Essex County Sheriff Department Jobs
This guide is designed for qualified candidates interested in learning how to become an Essex County sheriff’s deputy. To complete the entire process usually takes between 9-12 weeks, and proceeds along these following steps:
- Application and Minimum Requirements
- Oral Board Interview
- Background Investigation
- Medical Examination
- Physical Fitness Evaluation
- Psychological Evaluation and Final Review
- Training Academy
Step 1. Minimum Requirements and Application
Before you fill out an application for Essex County sheriff’s department jobs you should first check to make sure you meet the basic minimum requirements. These are:
- At least 21 years old
- U.S. citizen
- Driver’s license
- Possess one or more of:
- An associate’s degree
- 60 credits towards a bachelor’s degree
- Two years of military experience with an honorable discharge
If your application is filled out neither completely nor legibly it will not be considered. Make sure to sign all places that require a signature and include copies of all the forms required to complete your application packet. You will be notified if chosen to continue with the application process, at which point you will be scheduled for an oral board interview.
Step 2. Oral Board Interview
You will be interviewed by a panel of sheriff’s officials in a formal setting where you will be evaluated on your abilities, knowledge, and skills relating to sheriff deputy jobs in Essex County. Of particular consideration will be your ability to make quick objective decisions, interpersonal relations skills, and resistance to stress. You will also be asked about your previous employment history, life accomplishments, and future goals. You will additionally have the opportunity to ask any questions you have.
Step 3. Background Investigation
If you are considered the right candidate you will proceed to be the subject of a background investigation. Your qualifying credentials will be reviewed, and the background investigator assigned to your case may additionally conduct interviews with any of the following people:
- Ex-spouses or partners
- Family members
- Friends
- Acquaintances
- Former managers or coworkers
- Former or current neighbors
- Members of your religious congregation, if any
Your driving record, financial records, criminal history, moral history (including previous illegal drug use), and military history, if any, may also be investigated. It is recommended to be up front and honest during this process. Being found to be untrustworthy is as bad or worse than anything that could be discovered about your past.
Step 4. Medical Examination
Next you will be required to pass a medical exam conducted by a licensed physician. This will include a physical, lab work, and a drug screening. If you fail the drug screening you will not be considered for employment with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department at any time in the future. If you fail for temporary injury or health problems you will be notified when you may retake the medical exam.
Step 5. Physical Fitness Evaluation
As an Essex County deputy sheriff you will need to be in good physical shape to perform your job duties which include running, jumping, and a variety of other unconventional physical activities. To determine your basic abilities you will be required to complete a physical agility test. This will be calibrated to your age and gender, with the following requirements being for individuals between the ages of 20-29:
- Female
- Push-ups: 15
- Sit-ups: 32
- Sit and reach: 19.3 inches
- 1.5 mile run: 15:05 or less
- Male
- Push-ups: 29
- Sit-ups: 38
- Sit and reach: 16.5
- 1.5 mile run: 12:29
Step 6. Psychological Evaluation and Final Review
You will additionally have to complete a psychological review to ensure you have the right temperament for a job with the Essex County sheriff’s department. This will test your ability to handle stress and work-place pressure. Upon completion the sheriff’s department will review your entire file and compare it with those of other applicants. All candidates will be ranked and the top among them will be selected to proceed to the training academy.
The Essex County sheriff’s department prefers all candidates for deputy sheriff jobs to first work as correctional officers before transitioning to deputy. Depending on the availability of the deputy position you may be required to complete a basic training academy that includes an additional portion for correctional officers. Upon your transition to deputy you may then receive additional academy training.
Step 7. Training Academy
The Essex County Sheriff Department Training Academy lasts nine weeks and will provide you with meals and lodging Monday through Friday. You will have the weekends off and be expected to report back to the training academy Sunday night. You will receive training in all the relevant subject areas that will be required to prepare you for a successful career as a deputy sheriff. Areas of focus include:
- CPR and first aid
- Firearms training
- Legal procedures
- Domestic violence and family issues
- Patrol techniques
- Driving maneuvers
- Crime scene investigation
- Collision investigation
- Administration of field sobriety tests
Middlesex County Sheriff Department Jobs
Applying for Middlesex County deputy sheriff jobs is a competitive process. Knowing how to become a Middlesex County sheriff deputy as you begin the process will make you a more organized and better-prepared candidate. The application process is described in the following steps:
- Minimum requirements and application
- Initial tests
- Oral interview
- Criminal record and background investigation
- Medical and psychological evaluation
- Training academy
Step 1. Minimum Requirements and Application
Before you fill out the application for Middlesex County sheriff’s department jobs, make sure you meet the basic minimum requirements for the position, and provide the necessary photocopies with your application:
- High school diploma or GED
- U.S. citizen (copy of your birth certificate)
- Have a mostly clean criminal background with no felony or domestic violence convictions
- Reside within the State of Massachusetts by the time you are hired
- Have received an honorable military discharge, if applicable (Include a copy of your DD-214)
- May not smoke cigarettes while at the sheriff’s office
Make sure your application is filled out completely and legibly. Completed applications can be mailed to the Middlesex County sheriff’s human resources office located in Medford.
Step 2. Initial Tests
If your initial application makes it through the first vetting you will be contacted and scheduled to complete a written skills and physical fitness test. The written skills test will measure your writing ability and reading comprehension, which is expected to be at about a 12th grade level. Your physical fitness test will measure your ability to complete a set amount of push-ups, sit-ups, and running in a predetermined period of time. If you have a high fat-to-muscle ratio or BMI you are encouraged to begin a training program now to get yourself into shape.
