How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in New York

Broome County
Cabell County
Erie County
Monroe County
Nassau County
Suffolk County

Broome County Sheriff Department Jobs

Over 600 employees of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office provide law enforcement services to nearly 469,000 people in this county in New York State.

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Cabell County Sheriff Department Jobs

With nearly 100,000 residents, Cabell County is one of the most populated counties in the state. The sheriff’s office employs one chief deputy and 39 deputy sheriffs who are responsible for road patrol and court bailiff duties, among others. Cabell County deputy sheriffs also have the opportunity to train for duty in special units, such as the drug unit, detective unit and Road Patrol K-9 unit.

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This article explains how applicants become a Cabell County Sheriff’s Deputy in five steps:

Satisfy basic requirements
Pass physical agility and written tests
Pass a background check and oral job interview
Sit for a polygraph, medical, psychological and drug screening tests
Take the State Police Academy training program

Step 1. Meet the Basic Qualifications for Cabell County Deputy Sheriff Candidacy

There are some basic qualifications you must satisfy to apply for Cabell County Deputy Sheriff jobs. This is not a comprehensive list; additional qualifications may be required.

Be at least 18, but no older than 45
Have graduated high school or have a GED
Be a U.S. citizen
Have a record free of felony convictions
A valid driver’s license
State residency is not required, but candidates should live within a reasonable distance of Cabell County

To start, you must access, print and complete the online job application for a Cabell County Deputy Sheriff. You must list your qualifications and personal information, such as your education, former employers, marital status, job references, military service, and any criminal convictions. You will be required to authorize a thorough investigation of all the statements you make on the application. Your signature will also authorize a check of your medical records and credit records. Note that incomplete applications may not be accepted.

You may mail or hand-deliver your application to the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington. If you are selected to advance in the hiring process, you will be notified of the date, time and location of the written and physical tests that follow.

Step 2. Pass Written and Physical Fitness Tests

You will next be informed of the date and time for a physical agility test. You will be required to complete a 1.5-mile run, and as many situps and pushups as you can, within a set amount of time. You must meet all of the agility challenges to pass the test. If you do not make a passing score, you will not advance in the hiring process. It may therefore be wise to train in advance of the physical exam.

If you pass the agility test, you will be notified of the date, time and location of the written civil service examination that follows. The written test will assess your reading, writing, cognitive and mathematics skills, and applicants will be ranked according to their scores. The applicants who score highest on this test will advance to the next level.

Step 3. Pass the Background Investigation and Interview

If you progress through the physical agility and written tests, you will next be required to undergo a detailed background check. All of the information you supplied on the job application, such as former employers, references, military service, and any previous contacts with law enforcement, will be verified for accuracy and completeness. If any information is found to be false, or if important information has been omitted, you will be disqualified from the hiring process.

If the information you supplied on your application is proven to be accurate and complete, and if your background meets the department’s requirements, you will then be invited to sit for an oral interview. During the interview, you will answer questions about your background and skills and be expected to show how your life experiences and talents qualify you for the position of deputy sheriff. If your oral interview goes well, you may be made a conditional offer of employment, although you will still have to pass several examinations and tests.

Step 4. Pass Polygraph, Psychological, Medical and Drug Screening Tests

If you advance to this level of screening, you will be required to take several tests to assess your physical and emotional health. You will be required to sit for a polygraph test. You will also undergo psychological and physical exams. The physical exam will also include a drug screening test.

Step 5. Attend Cabell County Deputy Sheriff Training

If you pass the last cluster of tests, you will be a deputy sheriff in training and will begin a 12-month probationary period. At some point in this first year you will go to the State Police Academy and take a 16-week training program. At the academy, you will learn self-defense and the correct use of firearms. You will receive fitness and driver training and take classroom courses dealing with law enforcement issues. You must pass all of the courses.

After you complete the academy program, you will embark on a field training program that will last for 14 weeks. You will work with a partner during this time, and if you complete the program successfully, you will be a Cabell County Deputy Sheriff!

Erie County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office (716-858-7630) provides services to Erie County’s 1,046 square miles of land and 90 miles of shoreline. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office includes seven districts and a detention facility, which consists of a pre-trail detention facility and a holding center.

