Deputy Sheriff Trainee - Shift

Amended: 4/24/24

• $15,000 Recruitment Bonus

• More information below*

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time without notice. Please ensure ALL applicable certificates are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach the certificates to your application, you may e-mail them to Nesrine Annan at annann@kerncounty.com.

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL HIRING EVENT ON:

May 4, 2024, from 8:30a.m.

• 12p.m. at Regional Training Center, 962 Norris Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

You will be given the opportunity to meet the hiring team, have your application pre-screened on site and take the written exam on this date (limited seating available).

The written exam will be administered for applicants at 10:00 a.m. on May 4, 2024 . If you wish to test, please arrive prior to the examination time to ensure your application is reviewed. Seating for testing is first come, we encourage you to arrive at 8:30 a.m.

CA POST PELLETB Written Exam Workshops

Zoom Webinars

• PelletB Prep Classes with Steve Daniels:

Monthly PelletB Workshop Webinars (FREE): Register here for Zoom seminar

Kern residents are able to receive free tutoring from Kern Literacy Council: 661-324-3213

Exam Schedule 2024 (subject to change at anytime without prior notice)

Group #

Application Submission End Date

Application Review Deadline

Written Exam

1

4/28/20244/29/20245/6/2024

2

5/13/20245/14/20245/22/2024

Examinations:

Written Exam (PELLETB) (Pass/Fail):  May include knowledge of questions regarding spelling, vocabulary, sentence clarity, reading comprehension and other English language comprehension exercises.

An Applicant Preparation Guide may be accessed here.

Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process. Names will be placed on one eligible list in order of final earned scores.

NOTE: Participation in the written exam is not required if you possess a POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) Exam result that verifies a minimum T-score of 42 and is less than 2 (two) years old as of the date of this application. Attach to your application for review. 

A link to the physical fitness pre-academy fitness guide may be accessed  here.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent.

• Possession of a valid California driver's license at the time of appointment; may be required to obtain a Class II license.

In accordance with Government Code Section 1031 to be appointed as a peace officer in California, incumbents must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.

Physical and Psychological Requirements: Applicants must be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.

Physical Examination: A rigid medical examination by a county physician is required.

Includes spine and chest x-rays, blood chemistry and electro cardiograph test. Weight must be proportionate to height and age.

Psychological Examination: Emotional and mental conditions shall be evaluated by a psychologist that meets the applicable education and training requirements as set forth by the Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training Evaluation is designed for the conduct of pre-employment psychological screening of peace officers.

Vision: 20/100 uncorrected in each eye (corrected to 20/20) - no color deficiency. No permanent or progressive abnormalities.

Hearing: No hearing deficiency.

Minimum Age:  20.5 years of age by the final filing date; must be 21 years of age upon appointment to Deputy Sheriff.

Character:  A thorough background investigation, including fingerprinting is required.

Applicants must have a reputation for honesty, trustworthiness and be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. Felony law violations will be disqualifying and except for a limited number of minor traffic offenses, misdemeanor offenses may be disqualifying.

Ability to: understand and carry out oral and written instructions; ability to develop skill in use of firearms; ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies; ability to obtain and verify information through telephone contact and interview.

Background / Pre-employment Polygraph Examination / Psychological Evaluation: The background evaluation will include a pre-employment polygraph examination and psychological evaluation and will assess overall suitability for employment only as a Kern County Deputy Sheriff Trainee.

This evaluation may not indicate present suitability for other law enforcement positions or future suitability as a Kern County Deputy Sheriff Trainee. Candidates must be found satisfactory in all respects on the Background Evaluation. Candidates determined to be unsuitable on this evaluation, or who have previously been found unsuitable, are encouraged to wait a minimum of twelve months before they may reapply for this classification. Additionally, those found unsatisfactory as a result of the background evaluation will be removed from eligibility in accordance with Civil Service Rule 608.00.

Full Job Description For: Deputy Sheriff Trainee

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.

To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:

High Performance Culture

Kern County is actively engaged in creating a culture that promotes excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. LaunchKern is Kern County's continuous improvement initiative based on the principles of Lean Six Sigma. LaunchKern empowers our valued employees to change the way government works by improving their work environment, saving taxpayer dollars and enhancing services to residents.

Growth Mindset

We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.

All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec.3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services).  As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.

Following an offer of employment, you will be required to submit to post offer medical, psychological, and drug screening tests at county expense.

Admittance to each phase of the examination will require a government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.

Upon completion of the trainee courses and promotion to Deputy Sheriff, incumbents will be REQUIRED to work shift work including weekends and holidays as assigned by the Sheriff's Office.

This examination will establish a 12-month eligible list from which appointments will be made at the Sheriff's Department.

