Lateral Deputy Sheriff

Salary

$46.11 - $64.56 Hourly

Location

Multiple locations in King County, WA

Job Type

zzDNU_Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2025MA25490

Department

KCSO - Sheriff's Office

Division

Patrol Operations

Opening Date

11/01/2025

Closing Date

12/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Q1 : KCPOG-Sheriff

Full- or Part-Time

Full Time

Hours/Week

40 hours/week

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Summary With a commissioned staff of more than 770, we are among the largest sheriff's departments in the country. Our deputies have opportunities to serve in many different communities, including unincorporated King County, numerous contract city police departments, transit police agencies, and so many more.

We serve unincorporated King County and operate numerous city police departments plus transit police units. We offer dozens of unique assignments that range from school or community-based positions to drug enforcement and bomb disposal.

As a lateral hire, your take-home patrol car is issued to you soon after being sworn-in and qualifying with your weapon. Starting pay is commensurate with experience and evaluated individually.

Lateral Hiring Incentives

• All laterals hired as a KCSO deputy on 09/11/25 or after are eligible to receive 40 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick time credited to their leave banks on their first day of employment.
• Washington State Laterals hired as a KCSO deputy on 9/11/25 or after may be eligible to receive a signing bonus of $40,000.
• $25,000 for lateral candidates; receive $10,000 on your first paycheck and $15,000 when you pass probation, with a three (3) year commitment. Any questions regarding the hiring incentive please reach out KCSO recruiters at [email protected].

KCSO Deputy Benefits Includes

• 100% employer paid premiums for medical, dental and vision for you and your dependents.
• Take-home car upon swearing in and qualifying with your weapon.
• Liberal accrual of compensation time
• For more information about medical benefits go to the Deputy Sheriff Benefits Group Benefits summaries - King County
• Additional Benefits Include: Assignment Premium, Longevity Pay, Education Incentive, Take-home car, Uniforms/Gear and Special Sick Leave.

WHO MAY APPLY : This position is open to the public.

The Lateral Deputy is a civil service classified position. The recruitment and hiring process will be administered in accordance with King County Civil Service Rules. You can access these rules at Civil Service Rules.

Requirements For more information about application requirements go to civil-service-application-requirements.pdf

For more information about King County Service please visit our King County Civil Service website.

Job Duties All deputies begin their career on patrol (no jail service required). Our deputies gain a strong sense of ownership in their communities by interacting with the residents, business owners, and visitors in the area. Job duties include but are not limited to:

• Patrol a designated area of the county, assisting persons in trouble and rendering other public safety services as needed.
• Respond to calls of service and act as the situation requires, such as securing the scene, interviewing victims and witnesses, securing and gathering evidence, completing incident and arrest reports, investigating persons suspected of being engaged in crime.
• Investigate family disputes, reports of maltreatment of children, and complaints about persons with social or behavioral problems. Required action includes taking principals into custody or referring them to appropriate agencies, such as juvenile and medical authorities.
• Complete administrative tasks, such as report writing, on time and with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Testify in court including presenting facts and observations accurately and objectively and attesting to chain-of-custody in evidence handling.
• Participate in community policing activities and serve as a resource to the community.
• Perform related work as required, including assignments in administrative, investigative, and special operations units.
• Work schedule: 24/7 position, shift of day, swing, or graveyard are determined on need and assigned location. Schedule is dependent upon assignment. Patrol assignments are typically rotating ten-hour shifts on a “four days on, three days off, four days on, four days off” schedule.
• This position is an open and continuous recruitment.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LATERAL APPLICANTS:

• Experience as a full-time commissioned police officer with at least 12 months of active patrol after completion of all academy training. Time training on active patrol (PTO/FTO or similar) will count towards the 12 months of active patrol requirement.
• Successful completion of probation as a commissioned officer with a city, county or state police or sheriff's department.
• Federal Law Enforcement experience may qualify, pending a review from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC). Please reach out to Marc Alvarado, Civil Service HR Analyst, at [email protected] for next steps in the process.
• Less than a two-year break in service from a former police officer position.
• Academy training that meets or exceeds the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's standards (720 hours).
• Out-of-state applicants will be required to complete an 80-hour equivalency academy.
• Verification that you do not meet any of the Sheriff’s Office Automatic Disqualifying Behaviors.