This guide provides instructions on how to become an Erie County sheriff’s deputy:

Meet Minimum Qualifications
Apply for Employment
Take the Civil Service Exam
Take the Physical Agility Exam
Complete Remaining Employment Testing
Complete Deputy Sheriff Training

Step 1. Meet Minimum Qualifications

Before you apply for Erie County deputy sheriff jobs, you should first determine if you meet minimum qualifications for employment. In particular, all candidates for Erie County Sheriff Department jobs must:

Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent
Be at least 21 years old at the time of appointment
Possess a valid New York driver’s license at the time of appointment

Step 2. Apply for Employment

The first step in obtaining Erie County Sheriff Department jobs is to apply for employment through the Erie County Department of Personnel. You must first check for the job listing by visiting the Department’s Jobs page. It is important to check “deadline based,” “open ended” and “pending exams” for deputy sheriff job postings.

If the position is posted, pay close attention to both the exam number and the examination date, both of which you will need when completing an Erie County Application for Examination or Employment.

All applications for employment must be mailed, along with the applicable registration fee, to:

Erie County Department of Personnel
95 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202

Step 3. Take the Civil Service Exam

The written exam for Erie County deputy sheriff jobs is designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in a number of areas, including:

Applying written material in a correctional services setting
Understanding and interpreting written information
Observing and recalling facts
Preparing written material

The written test is scored on a scale of 100, and all candidates must receive a score of at least 70 to pass it.

Step 4. Take the Physical Agility Exam

Upon passing the written part of the civil service exam, you will be expected to take a physical agility exam. Upon the successful completion of the physical agility exam, you will be placed on an eligibility list, at which time you will be expected to complete remaining employment testing.

Step 5. Complete Remaining Employment Testing

All eligible candidates for deputy sheriff jobs with the Erie County Sheriff’s Department must pass a thorough medical exam and must undergo a background investigation.

Step 6. Complete Deputy Sheriff Training

All new recruits must complete training as to become certified through the Metropolitan Police Training Council.

Monroe County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in New York State employs over 1200 people and has an annual budget of $100 million. The steps to become a Sheriff Deputy in Monroe County are listed below:

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7 Steps to becoming a Sheriff’s Deputy in Monroe County:

Meet the Basic Qualifications
Written Examination
Physical Agility Test
Medical and Psychological Examinations
Background Check
Interview
Attend the Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Step 1. Meet the Basic Qualifications to Become a Sheriff’s Deputy in Monroe County, New York

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for a job as a Monroe County Sheriff Deputy:

You must be at least 20 years old to apply for a patrol position.
If you are applying for patrol, you cannot be older than 34.
- You can turn 35 while training in the academy.
- If you have been in the military, you can turn 38 while in the academy.
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
- You must not have had any felony convictions.
- You must have a Class D driver’s license valid in New York State.

Step 2. Written Examination

You must take an examination administered by the civil service and score at least 70% on it. You must $25 to take this exam. This fee is not refundable.

Step 3. Physical Agility Test

Once you have passed the written examination, you have your choice of two tests for physical agility:

Mock agility test
- This offers you the chance to see what the real agility test is like. If you pass the mock test, you are exempt from the real one.
- Real agility test

Step 4. Medical and Psychological Examinations

After you have passed your agility test, you will be provided with a background packet that you must fill out and turn in at a later date. You will also be examined and given a complete physical. Drug screening is part of this process.

You will also be given a written and oral psychological exam. The written can last up to 8 hours, while the oral exam is generally half an hour to an hour. You will be examined on two different days.

Step 5. Background Check

After the physician and psychologist have determined that you are suitable to become a Deputy Sheriff in Monroe County, you will meet with a background investigator to review your completed booklet. The process involves:

Verifying everything you wrote down in the booklet
Checking your qualifying credentials
Reviewing your criminal record
Interviewing at least three of your personal references

Step 6. Interview

Once you have passed your background check, you will be interviewed by several commanding Officers and asked about your interest in serving as a Sheriff Deputy in Monroe County.

Step 7. Attend the Sheriff’s Academy for Training

After you have been interviewed and selected as a final candidate, you will undergo training to become a Sheriff Deputy in Monroe County. This will involve 24 weeks of training at the Monroe County Police Academy and then an additional 20 weeks of training in the field.

Nassau County Sheriff Department Jobs

The deputy sheriffs of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department (516-571-2113) perform a wide array of important services for Nassau County, New York, including: enforcing orders of the Court and executing arrest warrants; guarding and transporting prisoners; serving and executing court processes; and assisting in investigations, among others.

