The information herein is provided by the respective agency and is only as accurate and as up-to-date as the agency representative(s) update this information. PST is not responsible for the veracity of this data as it is provided directly from the agency. It is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to verify any information about the agency with the agency.
King County Sheriff's Office - Deputy Sheriff
Last updated on April 19, 2024
PST Partner Agency since July 02, 2018
Vacancies: 61
Testing Deadline: December 31, 2024.
Important Information
The King County Sheriff’s Office requires candidates to complete the following steps to be considered:
Step One -Select KCSO and pass the PST Written Exam, Physical Ability Test and submit a complete and up to date Personal History Statement (PHS). Both tests must be passed in order for your scores to be sent to KCSO.
Step Two -Verify that you do not meet any of the Automatic Disqualifying Behavior requirements. To avoid a delay in the application process with our agency, you must complete your personal history statement (PHS) within 10 days of completing your written/physical exams.
Step Three - Apply to KCSO – Sheriff’s Office “Entry Level Deputy Sheriff” via governmentjobs.com and submit a complete and up to date application.
* If you are in need of some assistance the King County Sheriff's Office will cover the cost to test with Public Safety Testing. To request this option, contact the KCSO Recruiter at kcsorec@kingcounty.gov.
Community Information
The King County Sheriff's Office is located in the Pacific Northwest. King County is the 14th largest (by population) county in the country, and includes the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, as well as many suburban communities and rural areas. The area offers a wide variety of employment opportunities, year-round recreation, award-winning school districts, and great quality of life. And contrary to popular belief, there are sunny days. Lots of them.
As you review this page, please note that many of the links will take you to external sites (marked with an asterisk*).
If your spouse or partner works, he or she will have plenty of employment opportunities in the area. Many large companies and non-profits are headquartered here, as well as smaller organizations.
Schools
For the kids, the school districts are exceptional and there are numerous extra-curricular activities through the schools and community groups. For the littlest ones, there are many child care options, as well as organized groups for kids and parents.
The school districts in King County include: Shoreline, Northshore, Seattle, Bellevue, Lake Washington, Kent, Highline, Auburn, Federal Way, Tahoma, Renton, Issaquah, Riverview, Snoqualmie Valley, Enumclaw, Tukwila, and Maple Valley. You can learn more about the schools at:
Like to hike? The Cascade Range and Olympics offer easy day hikes as well as challenging overnight trips, and they are within a short drive. And of course, the serious mountaineers will enjoy Mount Rainier.
Prefer the water? There are two major lakes, numerous smaller lakes, and many, many beaches. Swimming, boating, and fishing are all possible.
Enjoy music and culture? Seattle and the surrounding communities offer symphonies, museums, opera, theaters, local bands, jazz clubs, and even an amphitheater that attracts major concerts and performances.
Need something to do with the kids? There are sporting events featuring amateur and professional teams, multiple city, county, and state parks, local fairs and festivals (including SeaFair in July and August), as well as kid-friendly museums, aquariums, zoos, and amusement parks.
Higher Education
There are many colleges, universities, technical schools, and community colleges in and around King County. You can learn more at this Washington State web site*.
Ensuring the safety of people in King County is our top priority. We aim to do this in a respectful manner based on our core values of leadership, integrity, service, and teamwork. Every employee is expected to provide the best customer service by working with you to address your concerns. With over 1,000 employees, the KCSO serves the law enforcement needs of over half a million people in unincorporated areas and our twelve contract cities. The KCSO also provides police departments for the Muckleshoot Tribe, Metro Transit, and the King County International Airport. Our commitment to meeting the needs of all residents means that services such as helicopters and bomb disposal are available to King County's 1.6 million residents.
We serve unincorporated King County and operate numerous city police departments plus transit police units. (You can check out our partner police agencies here.)
We offer dozens of unique assignments that range from school or community-based positions to drug enforcement and bomb disposal. The King County Sheriff’s Office has opportunities that meet just about any deputy’s goals.
All deputies begin their career on patrol (we have no jail service requirement), providing service to the people of a particular district. Deputies are assigned to single-person patrol cars, and gain a strong sense of ownership in their communities by interacting with the residents, business owners, and visitors to the area. Often, their work requires working together with these people or supporting fellow deputies in adjoining districts.
Within the rank of deputy sheriff, there are many types of service and leadership opportunities:
Patrol Deputy
City Police Officer
Metro Transit Police
Sound Transit Police
Community Storefront Officer
School Resource Officer
Detective
Master Police Officer
Field Training Officer
Other specialized units
Area Information
County: King
Population: 1.6 million
# of Staff: Sheriff's Office - 1150 (750 commissioned), DAJD - 900
Hiring Status
King County Sheriff's Office - Deputy Sheriff has 61 vacancies.
