How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in Minnesota

Dakota County
Hennepin County
Ramsey County

Dakota County Sheriff Department Jobs

Dakota County, Minnesota deputy sheriff jobs are only available to the most qualified candidates. Learning how to become a Dakota County sheriff’s deputy before applying for the job will make you a more organized and better-prepared applicant.

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Become a Dakota County Deputy Sheriff in seven steps:

Basic Requirements and Application
Written Evaluation and Physical Agility Test
Panel Interview
Background Investigation
Medical Evaluation and Psychological Assessment
Final Review
Minnesota POST Exam

Step 1. Basic Requirements and Application

Before you fill out an application for Dakota County sheriff’s department jobs you should first make sure you meet the basic minimum qualifications:

U.S. citizen
High school diploma or GED
Two-year degree from a Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST)-certified college or university, or an equivalent military or law enforcement experience
No domestic violence or felony convictions
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice are preferred
Valid driver’s license
Ability to work in stressful situations and lift over 100 pounds

You can only fill out an application for this position when it becomes available. However you can fill out a job interest card online that will notify you in such an event. When you do fill out the application make sure to do so legibly and completely, signing all necessary forms and including all requested documents.

Step 2. Written Evaluation and Physical Agility Test

If your application meets the standards set for sheriff deputy jobs in Dakota County then you will be contacted with a time and place to complete your written evaluation and physical agility test. The written evaluation is a basic test of your reading comprehension and writing ability. Results should conclude you are around the 12^th grade level in both areas. The physical agility test will require you to complete about 25 sit-ups and 20 push-ups, each within the span of one minute, as well as a 1.5 mile run completed in about 14 minutes.

Step 3. Panel Interview

Upon passing your first two tests you will be given a panel interview conducted by department officials. You will be able to explain your motivations for wanting to become a Dakota County sheriff deputy and provide information about your previous places of employment. Those on your panel interview will be particularly interested to know how you can handle making split-second decisions under stressful circumstances, how you can communicate with others, as well as your ability to handle pressure. At the end of the interview you will be able to ask any remaining questions you might have.

Step 4. Background Investigation

As part of your initial application you will have provided character references, your past places of education, and your past employers. You may be required to provide an additional list of financial institutions with which you conduct business or have accounts, as well as a list of your previous addresses. You will have a background investigator assigned to you who may conduct interviews with any of the following people:

Past employers or coworkers
Former neighbors
Teachers or classmates
Friends and family
Ex-spouses or partners
Fellow religious congregants

Step 5. Medical Evaluation and Psychological Assessment

After a background check which confirms you have a good moral character and no disqualifying issues you will be scheduled for a medical evaluation and psychological assessment. Your medical exam will check to make sure you are in good shape, with an emphasis on the following:

Normal height to weight proportions
High blood pressure
Any respiratory illness
Normal sight and vision
Diabetes
Urinalysis drug test
EKG test
Instances of dizziness, fainting, or migraine headaches

You will also have a psychological assessment to measure how well you can handle stress. A licensed psychologist will work with you to develop healthy ways of coping with stress and additionally make sure you do not have any psychological issues that would interfere with your job performance as a Dakota County sheriff deputy.

Step 6. Final Review

Once you have completed all the required exams and paperwork the Dakota County sheriff’s department will review your application. Your final step will be to obtain a Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board certification that is achieved by passing the licensing exam. The sheriff’s department will help you register and prepare for this exam, and by this stage you will already be very familiar with the process.

Step 7. Minnesota POST Exam

The Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) licensing exam has four varying formats depending on your previous background and experience. Any of the following exams will fulfill the requirement of POST Board Certification:

If you are a new recruit and have gone through a Minnesota POST-certified two or four year college degree program you will have been well prepared for the Peace Officer Licensing Exam. If this is your first time applying for the exam you may register online.

If you need to renew your eligibility for a license or your license has expired, you can register for the Reinstatement of License Eligibility Exam or License Restoration Exam, respectively.

If you are coming from a background with previous military experience or experience in law enforcement jobs in other states or at the federal level, you may be eligible to take the Reciprocity Licensing Exam. You can find out more details about qualifying and this exam on the Minnesota POST webpage.

Hennepin County Sheriff Department Jobs

If you’d like to find out how to become a Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy, follow the steps laid out in this guide:

Application and Requirements
Tests
Interview
Background Investigation
Psychological Evaluation and Medical Screening
Minnesota POST Certification

Step 1. Application and Requirements

Before filling out an application for sheriff deputy jobs in Hennepin County, you should first check to make sure you meet the basic requirements. These are:

U.S. citizen
Driver’s license
No felony or domestic violence convictions
Willingness to be on call
Can legally carry a firearm
Two or more years of higher education in the field of law enforcement certified by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board
Military experience may be substituted for the education requirement

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Make sure you fully complete your application, signing all forms where a signature is required and writing legibly. You may also apply online by first creating a free profile.

Step 2. Tests

Before your first interview you will need to complete three tests. The first is a written test that evaluates your basic reading comprehension skills and writing ability. You will be expected to pass this test at around a 12^th grade level. Your second test will be a physical agility test. This will measure a basic level of fitness and you will be required to complete about 25 sit-ups and push-ups, each within one minute, as well as a 1.5 mile run in about 14 minutes. The third test is a firearms evaluation where you will be judged on your aim and trigger pull rate. Upon successful completion of these tests you will be scheduled for a panel interview.

Step 3. Interview

Your panel interview will consist of Hennepin County sheriff’s department jobs coordinators asking you a series of questions about your previous employment history, your future goals, and your motivations for wanting to become a deputy sheriff. They will particularly want to know about your communication skills, ability to handle stress, and if you can make reasoned decisions quickly in difficult situations.

