Law Enforcement Officer Position

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Deputy Sheriff

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PROFILE DISCLAIMER

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.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Deputy Sheriff

Last updated on April 19, 2024
PST Partner Agency since September 29, 2022

Vacancies: 26

Testing Deadline: April 26, 2024.

Important Information

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is now accepting applications for entry-level Deputy Sheriff.

We are Offering a $10,000 Hiring Incentive for Entry Level Deputy Sheriff!

**Lateral Candidates DO NOT need to take a written exam. If you are a commissioned law enforcement officer and are interested in a lateral opportunity, please contact Pierce County Civil Service at pccivilservice@piercecountywa.gov  ** As a new lateral hire, you will receive a hiring incentive of $25,000.
New lateral hires will also receive 80 hours of sick leave available immediately and 80 hours of vacation leave available for use after six months of employment.
 

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department will pay applicant test fees for the written exam as follows:

  • In-person written exam administered at a PST test site throughout the Pacific Northwest (may include free, same-day PAT)
  • Virtual written exam administered via PST’s online in-home testing program
  • If you passed the LEO written exam and PAT within the past six months, you may add Pierce County Sheriff's Department under certain conditions. Check your PST account under “New Positions”.

**During the background process you will be required to pass a physical ability test (PAT) that includes sit-ups, push-ups, squat thrusts, 300-meter sprint and a 1.5-mile run.  Please refer to the qualifications section.

Community Information

Pierce County boasts tremendous outdoor opportunities with miles of Puget Sound waterfront, Mt. Rainier National Park, 361 fresh-water lakes, alpine and cross-country skiing a short drive away and nationally ranked year-round golf courses in the vicinity, while also offering all the urban amenities. Major industries include health care, technology, agriculture, timber products and military installations. Pierce County is home to the City of Tacoma, Joint Base Lewis- McChord, several suburban cities, small towns and rural communities as well as forests and farmland. Pierce County's moderate climate combined with a contrasting geography of water and mountains encourage a wealth of year round outdoor activities such as sailing, kayaking, fishing, skiing and hiking.

Department Information

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department prides itself on upholding our Core Values: Courage, Compassion, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility. Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism to serve citizens and help make Pierce County one of the best places to live and work in the beautiful Great Northwest.

As the second largest sheriff’s department in Washington State, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has 336 commissioned staff who serve a rural and urban landscape covering 1,806 square miles. Additionally, 302 corrections staff maintain the safety of the community by supervising approximately 1100 inmates in two facilities as well as providing for the movement between the Pierce County Corrections Detention Center and the courts.

With Mt. Rainier and multiple lakes and rivers within our boundaries, additional duty assignments for patrol deputies are available in Search and Rescue, Marine Services, and the Dive Team. PCSD also offers opportunities for Patrol Deputies in such areas as the SWAT Team, Hazardous Device Team, Special Investigations Unit, Community Support Team, and Gang Unit.

Job Description

This is responsible, general duty and investigatory law enforcement work involving the protection of life/property and the preservation of the peace for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Work is performed in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of the Sheriff’s Department, and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws. Click Deputy Sheriff for a classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions, competencies, physical demands and working conditions/environment.

Area Information

County: WA
Population: 946,310
# of Staff: 760

Hiring Status

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Deputy Sheriff has 26 vacancies.

The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is April 26, 2024.

Over 20 vacancies.  Registers are established monthly.

Salary Information

$40.78 - $53.97 Hourly

$84,822.40 - $112,257.60 Annually

Benefit Information

Benefit Information:

Vacation leave: Upon completion of 13 pay cycles (approximately six months) employees receive six days of vacation leave. Vacation accrues at the rate of 12 days per year initially, up to a maximum of 30 days per year.

Sick leave: Employees receive six days of sick leave upon completion of 13 pay cycles (approximately six months). Sick leave is accrued at the rate of one day per month.

Holidays: Pierce County employees enjoy twelve paid holidays.

Medical: Excellent choices of medical plans which include vision and prescription drug coverage are available for the employee and dependents.

Dental: Choice of dental programs which include orthodontic coverage for the employee and dependents.

Life insurance: County paid life insurance for all full time/full benefit employees is effective the first day of employment. Additional life insurance is available at the employee's expense.

Retirement: Pierce County employees participate in one of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems plans. Employees and the County contribute jointly to the plan.

