Placer County

(Non-Sworn)

To attend a course of study necessary to complete the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Regular Basic Course/ Academy to become a peace officer.

The Deputy Sheriff Trainee is a recruiting and training level classification established to qualify candidates for duties as a Deputy Sheriff I in the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Incumbents of this class undergo a formal and comprehensive training program in a California POST-certified academy. Incumbency in this class is limited to a period not to exceed twelve months and to those who have not completed the POST Regular Basic Course/ Academy. Positions in this class are distinguished from Deputy Sheriff I in that the Deputy Sheriff Trainee position is a non-sworn classification which has no peace officer powers. Upon satisfactory completion of  training and graduation from the academy, the trainee will be sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff I with full peace officer powers. Failure to successfully complete training and graduate from the academy will result in termination.

Receives immediate supervision from supervisors and training staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

As a trainee, receive instructions and perform the following duties in a learning capacity:

• Learn to identify and utilize principles and techniques that promote community service and community-based policing, crime prevention, and appropriate behavior; learn enforcement and procedural aspects of criminal laws and the legal obligations inherent in enforcement of those laws.
• Learn to proficiently apply the rules of evidence; communicate effectively and professionally through written, oral, and mechanical media.
• Learn to operate an emergency vehicle, including skid training, high speed pursuit, defensive driving, and emergency driving; firearm training to learn good judgement and competency in the use of deadly force, ancillary police weaponry, and weaponless defense.
• Learn to safely and effectively accomplish the patrol function consisting of patrolling a designated area of the County in a patrol car in order to preserve law and order and to prevent and discover the commission of crimes; effectively dealing with common vehicle violations by learning to recognize the violations, locating the violations in the Vehicle Code, and safely and professionally contacting the violator.
• Learn basic criminal investigation processes and techniques, including the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence, courtroom testimony, and witness interrogation.
• Learn to process, confine and care for adult and juvenile prisoners in such a manner as to protect the prisoner's rights and welfare.
• Learn physical fitness and self-defense techniques programs; first aid, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques; and other related course or programs as required.
• Attend all required academy and Sheriff's Office trainings as scheduled, including nights and weekends when necessary. 
• Perform related duties as assigned. 

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No experience is required.

Training: Completion of the twelfth grade or GED.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Special Qualifications:
Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment. 

Knowledge of:

• No previous law enforcement knowledge is necessary.

Ability to:

• Acquire, through training, a knowledge of modern approved law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures; state laws, local ordinances, and first aid.
• Intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; remember accounts given by witnesses; identify crime suspects; interpret and apply the law to field situations; observe while in the field; problem solve crime situations; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in a vehicle; walk and stand for long periods of time during field activities; bend, twist, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to access office and field work equipment and to perform field duties; climb stairs and/or ladders; twist while making arrests; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulations; see with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions; hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; use telephone, write, and use keyboard to communicate through written means; continuously wear utility belt and other law enforcement equipment of approximately 30 pounds; intermittently lift very heavy weight. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 
• Write accurately, and legibly with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for law enforcement work.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions; observe, assimilate, remember, record, and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a radio system.
• Apply selected knowledge (e.g., laws, statutes, court decisions, Sherriff's Office policies, criminal investigation theories, etc.) in collecting, organizing, and analyzing diverse information to decide upon an appropriate and reasonable course of action.
• Analyze problems and have the potential to rationally and calmly take appropriate action in emergency and stressful situations; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions within a variety of circumstances; employ de-escalation techniques when safe and reasonable. 
• Plan and effectively present material to large and diverse groups of people.
• Work courteously, but firmly, with the public to support community-based policing efforts and solve matters of crime, disorder, safety, etc.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Develop skill in the use of firearms and other law enforcement tools.
• Undergo strenuous physical conditioning.
• Work irregular or prolonged hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, shift work, and/or overtime.