This recruitment is eligible for the Employee Referral Award Program. For information on the Employee Referral Award Program, or to submit a referral form, please use the following link: Employee Referral Award Program.

This position works within the Kern County Sheriff's Office. For more information about the department, please view their website here.

Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Summary of Benefits for Deputy Sheriff

Recruitment Bonus: The County will provide all employees hired on or after November 9, 2021, in a permanent capacity as a Deputy Sheriff with the Sheriff's Office a $15,000 non-pensionable recruitment and retention bonus.

The bonus shall be payable in full upon appointment by the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator subject to completion of a 5-year term of service as a Detentions Deputy rank or higher, including in any continuing capacity as a sworn peace officer with the County of Kern. Appointees who do not complete the agreed upon term of service shall be subject to repayment of the bonus with the following amortization schedule: 

1.Less than one year of services - $15,000  

2.Less than two years of services - $12,000  

3.Less than three years of services - $9,000 

4.Less than four years of services - $6,000  

5.Less than five years of services - $3,000 

Personal Patrol Vehicle (PPV) Program:

Participation in PPV Program is voluntary. Deputies who meet the criteria for home retention of a personal patrol vehicle will be allowed to retain their vehicle at their place of residence. Further details may be accessed in the KCSO Policy Section E-800.

Vacation, Holidays & Sick Leave

Vacation: 13 days and accrual rate increases yearly

Vacation Cash-In:  Employees may sell back a combined maximum of forty (40) hours of accrued vacation or compensatory time off each November. The hours shall be paid out at the employee's regular hourly rate of pay at the time of the sell back.

Holidays: 12 Paid Holidays a year & 3 days of Paid Winter Recess Leave between Christmas and New Years OR 3 alternate days off if unable to observe Winter Recess.

Sick Leave: Up to 12 Paid Sick Days Per Year

Sick Leave Bonus: Employees shall be eligible for 24 hours Sick Leave cash out or 24 hours of CTO banks subject to items noted in the specified, MOU agreement for Sick Leave Bonus.

Compensatory Time Off (CTO): CTO is accumulated as hours at the rate of 1.5 times the number of overtime hours worked and is compensated at the employee's regular hourly rate of pay.

Additional Benefits

Overtime Pay: Ample opportunities for Overtime pay.  Employees compensated at the rate is 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked more than 80 hours (8-hour or 10-hour schedule) or 84 hours (12-hour schedule) per pay period.

Standby Pay: Employees required by the department head to be on standby (e.g. court) shall receive one-quarter (1/4) of their regular straight time rate of pay, or the minimum wage, whichever is higher, for all hours they are required to be on standby.

Shift Differential:  The County will pay shift differential pay of 7.5% of base pay for any time worked between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Uniform Allowance: $1,300 annually. Paid bi-weekly at approximately $50 per paycheck.

Safety equipment provided.  Employees designated as SWAT receive an additional $11.50 per paycheck.

Canine Handler: Employees assigned as canine handlers receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary for possessing specialized training and skills pertaining to the handling and training of Department canines, and for home care of assigned canine

Swat Team/Crisis Negotiations Team:  Employees assigned to the SWAT Team or Crisis Negotiation Team receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary while assigned to the SWAT Team or Crisis Negotiation Team.

Field Training Officers: Employees assigned as an FTO will receive additional "special assignment pay" equal to 5% of their base salary.

Bomb Detail:     Employees assigned to the Bomb Detail receive additional compensation equal to 5% of their base salary for possessing specialized training and skills in the handling of explosive devices and for the hazardous duty.

Education:  An employee shall be entitled to P.O.S.T Certificate Pay (5% for POST Intermediate Certificate and additional 7% for POST Advanced Certificate)

(Basic Certificate) 4493 Deputy Sheriff

• Salary Range 64.1 ($32.14 - $38.41)

(Intermediate Certificate) 4492 Deputy Sheriff

• C - Salary Range 65.1 ($33.78 - $40.37)

(Advanced Certificate) 4491 Deputy Sheriff

• CA - Salary Range 66.5 ($36.22 - $43.29)

Bilingual Pay: $25 bi-weekly for qualified employees & The Bilingual Pay Program will include the payment of $50 per pay period for those positions, which require written bilingual skills to perform a critical part of the employee's job.                                                                               

Health Benefits

County contributes 80% of cost for all health plans.

EAP - No Cost

Retirement Benefits

• Tier 2B: 2% @ age 50 PEPRA Member

Deferred Compensation Program:  Deferred Compensation: 457 plan which allows employees to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire.

All above provisions are based on the Kern Law Enforcement Association (KLEA) and available upon completion of the academy and promotion to Deputy Sheriff classification. This is a summary of benefits.

It does not confer any rights upon any employee. Please refer to the unit MOU for more information.