APPLICATION AND TESTING PROCESS: 2. Application Review – Applications will be screened for accuracy and completeness to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications to be considered as a lateral candidate. Civil Service reviews applications every week and will contact you within 5 to 7 business days of receiving your application.

• Direct apply– Click on the "Apply" link towards the top of this job announcement on the right. A complete application is required for processing.
• Do not type "see resume".
• Review the Sheriff's Office Automatic Disqualifiers
• Answer all supplemental questions.
• Oral Board Exam – Qualified candidates will be invited to self-schedule for an oral board examination. This is a formal interview with of a panel of King County deputies, detectives, and/or sergeants. The panel will evaluate you on the following criteria: communication skills, background, skill in serving diverse communities, experience, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, and problem solving.
• Civil Service Eligibility List – Candidates who pass the oral board examination will advance to the background investigation phase of the process. Candidates must successfully complete all steps of the background process to be eligible for hire. The final score is based on your oral board interview and, if applicable, one of the approved preference points (see below). Ranking on this list determines the order in which background investigations are conducted.

PREFERENCE POINTS

• Veteran's Preference: a valid copy of your DD214 must be provided prior to or at the time of your oral board appointment to be valid. To learn more, review RCW 41.04.010

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION – Upon successful completion of the Oral Board Interview candidates will.

• Receive a background packet that must be completed within two weeks.
• Once the background packet is submitted it will be assigned to detective for the investigation process.
• The background investigation process takes approximately six (6) weeks to complete for qualified lateral candidates.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. Any questions regarding position or hiring incentive please reach out to our recruiter at: [email protected].

If you have questions regarding the application and recruitment process, please direct them to Sr. Human Resource Analyst, Marc Alvarado, at [email protected]. This is a Civil Service position; you can access the Civil Service Rules on our website.

Benefits The King County Sheriff's Office offers competitive wages and a generous benefits package that includes fully paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. We also provide fully paid premiums for basic life insurance, a generous vacation and sick leave program, and membership in Washington State's LEOFF retirement plan.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/benefits/YourKingCountyBenefits.aspx

The King County Sheriff's Office offers competitive wages and a generous benefits package that includes fully-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents. We also provide fully paid premiums for basic life insurance, a generous vacation and sick leave program, and membership in Washington State's LEOFF retirement plan.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/benefits/YourKingCountyBenefits.aspx

01

You must be a United States Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipient. Are you now a United States citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or DACA recipient?

• Yes
• No

02

Can you read, write and speak the English language?

• Yes
• No

03

At the time of application, candidates must have at least 12 months of active patrol and successful completion of probation as a commissioned officer with a city, county or state police or sheriff's department. Federal experience will be verified upon application submission. DO YOU MEET THIS REQUIREMENT?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you currently employed as a law enforcement officer?

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered "No" to the above question, when did you last serve as a law enforcement officer. Please provide Month and Year. (Use N/A if you are an actively employed LEO)

06

Qualified candidates must have academy training that meets or exceeds Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center's Standards of 720 hours. Provide the name of the academy and number of hours of training your received as a cadet. This information must be provided in order to be moved forward in the process. Leaving this blank means your application is incomplete.

07

Are you requesting Veteran's Preference Points?

• Yes
• No

08

A copy of your DD 214 or other proof of military service is required. Please confirm that you have either attached the required document to your application or will provide it upon hire.

• Proof is attached
• Proof will be provided upon hire
• Not applicable

09

Candidates who have been previously disqualified by KCSO within the 12-months of application will be automatically disqualified from the recruitment process. Note: This information will be verified prior to moving forward in the oral board process.

• Yes, I have been disqualified by KCSO within the past 12 months.
• No, I have not been disqualified by KCSO within the past 12 months.

10

The King County Sheriff's Office maintains a list of automatic disqualifiers for employment. This list can be accessed by clicking on this link Automatic Disqualifiers . Please review the disqualifiers and respond to the following question before proceeding. Do you certify that based on your review of the automatic disqualifiers that you are qualified for employment with the King County Sheriff's Office? Note - This information will be verified prior to scheduling an oral board interview.

• Yes
• No

11

The background of all King County Sheriff's Office employees and applicants are thoroughly checked. The required background investigation will review and evaluate driving records, criminal records, criminal behavior, employment histories, military records, personal and employment references, and related information. Candidates who pass the initial background investigation will be required to complete a polygraph. Are you willing to undergo a background investigation and polygraph examination as part of the employment process?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone 206-477-3404

Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/