Become a Sheriff’s Deputy

Become a Sheriff’s Deputy

DeKalb County’s population is over 43,000 people and encompasses 363 square miles. Deputies are responsible for patrolling over 720 miles of county roadways. Deputies enforce state law, serve civil paperwork, take individuals into custody on arrest warrants and have many other duties.

Benefits

  • Deputies work 12-hour shifts on a 2-2-3 rotating schedule which allows for a 3-day weekend, every other weekend.

  • Uniform allowance

  • All necessary equipment issued

  • Take home vehicle (permitted for off-duty use in surrounding counties)

  • Deputies are permitted neatly trimmed beards and tattoos that meet the policy

  • Retirement – After 10 years, you will be a vested member of the sheriff’s retirement pension program. Once you turn 52, you will be eligible to receive a monthly check based on your years of service for the rest of your life.

Opportunities

  • Investigations

  • School Resource Officer

  • K9 Handler

  • Drone Team

  • Bicycle Patrol

  • Overtime and paid detail opportunities

Qualifications

  • Be of good moral character

  • Citizen of the United States of America

  • At least twenty-one years of age upon graduation from the law enforcement academy

  • High school diploma or equivalency

All candidate’s traffic or criminal histories will be reviewed and may serve as a basis for disqualification from the selection process.  Convictions, arrests, and admissions will be assessed with particular attention given but not limited to the pattern of violations, seriousness, surrounding circumstances, number of incidents, and their recency.  Conduct that occurred in the recent past would be considered more damaging than conduct that happened several years ago.  Juvenile arrests or misdemeanor arrests may not be grounds for disqualification, but these will be evaluated on a case-by-case-basis.  Conviction of a felony or the reasonable belief the candidate committed a felony will be cause for immediate disqualification. 

Immediate Disqualifiers

  • Having any felony conviction

  • Any misdemeanor conviction within two years

  • Having a misdemeanor conviction involving perjury, false statements, or domestic violence

  • Sexually oriented offender status

  • Suspended driver’s license at the time of the background investigation

  • Dishonorable discharge from the armed services

  • Active Temporary Protective Order or Civil Protection Order during the time of the background investigation

  • Illegal drug use within the last 12 months

Hiring Process

  •  Submission of employment application

  • Applications are reviewed and preliminary screening conducted

  • Physical Agility Testing - ILEA Exit Standards

  • Written Civil Service Examination

  • Background Investigation

  • Interview by the Sheriff’s Merit Board

  • Conditional offer of employment is made to selected applicants

  • Polygraph examination

  • Psychological Evaluation

  • Medical Evaluation

  • Drug Screening

  • Sheriff appoints Merit Deputy Sheriff from list of eligible candidates

  • Successful completion of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and one year probationary period.

Training

Academy

Successfully hired deputies will attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, Indiana.  The academy is over 600 hours of training in a variety of area including criminal and traffic law, firearms, emergency vehicles operations, physical tactics, and human behavior.

During the academy, the deputy stays at the campus during the week and returns home on the weekends. The deputy is paid their salary, provided a vehicle for travel, and supplied all the necessary gear and equipment. 

Field Training

Deputies complete a rigorous field training program at the sheriff’s office. Field training takes place before and after the deputy attends the academy.

Field training involves accompanying a full-time deputy as you observe their duties and transitions through the process to the full-time deputy observing the new deputy perform the duties.

Would you like to know more or have questions about being a sheriff’s deputy?

Contact Chief Deputy Ben Rice or call 260-925-3365

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.