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County of Alpine Adopted 05/07/02 DEPUTY SHERIFF I / II DEFINITION Under general supervision, to patrol an assigned area to effect the prevention of crime and detect situations requiring the attention of a law enforcement officer; to enforce laws in the protection of life and property; to respond to calls for service; to conduct investigations; and to perform related duties as assigned. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS Deputy Sheriff I is the entry level classification in this series. Incumbents learn and perform a wide range of law enforcement and crime prevention activities. This class is flexibly staffed with Deputy Sheriff II and incumbents normally advance to the higher level after experience and achieving proficiency which meet the requirements for Level II. Deputy Sheriff II is the fully qualified, experienced classification in the series. Incumbents competently perform the full range of law enforcement assignments. Deputy Sheriff I / II differs from the classification of Public Safety Officer I / II in that the latter class is responsible for both law enforcement and fire suppression activities. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES – Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Patrols assigned developed and undeveloped areas of the County; maintains surveillance to prevent or detect criminal activity; conducts building / property security checks; responds to dispatched calls and emergencies; provides back-up assistance to other officers as needed. Secures crime scenes and determines the need for additional and/or specialized Sheriff’s Department personnel. Conducts preliminary and follow-up investigations on reported crimes; participates in the search for and collection of evidence; interviews witnesses and victims; interrogates suspects. Participates in or conducts investigations to determine cause of death; prepares Coroner’s reports. Locates, apprehends and arrests law violators; performs physical searches and seizures; transports detainees for booking. ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 2 Responds to and investigates traffic accidents; participates in traffic enforcement activities; issues warnings and citations. Participates in search and rescue operations. Provides first aid and/or CPR to injured persons. Serves process papers and enforces court-ordered writs. Responds to calls for service involving stray or potentially dangerous animals; captures animals and transports to animal shelter. May perform bailiff duties, providing security during court sessions as assigned. Performs other routine police work as required, including but not limited to directing traffic, providing police escort, assisting stranded motorists, transporting prisoners and mental patients, assisting with crowd control, etc. Prepares reports of arrests made, investigations conducted and unusual incidents observed. Testifies and presents evidence in court. Participates in neighborhood and community relations programs; attends community meetings to enhance Sheriff’s Department / community relationships and to address safety issues; implements problem-solving techniques and strategies. Cooperates with other law enforcement agencies on cases and projects as appropriate. Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance, concerns and complaints from the public regarding police and public safety matters. Keeps supervisor informed of problems encountered during assigned shift. Maintains assigned weapons, vehicles and equipment in proper condition and in compliance with departmental policies and standards. Operates a law enforcement vehicle, safety equipment, firearms and other weapons, avalanche locator, snow mobile, all-terrain vehicles, motor boat, radios, cameras, surveillance equipment, and other law enforcement equipment; operates general office equipment including a computer, telephone, teletype, copier, fax machine, etc. Maintains proficiency in the use and care of firearms and other law enforcement equipment. ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 3 Performs general administrative and clerical duties as required, including but not limited to attending meetings, preparing reports, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, entering computer data, etc. Deputy Sheriff II: (In addition to the above duties) May serve as field training officer for recruits and/or subordinate officers. May serve as Range Officer, performing such duties as scheduling and conducting firearms training, ordering and maintaining department weapons and ammunition, and maintaining confiscated weapons. May serve on narcotics and other special task forces. May serve as the Civil Division Deputy. May assume a lead role in the conduct of investigations. May prepare and administer grants for assigned department projects and programs. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Deputy Sheriff I: All pertinent federal, state and county laws, codes, ordinances, regulations and standards affecting Sheriff’s Department operations. Basic principles, practices, procedures, techniques and programs common to modern law enforcement. Basic methods of criminal investigation. Techniques of eliciting information from emotionally upset or uncooperative individuals. Rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure and the identification, marking, preservation and presentation of evidence. Firearms, automotive, radio and other law enforcement equipment. Basic mathematics. Basic report-writing and record-keeping methods. ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 4 The use of computers for word processing and records management. Safe work practices. Deputy Sheriff II: (In addition to the above requirements) Advanced procedures in criminal investigation, narcotics investigation, child abuse detection and investigation, and coroner’s investigation. The layout of local roads and of the locations and characteristics of various neighborhoods. Other state and local law enforcement agencies. Courtroom procedures and legal practices. Modern office procedures, practices and technology. The use of computers for word and data processing, and records management. Public / community relations techniques. Ability to: Deputy Sheriff I: Learn, understand, interpret, apply and enforce pertinent policies, laws, rules and regulations. Plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities. Understand and follow oral and written instructions independently. Keep abreast of trends, technology and requirements in law enforcement operations. Perform responsible police work in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines. Work under stressful or dangerous conditions, often involving considerable personal risk or risk to others. Anticipate potentially unsafe situations. Observe, remember and recall detailed information, names, faces and facts. ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 5 Appraise situations and people accurately and quickly and adopt an effective course of action. Properly use firearms and other work-related equipment; operate motor vehicles in a responsible manner, on and off the road under a variety of weather conditions and circumstances. Properly apply self-defense tactics. Provide basic CPR and first aid medical assistance to injured persons. Provide credible testimony in a court of law. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Deal courteously, yet firmly and effectively with the public in police situations. Deal effectively with persons of various socio-economic and educational backgrounds. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Maintain detailed, accurate records and prepare clear and concise reports as required. Use a computer for word processing and records management. Make required calculations accurately as required. Meet the physical requirements necessary for successful job performance. Deputy Sheriff II: (In addition to the above requirements) Initiate and complete routine and complex investigations. Analyze problems encountered in areas of responsibility, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations. Draw valid conclusions from a given set of facts, and articulate facts in support of an arrest warrant. Plan and execute arrest warrants. Brief and lead other officers in investigative and search and rescue operations. ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 6 Exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines. Effectively use computers for record-keeping and report preparation. Education: (for both Deputy Sheriff I and II) High school diploma or GED equivalent. Completion of college-level coursework leading to an Associate’s degree in criminal justice, police science or closely related field is desirable. Experience: Deputy Sheriff I: Experience in local law enforcement is desirable. Deputy Sheriff II: One year as a Deputy Sheriff I in Alpine County or two years in other local law enforcement. Other Requirements: Deputy Sheriff I: Possession of a valid California driver’s license. Possession of a Basic P.O.S.T. certificate. Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a public safety CPR certificate. Deputy Sheriff II: Possession of a valid California driver’s license. Possession of Basic P.O.S.T. certificate; an Intermediate P.O.S.T. certificate is desirable. Possession of a public safety CPR certificate. TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requires the mobility to work in an office and field environment. Requires the ability to sit, walk, stand, run, jump, climb, balance, bend, squat, twist and reach while performing office duties and police work; lift and/or move the average weight of a person (approximately 165 pounds) and take physical charge of a person in rescue or restraint situations; use hands ---PAGE BREAK--- Deputy Sheriff I / II Page 7 to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools and controls. Must be able to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating firearms and other law enforcement equipment; must be able to hear normal speech and other audible events, even in combination with other environmental and equipment noise. Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen. Requires the strength and stamina to perform law enforcement duties, including handling firearms, pursuing suspects and making arrests, retraining uncooperative persons, performing search and rescue operations, and driving a motor vehicle.