Social Security and Industrial Insurance: Employees are covered by Social Security and the State Industrial Insurance Act.

In Addition: Pierce County offers its employees an Employee Assistance Program which includes legal service access, Deferred Compensation, a Wellness Program, access to a credit union, commute assistance including transit subsidies, a variety of on-going training programs, direct payroll deposit, access to long term disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

NOTE: The provisions of the bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Deputy Sheriff Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination Yes, required

If you score less than 70% on the written exam, Pierce County is accepting scores of 65% or better for Corrections Deputy.
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 21
US Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
High School Grad/ GED Yes
Driver's License Required Valid Washington State Driver's License
Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult No adult felony convictions at any time.
Felony Conviction(s) as a Juvenile Will be carefully reviewed on a case by case basis
Ability to Read & Write the English Language Yes
Vision Requirements Distance: Correctable to 20/20 in the better eye and not less than 20/40 in the worst eye
Body Decorations

No tattoos on the face, head, wrists, neck, ears, or hands except for a small inconspicuous band tattoo on a single finger. Visible tattoos are prohibited if they are obscene, offensive, sexually suggestive, profane or discriminatory in any way.
Other During the background process, you will be required to complete the Sheriff's Department physical ability test.

Exercise

Max time to complete

Required Reps

1

300-meter sprint

71 seconds

1

2

1.5-mile run

14:31 minutes/sec

1

3

Push-ups

90 seconds

20

4

Sit-Ups

90 seconds

25

5

Squat Thrusts

3 minutes

35


Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We consider the highest score received within the past one year
Request/Access Scores On an as-needed basis as vacancies occur

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - 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
Potential

The following driving standards represent the maximum allowable violations of driving laws and must not exceed 6 total points in the last 36 months. DQ = Driving violation automatically disqualifies applicant if it occurred within the last 36 months.

· Negligent homicide - DQ

· Reckless driving - DQ

· Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs - DQ

· Hit and run (attended) - DQ

· Denial of issuance of driver’s license/license revoked - DQ

· Negligent Driving (involving an accident) - DQ

· Negligent Driving (no accident) - 6pts

· Hit and run (unattended) - 6pts

· Driving while driver’s license suspended - 5pts

· Accident involved, infraction - 4pts

· Infraction No Proof of Insurance - 4pts

· Moving violations not involving an accident - 2pts

· Photo Infraction - 1pt

· Speeding in excess of the posted limit:

0 – 10 over - 1pt

11 – 19 over - 2pts

20 – 25 over - 4pts

over 26 - 5pts

Note: Other driving offenses not listed here will be assessed point values on a case by case basis.
Drug Usage
Automatic

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Standards on Illegal Drug Possession:

· No marijuana use/consumption within the past six (6) months before the register is certified; and

· No use of all other illegal drugs in the last three (3) years; and

· Any use of all other illegal drugs must not have exceeded four (4) times total in the past ten (10) years; and

· No use of illegal drugs by needle injection (excluding steroids); and

· No illegal use of steroids within three (3) years; and

· No cultivation, distribution, manufacture, production, transportation of marijuana in the last five (5) years for profit or pattern of criminal behavior.

· No cultivation, distribution, manufacture, production, transportation of any illegal controlled substance (excluding marijuana) in the last ten (10) years for profit or pattern of criminal behavior.

· Prescription drug misuse will be looked at on a case by case basis.

It is understood that many candidates have experimented on a limited basis with illegal controlled substances in their past, and this behavior may not be an accurate indication of future performance with PCSD. Possession of any controlled substance outside the above standard, that occurred more than ten (10) years prior to making the register, will be considered, upon request of the candidate.
Criminal Activity
Automatic

· No Adult Felony Convictions;

· No Adult Domestic Violence Statute Convictions;

· No Misdemeanor Convictions within three (3) years;

· Juvenile Convictions will be carefully reviewed;

· No Pattern of Criminal Behavior.
Other
Automatic

Candidate has not been removed for cause from an employment register for any position in the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department during the past 12 months from the date of this application.

Contact Information

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department - Deputy Sheriff

930 Tacoma Ave S 1st floor
Tacoma, WA 98402 WA County
253-798-4324

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Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: Yes, required
PAT: Yes, required


Other Pierce County Sheriff’s Department positions

Corrections Deputy