Detention Deputy
Olmsted County has earned the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work - Southeast Minnesota designation.
Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience
Olmsted County offers competitive wages and benefits.
Experience is taken into consideration when determining starting wage.
Expected starting salary is $25.62. Full salary range is $25.62- $40.80.
The purpose of the Detention Deputy application process is to create an eligibility roster for entrance into the Olmsted County Sheriff's Department. The Detention Deputy roster is valid for one (1) year with exact dates established by the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. As vacancies in the department arise, individuals will be hired from the roster. Starting salary for Detention Deputies is currently $53,300 per year (2024 rate). Benefits of health, life, dental, vision insurance, sick leave, vacation, holidays, retirement plan, tuition reimbursement and shift differential pay are available. Olmsted County does not have a residency requirement but does require that a Detention Deputy live within fifty (50) miles of the Law Enforcement Center.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLYING AND TESTING
1) High school graduate or equivalent. Social and general intelligence
2) History as a responsible, reliable, U.S. citizen.
3) Physical agility and good coordination:
- Physically on your feet the majority of a given work day
- Continually walking up and down stairs conducting well-being checks
- Being involved in or breaking up physical altercations
- Ability to drag a human body in the event of an emergency
- Basic muscle movement strength and coordination
- Punch
- Kick
- Block
- Avoidance
4) Shall not have been convicted of a felony in this state or in any federal jurisdiction, or an offense in any other state or federal jurisdiction, which would have been a felony if committed in Minnesota.
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid Minnesota driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
HIRING PROCESS
The steps listed below are followed in sequence. Failure at any step removes the applicant from any further consideration from that point on. Applicants will be notified of their status after each step.
1) APPLICATIONS
Applicants must fully complete and submit the application form online by the closing date or return the application postmarked by the closing date. Applications will be accepted only from those who currently meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants must identify on their applications which qualifications they meet.
2) ORAL INTERVIEWS
Oral examinations consist of two interviews, each scheduled for thirty-minute timeslots. The second interview occurs immediately after the first. The members of the interview panels ask a series of predetermined questions and assign a numeric score to each response.
Candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each of the two interviews in order to proceed to the next step.
Interviews and Strength & Agility exams will be scheduled the week of:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLYING AND TESTING
1) High school graduate or equivalent. Social and general intelligence
2) History as a responsible, reliable, U.S. citizen.
3) Physical agility and good coordination:
- Physically on your feet the majority of a given work day
- Continually walking up and down stairs conducting well-being checks
- Being involved in or breaking up physical altercations
- Ability to drag a human body in the event of an emergency
- Basic muscle movement strength and coordination
- Punch
- Kick
- Block
- Avoidance
4) Shall not have been convicted of a felony in this state or in any federal jurisdiction, or an offense in any other state or federal jurisdiction, which would have been a felony if committed in Minnesota.
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid Minnesota driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
HIRING PROCESS
The steps listed below are followed in sequence. Failure at any step removes the applicant from any further consideration from that point on. Applicants will be notified of their status after each step.
1) APPLICATIONS
Applicants must fully complete and submit the application form online by the closing date or return the application postmarked by the closing date. Applications will be accepted only from those who currently meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants must identify on their applications which qualifications they meet.
2) ORAL INTERVIEWS
Oral examinations consist of two interviews, each scheduled for thirty-minute timeslots. The second interview occurs immediately after the first. The members of the interview panels ask a series of predetermined questions and assign a numeric score to each response.
Candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each of the two interviews in order to proceed to the next step.
Interviews and Strength & Agility exams will be scheduled the week of:
Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15, 2024
Examination dates are tentative and subject to change. Eligible candidates will receive communication regarding scheduling.
3) STRENGTH AND AGILITY EXAMINATION
The Strength & Agility examination will consist of a course that tests the applicant's strength and endurance. This exam is on the same day as the interviews after completion of the oral interviews. Restroom and changing facilities will be made available for candidates to change clothes following the interviews.
This examination is pass/fail.
Applicants will be required to sign a waiver of liability prior to the test.
4) ELIGIBILITY ROSTER
Applicants who pass the strength and agility examination are placed on an eligibility roster in numerical order, with the highest scoring applicant at the top of the list. Veterans who have notified Human Resources of their election to use their veteran preference points preference points or disabled veteran preference points and who have provided the Human Resources Department with a copy of their DD214 will have their points added to their total score before they are ranked on the eligibility roster. Anyone providing a DD214 at a later date will have their points added at that time and will be placed on the roster accordingly. Veterans currently receiving a retirement pension shall not be given the additional points.
The completed eligibility roster is presented to the Civil Service Commission for certification before it is presented to the Sheriff. Candidates on the eligibility roster have an ongoing obligation to provide updated information about their license eligibility status or the existence of a current license with another law enforcement agency
Applicants placed on the eligibility roster must successfully pass the following steps to be eligible for employment:
5) CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER
The top seven candidates on the eligibility roster are reviewed by the Sheriff to fill vacancies as they arise. After selecting a candidate for appointment, the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee makes a conditional job offer to the candidate.
6) BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Pass/Fail. The applicant must complete an extensive background application providing information from which the applicant's background can be checked. This investigation includes, but is not limited to, such areas as personal references, fingerprint check, driving record check, credit check, education, employment history and military services, etc..
7) PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Pass/Fail. The applicant must pass a psychological evaluation arranged/approved by the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the presence of any mental or emotional condition, which might adversely affect performance as a Detention Deputy.
8) MEDICAL EVALUATION
Pass/Fail. Applicants must pass a rigorous medical examination as prescribed by the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission. All medical exams will be reviewed by the Commission's medical consultant and determined as pass/fail. A drug test will be given at this time.
9) APPOINTMENT
Candidates who pass Steps 6-8 will be appointed to the position Deputy Sheriff.
10) EVALUATION PERIOD:
Detention Deputies serve a one-year evaluation period in which the Deputy's job performance is periodically reviewed to determine his/her future status with the department.
3) STRENGTH AND AGILITY EXAMINATION
The Strength & Agility examination will consist of a course that tests the applicant's strength and endurance. This exam is on the same day as the interviews after completion of the oral interviews. Restroom and changing facilities will be made available for candidates to change clothes following the interviews.
This examination is pass/fail.
Applicants will be required to sign a waiver of liability prior to the test.
4) ELIGIBILITY ROSTER
Applicants who pass the strength and agility examination are placed on an eligibility roster in numerical order, with the highest scoring applicant at the top of the list. Veterans who have notified Human Resources of their election to use their veteran preference points preference points or disabled veteran preference points and who have provided the Human Resources Department with a copy of their DD214 will have their points added to their total score before they are ranked on the eligibility roster. Anyone providing a DD214 at a later date will have their points added at that time and will be placed on the roster accordingly. Veterans currently receiving a retirement pension shall not be given the additional points.
The completed eligibility roster is presented to the Civil Service Commission for certification before it is presented to the Sheriff. Candidates on the eligibility roster have an ongoing obligation to provide updated information about their license eligibility status or the existence of a current license with another law enforcement agency
Applicants placed on the eligibility roster must successfully pass the following steps to be eligible for employment:
5) CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER
The top seven candidates on the eligibility roster are reviewed by the Sheriff to fill vacancies as they arise. After selecting a candidate for appointment, the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee makes a conditional job offer to the candidate.
6) BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Pass/Fail. The applicant must complete an extensive background application providing information from which the applicant's background can be checked. This investigation includes, but is not limited to, such areas as personal references, fingerprint check, driving record check, credit check, education, employment history and military services, etc..
7) PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Pass/Fail. The applicant must pass a psychological evaluation arranged/approved by the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the presence of any mental or emotional condition, which might adversely affect performance as a Detention Deputy.
8) MEDICAL EVALUATION
Pass/Fail. Applicants must pass a rigorous medical examination as prescribed by the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission. All medical exams will be reviewed by the Commission's medical consultant and determined as pass/fail. A drug test will be given at this time.
9) APPOINTMENT
Candidates who pass Steps 6-8 will be appointed to the position Deputy Sheriff.
10) EVALUATION PERIOD:
Detention Deputies serve a one-year evaluation period in which the Deputy's job performance is periodically reviewed to determine his/her future status with the department.
Nature of Work
Under supervision, is responsible for managing detainee behavior through direct supervision and progressive discipline. Cares for and maintains the security and well-being of detainees. This includes observing, conducting safety and security inspections, providing access to health care facilities, conducting housing, feeding, bedding and well-being activities, and maintaining accurate intake, care and release records, including body searches, fingerprinting, photographing and work details
Examples of Work
- Operates master control: supervises and controls movement of detainees, staff and visitors throughout the facility including duress alarm and weather alerts. Dispatches appropriate assistance to emergencies.
- Supervises housing units: monitors and observes inmate movement, activities, and healthcare, controls access and egress, assists detainees in organizing and adequately performing housekeeping activities. Monitors detainee health and well-being.
- Supervises visitation: screens all visitors to prevent unauthorized visitors, inspects and searches for contraband, observes behavior of detainees and visitors to ensure appropriateness and compliance with regulations.
- Processes intakes and releases: conducts searches of arrestants, handles detainee property, fingerprints and photographs to ensure correct identification, maintains facility security and prevents property loss. Collects and processes fees. Follows up on detainees on work release.
- Processes gun permit applications.
- Supervises detainees outside the facility performing sentence to serve projects in collaboration with community partners.
- Coordinates and implements training plans for staff in collaboration with the training Sergeant and Captain.
- Transports detainees to court and transcribes court minutes into records system.
- Responds to various emergencies providing necessary assistance.
- Transports detainees: operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner and in compliance with operating standards and State regulations, uses all security and restraint equipment provided for detainees in a correct and authorized manner to ensure against escapes and incidents.
- Performs related work as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Ability to learn the State laws relating to criminal acts and the control of the behavior of citizens
- Ability to learn the custodial care and rights of prisoners
- Ability to learn first aid
- Ability to learn County regulations and general aptitude for dealing with prisoners
- Ability to relate positively with people
- Ability to act decisively under difficult circumstances
- Ability to type, photograph and fingerprint or to learn same in the minimum amount of time
- Ability to treat the public courteously with firmness when the occasion demands
- Ability to make intelligent reports
- Ability to type or learn basic typing and data entry skills within 60 day period after employment
- Ability to learn the operation of department radio
- Ability to physically meet the demands of the job
- Ability to meet employee random/reasonable cause drug testing program
Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.
Olmsted County
Cassandra Ray, Recruiter
