Law Enforcement as a Career

Whether you are interested in a deputy sheriff or deputy sheriff/paramedic position, the following includes some of the duties you may be asked to perform:

• Control and direct vehicle traffic
• Issue citations for vehicle code violations
• Conduct routine street patrol to determine the presence of actual or potential crime situations
• Initiate inquiries concerning possible law violations of adults or juveniles
• Obtain, present, verify and analyze factual information and other evidence
• Make arrests by determining if there is probable cause
• Identify suspect
• Take suspect into custody and inform suspect of his civil rights
• Respond to requests from citizens for information and assistance
• Resolve disputes
• Refer individuals to the proper agencies and provide other types of guidance
• Prepare reports, issue memos, and write correspondence which are both intra and interdepartmental in nature
• Appear in court and before other legal and quasi legal bodies and give oral testimony regarding investigations, arrest and other information
• Conduct searches
• Examine individuals, vehicles and buildings to locate persons and property or to detect illegal activity
• Transport people, prisoners or materials as needed
• Serve civil and subpoena papers and/or arrest warrants
• Assist in property seizures
• Open and close sessions of court, as directed by the judge
• Maintain order and courtroom decorum, as directed
• Maintain court security
• Conduct physical searches
• Notify selected citizens of upcoming jury duty
• Oversee security of the jury room when jury is sequestered
• Provide necessary materials to jury
• Relay messages between jury and the court

In addition, the deputy sheriff/paramedic:

• Responds to medical emergencies and provides immediate basic and/or advanced life support

Skills and abilities should include:

• Making rapid and sound decisions under pressure
• Making arrests
• Remaining alert and reacting to unexpected situations and emergencies
• Handling high levels of personal stress
• Maintaining composure under a variety of adverse conditions, including verbal and physical abuse
• Witnessing death and critical injuries and experiencing risk of personal harm
• Collecting and rapidly assimilating facts
• Examining witnesses effectively
• Restraining unruly persons
• Maintaining confidences
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with supervisors, other employees, legal counsel, judicial officials, other agencies and the general public
• Following written and oral instructions
• Communicating effectively (orally and in writing)