The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is December 31, 2024.
The eligibility list is a continuous listing and maintained as scores are received from PST with oral board interviews conducted on a monthly basis. Those certified on the Civil Service eligibility list will be forwarded to the appointing authority for background investigation and selection as vacancies occur.
Number of Current Vacancies: 70 - filled by both entry and laterals.
Salary Information
The 2023 salary range for deputies is $85,259.20 - $119,371.20 annually based on a six-step system (initial hire rate + five increases based on hire date). These are the base rates for which premiums for education, longevity, and specialty assignments are awarded. Cost of living increases are made annually. The current deputy contract will expire December 2023.
•Competitive wages, including special and duty pays
•Paid academy training
•Patrol premium
•Educational incentives for degrees held
•Longevity premiums for years of service
•Paid holidays
•Vacation days
•Sick leave
•Take-home car assigned up completion of training (entry-level)
•Self-paced training program
Benefit Information
•100% employer paid premiums for medical, dental and vision for you and your dependents.
•Annual vacation: 0-5 years = 12 paid days; 6-8 years = 15 days; 9-10 = 16 days; 11-16 years = 20 days; 20- 25 years = an additional day per year; 26 years = 30 days
•12 paid holidays
•12 paid days of sick leave annually
•Liberal accrual of compensation time
•Patrol Longevity Pay: An additional 2% of base rate starting after 5 years, up to 16% of base rate after 25 years.
•Take-home car upon completion of training; potential annual savings in time, gas, insurance, maintenance, convenience, etc. of between $3000-$5000.
•Education Incentive up to an additional 6% of base rate
•Deputies assigned to traffic, reactive and proactive patrol for at least one full month receive an additional 1% of base rate
•Numerous other premium pays for specialty units (e.g. Detective, K-9, TAC-30, Skin Diver, etc.)
•Paid academy training
•Self-paced training program
•Basic life insurance for you and the eligible family members you enroll
•Basic accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for you
•King County provides all uniforms and most equipment, as well as a car per officer program.
You may purchase additional/enhanced life insurance for yourself. Employees also can participate in flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses. Other King County employee benefits include the home ownership, Making Life Easier, and mildly ill child care programs.
King County Sheriff's Office - Deputy Sheriff Requirements
Category
Requirement
Required at time of...
Test
Hire
Written Examination
Yes, required
LEO/CO Physical Ability Test (PAT)
Yes, required
Your physical ability test must be completed 180 days (~6 months) before or after your passing written exam.
Minimum Age
You must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of application; age 21 on the date of hire.
US Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident
US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.
High School Grad/ GED
You must have a high school degree or GED.
Driver's License Required
You must have a Washington State driver's license, or be able to obtain one by the date of hire.
Ability to Read & Write the English Language
You must have the ability to read, speak and write the English language fluently.
Vision Requirements
Normal color vision (based on the Ishihara standard range of normal color vision as determined by the medical exam)
Uncorrected vision of 20/100 or better, correctable to 20/30 with the use of glasses, hard contact lenses or soft contacts you have worn for less than one year OR
Corrected vision to 20/30 or better with soft contact lenses you have worn for at least one year (in this case there is no uncorrected vision standard) OR
Uncorrected vision of 20/30 or better.
College Requirement
No
Other
King County Sheriff does require their candidates to take the physical ability test with PST.
Able to qualify with a KCSO-issued firearm at least twice a year.
Able to successfully pass a complete background investigation to include a polygraph exam, psychological evaluation and a medical exam.
Multiple Scores from Same Applicant
We consider the highest score received within the past one year
Request/Access Scores
Weekly
King County Sheriff's Office - Deputy Sheriff Disqualifiers
The following are automatic and potential disqualifiers. Applicants should not apply to our agency if they indicate any of the automatic disqualifiers. Potential disqualifiers will be considered on a case by case basis.
Category
Disqualifier
Driving
Automatic
Conviction
of Driving/Physical Control Under the Influence within the last three (3)years
Conviction of Driving/Physical
Control Under the Influence more than once
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
As an adult, conviction of
Attempting to Elude, or Hit and Run
As an adult, conviction of
Reckless or Negligent Driving 1st degree in the last three (3)years
Driving While License
Suspended/Revoked, convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis
Drug Usage
Automatic
As
an adult, convicted of any felony drug crime
Any use of heroin or methamphetamines
Any possession or use of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate)
or any other “date rape” drug (includes, but not limited to; Ketamine or
Rohypnol), including giving it to others
Any use of illegal drugs within three (3)
years of application (other than juvenile or one-time experimentation). Illegal
drugs include but are not limited to; cocaine, ecstasy, molly, MDMA (club
drugs), spice, mushrooms, or Khat, or illegal use of prescription drugs
(including steroids).