Step 3. Oral Interview
If you pass your physical fitness and written skills test you will continue in the application process to the oral interview. Sheriff’s officials will sit with you in a panel interview, asking questions about your past as well as your future aspirations. They will also determine if you have any blatant obstacles in your past that would prevent you from making a good sheriff deputy. You will receive a station orientation and also have the opportunity to ask any questions.
Step 4. Criminal Record and Background Investigation
All sheriff deputy jobs in Middlesex County require the completion of a background investigation. On your initial application you will have listed the past schools you have attended, past employment, and past personal relationships of people who can attest to your character, ethic, and dependability. A background investigator will be assigned to your case and conduct interviews with the people you have listed on your application. The investigator will additionally search for any records of your name in state and federal criminal databases. You will be required to provide additional information about any subjects discovered during this investigation that warrant further attention.
Step 5. Medical and Psychological Evaluation
If your background investigation comes back clean or with no significant issues you will be given a conditional offer of employment with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. This offer will be contingent on your successful completion of a medical and psychological evaluation, as well as the completion of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Basic Training Academy.
Your medical evaluation will include lab work, a physical, and measurement of your vital abilities. It will also include a urinalysis drug test that you will be required to complete. Your psychological evaluation is designed to measure your resistance to stress and abilities to cope with difficult situations. Once you have cleared both your medical and psychological evaluations you will be ready to begin the training academy.
Step 6. Training Academy
The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Basic Training Academy is the most comprehensive training program in the state of Massachusetts. You will attend 25 weeks of classroom study and field training courses, living and eating on campus Monday through Friday. Upon graduation you will be ready to begin your job with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. Depending on your previous experience you will be partnered with an experience training officer in your first months on the job. You may also be required to first work as a corrections officer before you start on deputy assignments. Subjects covered in the training academy include:
- Firearms training
- Self-defense techniques
- Legal procedures
- Administration of field sobriety tests
- Collision investigation
- CPR and first aid
- Crime scene investigation
- Criminal justice system
- Family issues and domestic violence
Worcester County Sheriff Department Jobs
Knowing how to become a Worcester sheriff’s deputy before pursuing open jobs will give you an advantage over other applicants, allowing you to be more organized and focused. The application process follows these steps:
- Application and minimum requirements
- Screening tests
- Oral interview
- Criminal records and background investigation
- Medical screening and psychological evaluation
- Training academy
Step 1. Application and Minimum Requirements
Before filling out an application for Worcester County sheriff’s department jobs make sure you are aware of and meet the basic minimum qualifications for the job:
- High school diploma or GED
- Either two years of military service, an AA degree, or 60 credits towards a BA degree
- Birth certificate
- Social security card
- Valid driver’s license
- U.S. citizenship
- Have no felony or domestic violence convictions
- Be at least 19 years old
Fill out your application completely and legibly or it will not be reviewed. You can return your completed application to the sheriff’s human resources department located in West Boylston.
Step 2. Screening Tests
If your application is selected you will hear back from the human resources office with a time when you are scheduled to complete a series of two tests. The first is a written skills test that will measure your basic level of writing. You are expected to be able to pass at about the 12th grade level. The next test is a physical agility test that will count the number of push-ups and sit-ups you are able to complete with good form in one minute. You also be required to complete a 1.5 mile run in a prescribed amount of time.
Step 3. Oral Interview
Upon receiving positive test results, the Worcester County sheriff’s office will contact you to schedule an interview. This will consist of a panel of department officials who will question your background and motivations that cause you to seek sheriff deputy jobs in Worcester County. It will be determined if you are a good fit for the position and your interviewers will evaluate if you have any factors in your history that would make you ineligible for a job with the Worcester County sheriff’s department. You will receive an orientation of the station and have the opportunity to ask any questions of your own.
Step 4. Criminal Records and Background Investigation
On your initial application you will have provided the names of your past employers as well as character references. You will have also listed your previous residences for the past 10 years and your past institutions of education. You will have a background investigator assigned to your case who may conduct interviews about your reliability and character with any of the following people:
- Ex-spouses or partners
- Previous employers
- Former instructors
- Former neighbors
- Friends and family members
- Coworkers
- Fellow religious congregants
Your background investigator will also check several databases to see if you have a criminal record. The investigator may additionally check your financial records, credit history, and driving record.
Step 5. Medical Screening and Psychological Evaluation
If you do not have any red flags raised in your background investigation and criminal records check, you will be scheduled for a medical screening. This will include an EKG test, lab work, blood analysis, and a drug urinalysis test. If you fail the drug test your application will be discarded. You will also undergo a psychological evaluation conducted by a licensed psychologist who will determine if you have a stable mental state and can handle the daily pressures that come with the job of a Worcester County sheriff’s deputy.
When you have passed this step you will be able to ask sheriff’s officials any questions you have before you begin your training at the academy. If there are currently no openings for Worcester County deputy sheriff jobs you will have the opportunity to work as a corrections officer to gain some experience. You may also be required to attend the corrections officer training academy while you are waiting for the deputy position to open, upon which time you would complete an abridged deputy training academy.
Step 6. Training Academy
Your final step will be the completion of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office basic recruit training academy and/or corrections academy. This will last approximately 12 weeks and may be extended by an additional two weeks. You will live on campus throughout the duration of the academy and be allowed weekend leave. You will receive training in all subject areas required to make you a skilled and capable member of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Areas of focus include:
- Self-defense and defensive procedures
- Driving techniques and maneuvers
- First aid and CPR
- Legal procedures
- Criminal justice system
- Patrol strategies
- Administration of field sobriety test
- Family issues and domestic violence
- Firearms training