This guide provides instructions on how to become a Nassau County sheriff’s deputy:

Meet Minimum Qualifications
Register to Take the Civil Service Exam
Take the Civil Service Exam
Take the Physical Fitness Screening Test
Attend Police Academy Training

Step 1. Meet Minimum Qualifications

Individuals seeking Nassau County Sheriff Department jobs must meet a set of minimum qualifications. In particular, candidates for deputy sheriff jobs must:

Have successfully graduate from high school (or hold an equivalent certification)
Hold a valid New York State driver’s license

Step 2. Register to Take the Civil Service Exam

The first step to attaining Nassau County deputy sheriff jobs is to register to take the Civil Service exam through the Nassau County Civil Service Commission.

You can only register to take the Civil Service Exam if the job is listed on the Civil Service Commission’s Announcement page.

Clicking on the Deputy Sheriff position (if it is listed) will send you directly to the official position announcement, which includes information regarding the filing fee, completing the application, and details of the written test. In addition to downloading the application, you may also obtain an application by visiting the Civil Service Commission at 404 Main Street, second floor, Hempstead, NY 11550, Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 4:45PM.

You may contact the Civil Service Commission at 516-572-1882 with questions regarding official announcements and application procedures.

Step 3. Take the Civil Service Exam

You can expect to receive a notice of admittance about one week prior to the examination with details regarding the location and time of the examination. If you do not receive a notice of admittance by the Wednesday before the exam, you should contact the Commission at 516-572-2713.

Step 4. Take the Physical Fitness Screening Test

The Physical Fitness Screening Test is designed to assess a candidate’s agility, strength, speed, and endurance. You will receive a weighted score based on your physical test, which will be combined with your written score.

All candidates must receive a final weighted score of at least 4 (out of a possible 10) to qualify for employment with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department. You can learn more about the physical fitness screening requirements here.

All candidates can expect to receive a notice of rating in the mail within six months of taking the civil service examination.

Step 5. Attend Police Academy Training

Based upon your final ranking from the civil service exams you will be given a conditional offer of employment with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, at which point you must complete training to become certified through the Metropolitan Police Training Council and complete training through the Nassau County Police Academy.

Although the Sheriff’s Department does not post other employment requirements, it is generally accepted that additional testing likely includes a background investigation; a medical examination, and a psychological evaluation.

Suffolk County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, (631-853-5500) which serves a population of more than 1.5 million, works with both local law enforcement and community groups to provide public services to the citizens and visitors of Suffolk County, New York.

The deputy sheriffs of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office improve the safety within the jails and communities; patrol the highways; and promote sound fiscal policies.

Individuals who want to learn how to become a Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy can use this guide, which provides step-by-step instructions on the employment process:

Meet the Minimum Requirements for Employment
Register to Take the Civil Service Exam
Take the Written Exam
Take the Physical Evaluation
Take the Personality/Psychological Evaluation
Attend Deputy Sheriff Training

Step 1. Meet the Minimum Requirements for Employment

Individuals with aspirations of seeking Suffolk County Sheriff Department jobs must ensure they meet minimum requirements for employment with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. In particular, candidates must:

Be at least 20 years old by the time of appointment
Be no older than 35 by the time of examination, with the exception of active duty military applicants, who may receive an extension of this age by up to 6 years
Be a United States citizen at the time of appointment
Possess a valid New York State driver’s license at the time of appointment
Hold a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate by the date of appointment

Step 2. Register to Take the Civil Service Exam

Candidates for Suffolk County deputy sheriff jobs must wait until the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service has listed the position on its site. Unlike other positions which have an open filing policy, candidates for Suffolk County Sheriff Department jobs can only apply when the examination is announced on the Department of Civil Service website.

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Note: There is a $100 non-refundable filing fee for registering for written exam for Suffolk County deputy sheriff jobs. You can use a Visa or MasterCard to complete the registration.

Once you locate the job posting on the Department of Civil Service website, follow the prompts to complete the online registration. You will be contacted by the Department of Civil Service with the time and place of the examination shortly before the test date.

Step 3. Take the Written Exam

You must receive a passing score of at least 70 percent on the written test, the first part of the civil service examination, to remain eligible to continue the employment process with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.

Step 4. Take the Physical Evaluation

The second part of the civil service examination is the physical evaluation, which assesses candidates through the following four tests:

Grip Strength for musculoskeletal fitness
Push-Ups for musculoskeletal fitness
Sit-and-Reach for back/hamstring flexibility
Step Test (STPR) for cardiorespiratory fitness

Step 5. Take the Personality/Psychological Evaluation

The third and last part of the civil service examination is the personality/psychological evaluation.

Step 6. Attend Deputy Sheriff Training

All new recruits must complete a police officer training course through the New York State Municipal Training Council.