial application:
- Documented proof of U.S. citizenship: passport, birth certificate, Homeland Security paperwork
- High school diploma or GED
- ALERT Test score
- Honorable discharge from the military, if applicable: DD-214 papers
- College transcripts or degree, if applicable
- Driver’s license: must have a Maine driver’s license upon date of hire
- Previous law enforcement certifications, if applicable
- All forms in the application packet must have your signature
- No felony or domestic violence convictions
- No history of extensive drug use
ALERT Test: This is similar to the SAT and is a writing skills and reading comprehension test. The cost is $50 and you must call the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for more information and to make an appointment.
You can email, mail, or drop off your legibly completed application to the Cumberland County human resource department’s office in Portland.
Step 2. Physical Agility Test
All sheriff deputy jobs in Cumberland County require the successful completion of a physical agility test. Once your application has been reviewed and you are chosen to proceed you will be scheduled for your physical agility test. This test is similar to one you will be required to pass later on in the application process at the training academy. It is calibrated based on your age and gender, with the following extremes:
- Push-ups in one minute
- Male ages 20-29: 29
- Female ages 50-59: 3
- Sit-ups in one minute
- Male ages 20-29: 38
- Female ages 50-59: 14
- 1.5 mile run
- Male ages 20-29: 12.63 minutes or less
- Female ages 50-59: 18.33 minutes or less
Step 3. Interview
Once you have passed your physical agility test you will meet with a panel of Cumberland County sheriff’s department officials to discuss your application thus far. You will be questioned on your motivations for wanting to become a deputy sheriff and your interviewers will additionally try and determine if you have any disqualifying circumstances. This will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the job. You will also have an orientation of the department at this time.
Step 4. Background Investigation
In your initial application packet you will have listed your previous employers, previous places you have lived, personal and professional references. During your background check an investigator will be assigned to your case and over the course of a few weeks conduct interviews with these people, including your past neighbors. Your investigator will additionally run your name through a variety of databases, including a credit check, to check your criminal, driving, and financial history.
Step 5. Polygraph Examination
Deputy jobs with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department also require the completion of a polygraph examination. Your proctor may ask you about any issues raised in your initial interview or discovered during your background investigation. You must answer all questions truthfully, not willingly omitting any relevant details. Subjects of the polygraph examination can include:
- Any past illegal activity in which you have participated in any form, including as a bystander
- Any past sale, purchase, or use of an illegal drug or abuse of prescription drugs
- Any dishonesty with past employers including sick days, stolen property, or time sheet fraud
- How many times you have been late to your previous jobs
- Any deviant behavior or thoughts
- Any time in the past when you have bought or sold sexual activity
- Any time when you have taken advantage of someone in any way
Step 6. Psychological Evaluation, Medical Examination, Final Interview
These are the final requirements you must complete before you begin the training academy. You must have a psychological evaluation conducted to ensure you are capable of handling the large amounts of stress that come with a Cumberland County deputy sheriff job, as well as to confirm you are in a stable mental state with no pre-existing disorders.
You will also undergo a medical examination that will include blood work, a urinalysis, EKG test, and medical physical to ensure you do not have any unknown medical conditions.
Finally you will have your last interview with sheriff’s department officials to answer any additional questions you have before you begin the training academy. Officials will also ensure you have done everything correctly up to that point in the application process. You will be required to complete the training academy within one year of being hired by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.
Step 7. Training Academy
You will be required to attend an 18-week Maine Criminal Justice Academy training program as the final step in your application process. One month before the start date of your academy session you will be required to report for another physical agility test similar to the one you took in the beginning of your application process. Upon successful completion you will begin your first day of academy the next month.