Illegal
use of four (4) or more different controlled substances as an adult within the
past ten (10) years
Any
instance of manufacturing or cultivating illegal drugs for the purpose of sale
or distribution
Use
of any illegal drugs while employed in a criminal justice capacity
Obtaining
a prescription under false pretenses
Any
instance of illegally using a drug after applying to any Law Enforcement agency
Marijuana use will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis; however, to increase the likelihood of continuing in the hiring and
background process, an applicant should not have used marijuana in the last 12months
Criminal Activity
Automatic
Any adult felony convictions
Any adult misdemeanor conviction
for crimes involving theft, violence, or crimes of dishonesty (including, but
not limited to, perjury, forgery, impersonation, bribery, witness
intimidation/tampering, or tampering with evidence)
All other misdemeanor convictions
as an adult within the last three (3) years
Any conviction for a sex-related crime, including crimes involving a minor
or individual with a disability, including pornography
Any
instance of required registration as a sex offender, regardless of conviction status
Any other crime conviction of
which disqualifies the candidate from the legal right to possess a firearm
under state or federal law
Any
conviction for animal cruelty as defined by RCW 16.52.205
Any
conviction for a violation of a court No-Contact, Protection, or Harassment Order
Any
candidate currently named as a Respondent in any No-Contact, Protection, or
Harassment DV Order
Other
Automatic
Domestic Violence • Any conviction for any crime classified as a Domestic Violence offense
Military • A dishonorable discharge.
Potential
THE FOLLOWING ARE BEHAVIORS THAT WILL BE GIVEN CASE-BY-CASE CONSIDERATION.
Drugs
• As a juvenile, convicted of any drug crime
• Huffing of commercial chemical agents (glue, paint, etc.) Trafficking (selling, offering to sell, or transporting for sale) any illegal drug.
Criminal Activity
All criminal activity not listed as an automatic disqualification, whether discovered or not, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Any solicitation, or pattern of solicitation of prostitute(s).
Any juvenile convictions (felony or misdemeanor).
Driving • 2 or more at fault collisions within the last 5 years. • 3 or more moving violations within the last 5 years. • Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.
Military • Any discharge from any military service under other than honorable circumstances.
Law Enforcement Certification • Any suspension, revocation, or denial of a Law Enforcement certificate (CJTC/POST) in any state.
Contact Information
King County Sheriff's Office - Deputy Sheriff
516 Third Avenue, Room W-150
Seattle, WA 98104
King County 206-263-5276
TESTING IN WASHINGTON STATE CANCELED THROUGH MAY 31, 2020
All pre-employment tests in Washington State have been canceled until May 31, 2020 unless government restrictions are eased. With recent updates, facility closures, and government guidelines, this step is necessary and could be modified at any time. The health and safety of our customers, our staff, and their families is of the highest priority.
We will continue to evaluate developments and make changes to this policy as necessary. When we do resume testing, there will be plenty of events for everyone to test. We are in regular communication with our public safety agency partners, assessing alternatives to the traditional testing model and our testing policies. Any future updates will be posted on the PST website and our Facebook page.
4/1/2020 Update:
If you have tested with PST in the past 12 months, there may be additional positions you are now eligible to add. Several departments have temporarily changed their testing policies due to the suspension in testing that COVID-19 has caused. Please login to your PST account and navigate to the ‘New Positions’ page to see what departments you can add! We will regularly update that page in your account as departments send updates.
FUTURE TEST REGISTRATION
We know that there will be testing in the future - we just don’t know when! We want you to be prepared for when testing begins again so we have created test events on our calendar that you can register for that will place you in a queue to be first notified. These tests are not “real” test events, they are essentially a holding area. You will be able to “reschedule” out of that event to any other event date/location at no cost. Registering now will also give you time to work on your Personal History Statement (PHS) so that your data will be ready and up-to-date to send to your departments once testing resumes.
To sign up for this placeholder event, select the June 15, 2020 test date in your category (police, fire, 911 dispatch, corrections, etc.).
You may also click on the test event of interest below to sign up:
Please check back here frequently and ‘Like’ our Facebook page to stay updated.
PST staff are working remotely and are available by email at contact@publicsafetytesting.com. We anticipate a high email volume and will respond as quickly as possible.
