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Founded in 1854, your Sheriff's Office is one of Washington's oldest and most respected sheriff offices. Responsible for law enforcement, corrections and emergency management, we serve a growing community of over 210,000 residents and are responsible for an area of over 2500 square miles along our international border with Canada.
Whatcom County's Sheriff is Bill Elfo. He heads a department of over 190 staff. The Corrections Division consists of the Main Jail, a maximum-security facility located downtown; the minimum-security Jail Work Center in the Irongate area; and a Jail Alternatives Center, which supervises programs (Electronic Home Detention/Monitoring, Work Release, In- and Out-of-Custody Work Crews) to allow offenders to satisfy court requirements without being held in the Jail.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office conducts on-going recruitment for Deputy Sheriff and Corrections Deputies. The Civil Service Commission maintains a continuous eligibility list of qualified candidates to fill openings as they become available.
Veteran's Preference is available to applicants based on military service. Please review the Hiring Process tab for more information.
- Requires a high school diploma or GED
- College-level coursework in the area of corrections, law enforcement, law and justice, police science or social services is desired, but not required
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Read and write the English Language
- Have a driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards
- Become a member of the local collective bargaining unit
- Pass testing including:
- Written - administered through Public Safety Testing - see Hiring Process Tab
- Physical agility - administered through Public Safety Testing - see Hiring Process Tab
- Background check
- Physical examination
- Psychological examination
- Polygraph test
- Other civil service examinations
- Prospective applicants should check our list of automatic disqualifiers (PDF) before applying
- Initial testing is done through Public Safety Testing, Inc.
- Initial written and physical agility testing for entry level candidates is conducted by Public Safety Testing, Inc. Visit their website at www.publicsafetytesting.com for instructions on how to get started. Test dates are available on a continuous basis; check www.publicsafetytesting.com for test schedule and locations, or call 1-866-447-3911 if you don’t have access to the Internet.
- Successful test results from Public Safety Testing will be reported directly to Whatcom County. When we have an oral board scheduled, we will invite candidates to submit application materials.
- If eligible, you will be invited to participate in an Oral Board interview. Oral Boards are scheduled approximately quarterly for Sheriff's Deputy and every other month for Corrections.
Candidates who pass the above steps are placed on a ranked Civil Service Eligibility List. Veteran's who have passed an Oral Board examination shall be entitled to credit pursuant to Chapter 41.04.010 RCW that will be used in determining Eligibility List Ranking.
When openings occur, the Sheriff's Office invites select candidates from the eligibility list for further testing, to include:
- Polygraph examination
- Background investigation
- Administrative Interview
Qualification as a lateral candidate requires:
- Completion of the WSCJTC Basic Corrections Academy or WSCJTC-recognized equivalency academy
- Two years of employment within Washington State as a full-time, paid corrections deputy with general corrections experience, with the successful passing of a probationary period with a previous law enforcement employer
- No more than a 24 month break in service since the most recent law enforcement employer
Sheriff Deputy
Qualification as a lateral candidate requires:
- Completion of the WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Officer Academy
- Current certification as a peace officer
- Two years of employment within Washington State as a full-time, paid peace officer with law enforcement authority with the successful passing of a probationary period with a previous law enforcement employer
- No more than a 24 month break in service since the most recent law enforcement employer
Corrections Deputies work in a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week maximum-security jail and other assigned facilities to maintain facility security: receiving, booking, maintaining custody of, escorting, transporting, caring for and overseeing offenders. They are also responsible for alternative corrections programs.
To see a full scope of the job view the job description here.
Sheriff Deputy
Patrols; provides emergency aid, security and protection to the public; responds to requests for information and assistance; and responds to crimes in progress. Investigates crimes and motor vehicle accidents and natural and unnatural deaths. Transports prisoners. Testifies in court. Resolves complaints, controls civil disturbances, and performs crisis intervention. Serves criminal and civil process documents. Thoroughly documents activities by report writing. Works both independently and as part of a team.
To see a full scope of the job, view the job description here.