Be an active part of safety and engagement in our community.
Become a Deputy Sheriff Trainee at the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office!
When you join the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, you become part of a strong work family that makes a difference in our community.
In partnership with our community, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office is committed to providing professional, firm, fair, and compassionate public safety services with integrity and respect. Serving the community since 1850, we employ over 650 employees in more than 30 different highly trained and specialized units, and our job is to protect the half-million residents within the 1,768 square miles of Sonoma County.
When you join our team as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee, you will attend a basic law enforcement academy and take courses such as criminal law, search and seizure, evidence, investigative techniques, patrol procedures, firearms, driver training, defensive tactics, and more. After being hired, passing the academy, and completing field training, you will work in 12-hour shift rotations in the Patrol Division as part of the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement team. The Patrol Division operates out of the main office of the Sheriff's Office in Santa Rosa, with two substations located in Guerneville and the Sonoma Valley to cover the east and west sides of our expansive county. If you prefer a small town or city police department work environment, we have two contracted police stations in the Town of Windsor, Windsor Police Department, and the City of Sonoma, Sonoma Police Department.
The Sheriff's Office is eager to recruit and develop Deputy Sheriffs who have exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills in order to effectively interact with our diverse community, work independently, and make appropriate decisions during times of emergencies and in the midst of stressful situations.
In order to ensure its workforce can protect and engage the communities of Sonoma County, the Sheriff's Office has numerous training opportunities, tools and equipment, and specialty assignments available after completing basic training and shift rotations in the Patrol Division. Assignments such as explosive ordinance detail, SWAT team, tactical response team, hostage negotiator, field training officer, dog handler, helicopter observer, internal affairs investigator, background investigator, and detective assignments within a variety of investigative units are open for you to explore.
Note, Deputy Sheriff Trainee is not intended for individuals who have already completed the California POST-certified Basic Peace Officer Academy within the last three years. If you are an experienced Peace Officer, please review and apply to our separate Deputy Sheriff II recruitment.
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Deputy Sheriff I ($48.88 - $59.41/hour) followed by Deputy Sheriff II ($53.85 - $65.46/hour)
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $0.45/0.90 an hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $750 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
*Salary is negotiable within the established range for the position and benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. For more information, including minimum qualifications, & to apply, visit www. yourpath2sonomacounty.org or call 707-565-2331. The County of Sonoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to having a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.