Step 4. Background Investigation

The background investigation will examine your financial history and credit report, criminal record, traffic record, and your employment, military, and education history. You will be asked to provide a list of your past employers, educational institutions, and places of residence. The background investigator assigned to your case may interview anyone including:

Past or present neighbors
Character references
Previous employers or coworkers
Ex-spouses or partners
Former teachers or classmates
Members of your religious congregation, if any

Step 5. Psychological Evaluation and Medical Screening

If there are no serious issues raised in your background investigation and your past moral character is determined to be of good quality, you will be scheduled for a psychological examination and medical screening. Your psychological exam will determine your ability to function in stressful situations and additionally ensure you are in a dependable and stable mental state. Your medical screening will include lab tests, a medical physical, drug test, and vision/hearing tests. Failure of your drug test will result in immediate dismissal from the application process. You must meet some general medical requirements, including:

Uncorrected 20/100 distance vision, 20/20 corrected
Color vision and depth perception
Normal hearing
Body weight that is height-weight proportional
No respiratory problems
No cardiovascular problems, including hypertension
Full range of body functions
No occurrences of blackouts, dizziness, or migraines.

Step 6. Minnesota POST Certification

The final step you must accomplish on your road to a deputy sheriff job with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department is to gain Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. To do this you must pass the Peace Officer Licensing Exam. The sheriff’s department will provide you with study material and instructions for how to successfully complete this exam. The exam is tailored to four types of candidates:

Peace Officer Licensing Exam: For students who have completed a two-year Professional Peace Officer degree program.
Reinstatement of License Eligibility Exam: For individuals whose POST eligibility has expired more than three years ago.
License Restoration Exam: For individuals whose POST license has been expired for over three years.
Reciprocity License Exam: For individuals with previous military experience, or law enforcement officials from other states or a federal background.

If you are a new candidate you may register to take the Peace Officer Licensing Exam online.

Ramsey County Sheriff Department Jobs

There are many qualified candidates who apply for Ramsey County sheriff’s department jobs. If you’d like to be one of them, follow these seven steps to learn how to become a Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy:

Application and basic requirements
Written and physical agility test
Interview
Background investigation
Medical examination and psychological evaluation
Final review
Minnesota POST Exam

Step 1. Application and Basic Requirements

When applying for Ramsey County deputy sheriff jobs, you should first confirm you meet the basic qualifications before filling out an application:

Familiarity with Ramsey County
High school diploma or GED
Ability to lift and carry 100 pounds
Ability to operate a computer
U.S. citizen
Either two years of a Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)-certified secondary education program or a military service/law enforcement equivalence
No felony or domestic violence convictions

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Make sure you fill out your application completely and legibly. Do not forget to sign any required forms or attach photocopies or originals of documents. You will not be able to fill out an application until the deputy position become open, although you can fill out an online job interest notification card to receive an email when this occurs.

Step 2. Written and Physical Agility Test

If your application is satisfactory and you appear to be a strong candidate you will be scheduled to take a written and physical agility test. The written test is to evaluate your reading comprehension and writing ability. You should be able to pass this test at about the 12^th grade level. All sheriff deputy jobs in Ramsey County require the completion of a physical agility test. This measures a basic level of fitness and requires the performance with a good technique of about 20 push-ups, 25 sit-ups, and the completion of a 1.5-mile run in about 14 minutes.

Step 3. Interview

Upon a successful score from your written and physical agility test, you will be invited to the sheriff’s department for a panel interview and orientation. Sheriff’s department officials will question you on your motivations for wanting to become a deputy sheriff as well as your past employment history and future aspirations. Of particular importance will be your response to questions about how you handle yourself in stressful situations, make quick and objective decisions, and communicate with others from a variety of backgrounds. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions of your own.

Step 4. Background Investigation

On your initial application form you will have listed your previous education institutions, employers, and character references. For your background investigation you will also asked to fill out a form listing your past residences and institutions where you have bank accounts or investments. You will have a background investigator assigned to your case who will in the least verify your minimum required credentials. Your investigator may additionally conduct interviews with the following people:

Those in your religious congregation, if applicable
Former employers and coworkers
Former or current neighbors
Past friends and acquaintances
Ex-spouses or partners
Immediate family members or relatives

Step 5. Medical Examination and Psychological Evaluation

If the quality of your character is reinforced by your background investigation and there are no disqualifying discoveries, you will be scheduled to complete a psychological evaluation and medical examination. Your medical examination will include a urinalysis drug test which you must pass. If you fail your drug test your application process will be immediately ceased. You will also be required to pass a medical physical, vision, and hearing test. When you are pronounced to be in good health you will proceed with a psychological evaluation to determine your skills at coping with pressure and stress.

Step 6. Final Review

Once you have successfully completed all previous steps the Ramsey County sheriff’s department will review your application and make sure everything is in order for you to take and pass the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board’s licensure exam. The department will work with you to prepare for the test and will answer any questions you might have. It will also direct you on where and how you can register for an eight-week skills course which the department prefers you to complete.

Step 7. Minnesota POST Exam Certification

To become a licensed peace officer in Minnesota, and therefore be eligible for Ramsey County deputy sheriff jobs, you must pass a Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board exam. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department works with the Minnesota POST Board to ensure you receive the proper training and preparation for this exam, which is offered in four variations:

Peace Officer Licensing Exam: Available to candidates who have already completed a two-year POST-certified higher education program. If you are a first-time candidate you may register for this exam online.

Reinstatement of License Eligibility Exam: Available for individuals whose POST license eligibility has been expired for over three years.

License Restoration Exam: Available for individuals whose POST license has been expired for over three years.

Reciprocity Licensing Exam: Available for individuals with prior military experience or those with previous law enforcement experience from other states or the federal level.