You will live on campus Monday through Friday and attend classes, seminars, and training exercises throughout your stay. This training academy will instruct and prepare you for everything you need to know on the job as a Cumberland County sheriff deputy. Subject areas the academy covers include:
- Firearms training
- Self-defense
- Driving maneuvers
- Legal procedures
- Crime scene investigations
- Criminal justice system
- First aid and CPR
- Patrol techniques
- Pursuit tactics
Depending on your experience, upon graduation you will be paired with a training officer who will help you settle into your new career as a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Penobscot County Sheriff Department Jobs
Knowing how to become a Penobscot County sheriff’s deputy before initiating the process will make you a more informed candidate and give you a competitive edge. The application process includes the following step by step process:
- Application and Minimum Requirements
- Initial Interview and Tests
- Background Investigation
- Evaluations Process
- Polygraph Test
- Health Assessment
- Training Academy
Step 1. Application and Minimum Requirements
It is recommended to begin by checking the basic minimum requirements for Penobscot County sheriff’s department jobs. These are:
- 21 years of age or older
- High school diploma or GED
- No recent or current illegal drug use
- No domestic violence or felony convictions
You must also be able to pass a series of tests and examinations that will be explained in the following steps. You can mail or drop off legible and fully completed applications at the Penobscot County sheriff’s office in Bangor.
Step 2. Initial Interview and Tests
If you are chosen to continue the application process, your next step will be to take a basic reading comprehension and writing abilities test. If you pass this you will be invited to an initial interview with sheriff’s department officials who will explain the details of sheriff deputy jobs in Penobscot County. They will ask you some basic questions about your background and motivations, and will give you an opportunity to ask any questions of your own.
Step 3. Background Investigation
In your initial application you will have provided the names and contact information for your previous employers and personal references. You will have written any information on previous crimes for which you have been convicted. Your background investigator will interview relevant people who can give an account of your character. He or she will additionally conduct a background search through your motor vehicle and law enforcement records, as well as the Maine State and Federal Bureaus of Identification.
Step 4. Evaluations Process
If there are no disqualifying circumstances discovered in your background investigation you will continue through the application process, proceeding to the evaluations stage. You will have two evaluations: written and oral. Your written evaluation will be similar to the ALERT Test you will be required to take for entry into the training academy. This is a reading comprehension and writing abilities test similar to the SAT and you must receive a passing grade to continue in the application process.
Your departmental oral boards test will be in the form of a panel interview. Penobscot County sheriff’s officials will ask you hypothetical questions and you will have to respond with the best answer you can think of. You will also be questioned about any suspicious subjects raised by your background investigation. Upon acceptable completion of this process you will receive a conditional offer of employment, contingent on your passing the polygraph test, physical assessment, and training academy.
Step 5. Polygraph Test
Your polygraph test may include issues raised in your background investigation, and may inquire into any variety of different subjects as well. These areas are not limited to:
- Past illegal drug use, sale, or purchase
- How many times you have been late to your previous employment
- Any instances in which you have committed any crimes, regardless of being charged
- Any times you have ever taken advantage of someone
- Past instances of infidelity
- Any time you have ever sold or purchased sexual activity
- Any previous instances of dishonesty in the workplace, including
- Improper completion of time cards
- Taking of false sick days
- Anything ever stolen from previous employers
Step 6. Health Assessment
Your health assessment will include a physical ability test, medical examination, and psychological evaluation. The physical ability test will meet the entry standards set by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) and is calibrated based on your age and gender, with the following example being the most stringent, for a male aged 20-29:
- Sit-ups: 38 in one minute
- Push-ups: 29 in one minute
- 1.5 mile run: completed under 12.63 minutes
The medical examination will check to make sure you have no previously undiscovered conditions and include blood tests, lab work, an EKG test, physical, and a urinalysis drug screening. Your psychological evaluation will ensure you are capable of handling the high level of stress that comes with deputy sheriff’s jobs in Penobscot County. Upon successful completion of these procedures you will be cleared to begin your training at the MCJA.
Step 7. Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA)
Before you enter the MCJA you must complete another physical agility test as well as the ALERT Test. Both of these tests are very similar to the ones you will have already passed for the Penobscot Sheriff’s Department application process. They will help you schedule these tests, and the MCJA physical agility test will be held one month before your academy session begins.
