How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in Nebraska

Douglas County Sheriff Department Jobs

Douglas County is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Nebraska and is home to the city of Omaha. The application process when seeking Douglas County Deputy Sheriff jobs can be broken down into a series of steps.

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If you’re interested in learning how to become a Douglas County Sheriff Deputy, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Complete an Application
  • Step 2: Written and Physical Agility Testing
  • Step 3: Eligibility Pool
  • Step 4: Additional Testing

Before applying, it is important to review the basic qualifications to make sure you do not have any issues that would disqualify you from being considered for open jobs. Disqualifications include, but are not limited to, the following list:

  • Felony conviction
  • Domestic violence conviction
  • Patterns of traffic violations
  • Poor credit history
  • Poor employment history
  • A history of substance abuse
  • Being in below-average physical or mental condition

Step 1. Verify Eligibility and Complete an Application

Before filling out the application, you must meet the basic qualifications of holding a high school diploma at minimum. College education and military service experience places you higher among candidates.

Any false information contained on the application will automatically disqualify you from employment.

The application includes a release from liability on the part of the Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Office, as well as the permission to release personal background information to the department.

Step 2. Written and Physical Agility Testing

When considering how to become a Douglas County Deputy Sheriff, the next step involves passing written and physical agility tests. The tests are meant to verify that you have the basic skills (both mentally and physically) to perform the duties of a Deputy Sheriff.

The testing is based on a scoring system, which will then place you and all the other applicants into a ranking system according to performance.

Step 3. Eligibility Pool, Candidate Selection and Conditional Offer

Your performance during the above mentioned tests and processes would determine where you end up ranking in the candidate pool.

The number of applicants chosen is dependent entirely on how many open positions there are. Only the top performer will be chosen for each position. If you are selected, you will get a conditional offer of employment and then scheduled for a host of other tests.

Step 4. Additional Testing

The last step in the process involves taking a battery of tests prior to becoming a Douglas County Deputy Sheriff. The tests include:

  • Polygraph testing
  • Drug Screening
  • Psychological Examinations
  • Thorough Background Test
  • Physical Examination

Upon passing these tests, you will are then hired by the department and will begin on-the-job training as a Deputy Sheriff.

Lancaster County Sheriff Department Jobs

Lancaster County is the second largest county in Nebraska and is home to the state capital of Lincoln. With a total population of 280, 407, there are a host of duties that the Sheriff’s Department is responsible for. Duties include patrolling the 847 square miles of the county, conducting criminal investigations and forensics work, among other responsibilities.

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In order to be eligible Lancaster County Sheriff jobs, you must go through a series of steps. The steps are as follows:

  • Step 1: Review minimum requirements
  • Step 2: Fill out application
  • Step 3: Complete written exam
  • Step 4: Complete physical exam
  • Step 5: Conduct an oral interview

Step 1. Review Minimum Requirements

When considering how to become a Lancaster County Sheriff Deputy, there are various minimum requirements a person must meet before being considered for a position. The minimum requirements are the following:

  • You must be a United States citizen
  • You must be at least 21 years of age
  • You must have a high school diploma or a GED
  • Have valid driver’s license
  • Have no felony convictions and certain misdemeanors
  • Must be fluent in English
  • Must have at least 20/30 corrected vision

Step 2. Fill Out Application

If you meet the basic requirements, then you can move onto filling out an application. Lancaster County Sheriff Department jobs application can be acquired only at the City Counsel Office. Any information on the application that is found to be falsified will automatically disqualify you from consideration.

Step 3. Complete Written Exam

The written exam seeks to see if you are capable of performing the writing aspects of the job- which includes filling out police reports, incident reports and arrest documents- and to also figure out if you have the language capabilities to conduct the job properly. In order to move onto the next step in the process, applicants must have at least a 75% score.

Step 4. Complete Physical Exam

The physical exam includes a variety of fitness tests meant to test agility, strength and endurance. The obstacle course is meant to test whether you are capable of performing foot pursuits and other activities that are asked of you as a Lancaster, Nebraska County Sheriff Deputy.

Step 5. Conduct an Oral Interview

Only the best performers from the above steps will be asked to conduct an oral interview. The interview takes place with a representative of the Lancaster County Sheriff Deputy Department, and is meant to verify and measure all of the information obtained thus far in the process.

At the end of the interview, only three candidates will be chosen each year to enroll in basic training and eventually become Sheriff Deputies in Lancaster County.

Sarpy County Sheriff Department Jobs

Although Sarpy County is only the third largest county in the state of Nebraska, it employs the largest amount of Sheriff’s Deputies in the state. Sarpy County Deputy Sheriff jobs are held by 127 sworn deputies and 100 non-sworn personnel.

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When considering how to become a Sarpy County Sheriff’s Deputy, there are a series of steps you must go through in the application and recruitment process:

  • Step 1: Review basic requirements
  • Step 2: Complete an application
  • Step 3: Complete the Sarpy Exclusive Law Enforcement Combined Test (SELECT)
  • Step 4: Conduct a preliminary interview
  • Step 5: Pass background test, polygraph test and drug screening
  • Step 6: Home visit
  • Step 7: Conduct a secondary interview
  • Step 8: Pass psychological and medical exam

Step 1. Review Basic Requirements

Before applying for Sarpy County Sheriff Department jobs, you should first review the basic requirements. If you do not meet the basic requirements, you will not be considered for the job. Basic requirements include the following:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must have a valid driver’s license for the last two years prior to the application date
  • Must have a high school diploma or a GED and read on at least an 11th grade level
  • Must be in good physical and mental condition
  • Must have at least 20/30 corrected vision
  • Must be a citizen of the United States
  • Mist not have any felony convictions

Step 2. Complete an Application

If you meet the basic requirements for the position, the next step is to complete an application. The application will focus on work and education history, as well as special skills and training that you may have that is pertinent to the position as a Sheriff Deputy in Sarpy County, Nebraska.

Step 3. Complete the Sarpy Exclusive Law Enforcement Combined Test (SELECT)

The SELECT is a comprehensive way in which the department can measure your capabilities in a variety of ways.  The first part of the SELECT is a written exam that seeks to measure how well you read and write. Also, the written exam will ask you basic questions in regards to state statutes and laws. The second part of the SELECT is a physical examination, which measure strength, agility and endurance, as well as overall health.

Step 4. Conduct a Preliminary Interview

If you pass all of the SELECT, you will then be invited to a preliminary job interview. The interview will focus on your abilities to deal with the public, communicate, make good decisions and be able to act without supervision in a respectful manner.

Step 5. Pass Background Test, Polygraph and Drug Screening

After the first interview there will be a thorough background investigation that will check your employment, family, health, criminal and educational history. If any information is found to be false, you will be automatically disqualified from consideration. You will then be conducted to a polygraph test and a drug screening.

Step 6. Home Visit

Next, a representative from the department will visit your home in order to verify that the information you provided is correct and that your living standards are up to par with the department’s standards.

Step 7. Conduct a Secondary Interview

The next phase of the application process is a final interview, conducted by a panel of people from the department. If they see you fit for the position, you will then move onto the final process.

Step 8. Pass Psychological and Medical Exam

The psychological and medical exam are meant to see if you are physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of the job. If you pass this final phase, you will move onto basic training while on the job.

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