The MCJA lasts 18 weeks, during which time your meals and lodging will be provided on campus, with the opportunity for weekend leave. You will receive extensive training in all the subject areas necessary to make you a proficient Penobscot County sheriff deputy. When you graduate from the academy you will be qualified to begin your new career, and may receive additional on-the-job training from your patrol partner during your first months. MCJA subject areas include:
- First aid/CPR
- Firearms training
- Criminal investigations
- Legal procedures
- Driving and maneuvers
- Self-defense tactics
- Methods of arrest, restraint, and control
- Crash investigation
- Domestic abuse
- Community policing
York County Sheriff Department Jobs
Preparing ahead of time by doing research on how to become a York County sheriff’s deputy will help make you the best possible candidate. The steps involved in the application process are as follows:
- Application and Basic Requirements
- Physical Agility Test
- Interview
- Background Investigation
- Polygraph Test
- Medical Screening and Psychological Evaluation
- Training Academy
Step 1. Basic Requirements and Application
Before you fill out an application for York County sheriff’s department jobs, it is recommended to first ensure you meet the basic minimum requirements:
- High school diploma or GED (preference is shown to candidates with postsecondary education in criminal justice or a similar field)
- Driver’s license
- Stable personal history and employment record
- No felony, domestic violence, or OUI (operating under the influence) convictions
- Must be at least 21, or 20 with 60 credits of college education
Make sure you fill out the application in full and legibly, signing all forms that require a signature and obtain a doctor’s authorization for your physical agility test. You can apply online when the job is open or you can always drop off a completed application at the York County human resources office in Alfred.
Step 2. Physical Agility Test
You will be contacted if your initial application is selected for further consideration and scheduled for a physical agility test. All sheriff deputy jobs in York County require this test, which is identical to the physical agility test you must complete later during your training academy registration process. This consists of completing a determined number of sit-ups and push-ups, as well as a 1.5 mile run. Your performance statistics are required to meet a level dependent upon your age and gender. The following are the most stringent requirements for a male aged 20-29:
- Push-ups in one minute: 29
- Sit-ups in one minute: 38
- 1.5 mile run: 12.63 minutes or less
Step 3. Interview
Once you have shown you have the basic physical abilities required for York County sheriff deputy jobs you will need to demonstrate you have the right interpersonal skills and background for a successful interview. You will be interviewed by a panel of sheriff’s department officials who will determine if you have any disqualifying circumstances and question your motivations for wanting to become a deputy sheriff. They may also ask questions that will be further explored in your background check and polygraph test.
Step 4. Background Investigation
In your initial application you will have provided your previous employment, military, driving, and criminal history as well as personal references. Your background investigator will interview people who have had past contact with you and also check your name against a variety of databases for your criminal, financial, education, and driving records. The background investigation usually takes a few weeks to complete.
Step 5. Polygraph Test
Discoveries and questions raised by your background investigation will be topics of your polygraph examination. However you may be questioned on any variety of additional topics, not limited to:
- Previous instances of dishonesty in the workplace
- Improper taking of sick leave
- Taking anything from your workplace
- Recording false time-card hours
- Any previous illegal activity
- For which you were convicted
- That has never been discovered
- Any previous use of illegal drugs
- All illegal drugs you have ever taken
- If you have ever bought or sold illegal drugs
- If you have ever illegally bought, sold or abused prescription drugs
Remember it is always better to be honest, telling the entire truth without any omissions. If you do not pass the polygraph interview your application will be suspended or withdrawn.
Step 6. Psychological Evaluation and Medical Examination
Upon successful completion of your polygraph interview and background check you will be scheduled for a psychological interview. This is to ascertain you are capable of handling the daily stress involved with being a York County sheriff deputy and to make sure you do not have any outstanding psychological issues. You will also need to complete a medical examination which includes a physical, lab work, and a urinalysis drug test. After you complete these procedures you will have one final meeting with sheriff’s department officials to go over any last details before you begin your training academy.
Step 7. Training Academy
To begin your training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) you must first take an ALERT Test and complete another physical abilities test identical to that of step two. You must contact the MCJA to schedule these, and the sheriff’s department will also help you with this procedure. The ALERT Test is a reading and writing test similar to the SAT. Your physical agility test will be scheduled one month before your academy training begins.
The MCJA lasts 18 weeks, Monday through Friday. Your meals and housing will be provided and you will be permitted leave on the weekends. Upon graduation you will be paired with a more experienced training officer to help you get accustomed to your new career as a York County Deputy Sheriff. The training academy focuses on the following subject areas:
- Legal procedures
- The criminal justice system
- Driving techniques and maneuvers
- Self-defense and defensive tactics
- Firearms training
- CPR and first aid
- Community policing
- Criminal investigations
- Crash investigation