An Overview
The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office is recruiting qualified applicants for a law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff I. We are seeking candidates dedicated to serving the community with honor, respect, and courage. You must have unquestioned integrity and a commitment to serve others in this rewarding profession. Applicants for the position of Deputy Sheriff I should possess exceptional flexibility, with a willingness to work both day and night shifts, weekends, and holidays as assigned. We are accepting applications on a continual basis and will notify candidates of the opportunity to attend the first component of our selection process when it is scheduled.
Deputy Sheriffs primarily work in the Office’s direct supervision adult Detention Center, which houses approximately 350 adult inmates. Deputies manage inmate living units, handle inmate discipline, respond to inmate requests, supervise inmates’ day-to-day activities, and resolve various problems. Other responsibilities of a Deputy Sheriff outside of the Detention Center include service of court papers, warrant execution, courthouse/courtroom security, prisoner transportation, community engagement, and general law enforcement duties within the City of Alexandria.
All newly hired Deputy Sheriffs will begin their career working in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. Deputies work a 12.5-hour shift of either days or nights. All shifts work approximately 15 days per month, which equals 87.5 hours every two-week pay period.
Entry-level salary for deputies is $62,295.74, plus built-in overtime for Detention Center deputies, averaging more than $6,000 per year.
Application Review Schedule
This position is advertised on a continuous basis. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a bi-weekly schedule, and qualified applicants will be contacted to begin the hiring process.
What You Should Bring
Integrity – The Alexandria Sheriff's Office believes that integrity is central to everything we do and is key to maintaining the trust of our citizens, colleagues, and criminal justice partners.
Respect – We protect the dignity of others and value human life above all else.
Excellence – We strive to do the best we can in everything we do.
Accountability - We are accountable to the citizens we serve, those committed to the care of the Sheriff, and our colleagues.
Flexibility – The dynamic nature of the work of a Deputy Sheriff requires candidates to be flexible in both their schedule and work assignments in order to assist with achieving the Office's objectives.
The Opportunity
Deputy Sheriffs work a 12.5-hour shift, during daytime or nighttime hours, on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. As this position is physically demanding, you should possess a satisfactory level of physical fitness. Applicants will be scheduled for a complete medical exam and must be cleared by a physician to perform the duties required of a Deputy Sheriff. You will need to be, and remain, flexible throughout your career as a Deputy Sheriff. There are occasions when you may be required to report for work early or stay after your normal shift has ended. Newly hired deputies will be assigned to work inside the Adult Detention Center, supervising male and female inmates who are committed to the jail for a variety of criminal offenses and for varying lengths of time. You will need to be a team player and have excellent communication and problem-solving skills. You will need to be able to adapt to rapidly changing situations and may need to use physical force to protect inmates or other staff from injury or death.
Candidates who are currently certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) as a Deputy Sheriff, Law Enforcement Officer, or both, are highly desired by the Alexandria Sheriff's Office. Current DCJS certifications and previous years of service as a deputy or law enforcement officer will be considered for starting salary determination. Applicants meeting these certification requirements are asked to apply via this link.
Hiring Process Information
The hiring process for this position consists of the following steps:
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Initial application
- Office orientation
- Aptitude assessment
- Physical assessment
- Polygraph examination
- Psychological examination
- Medical examination
- Comprehensive background investigation
- Sheriff's interview
- Job offer
Failure at any step of the hiring process may result in elimination from the process. The following factors are minimum standards which, if not met, are disqualifying for appointment to the position of Deputy Sheriff I with the Alexandria Sheriff's Office:
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Must have reached 20 years old at the time of initial application.
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must have received a high school diploma or GED.
- Must be a United States citizen, or lawfully present, and have begun the process of naturalization through USCIS.
- Must not have been convicted of, nor pled guilty or no contest to, a felony offense, or to an offense committed in another state which would be classified as a felony in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Must not have been convicted, pled guilty, or no contest to any misdemeanor crime involving moral turpitude, a misdemeanor sex offense, or related to domestic violence.
- Must not be listed as the respondent to a protective order.
- Must not have been dishonorably discharged from any branch of the United States Military.
The following examples are provided as examples of situations that may be disqualifying and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- False Information
- Evidence that the applicant has willfully provided false or misleading information during the application or screening process, either orally or in writing.
- Discrepancy of information or misinformation given on the background questionnaire or in reference to employment. Information on these forms will be verified through the polygraph examination and the background investigation.
- Any circumstance that causes the applicant to be uninsurable to drive a motor vehicle.
- Dishonorable discharge from any branch of the United States Military.
- Failure to keep an appointment at any step of the hiring process without prior approval from the Sheriff's Office.
- Failure to meet the minimum standards described in this announcement.
- Failure to notify the Office of a change in current address and/or telephone number.
- Behavior(s) that do not necessarily reach the level of severity of the disqualifying information listed above but may still be a basis for rejection after consideration of each case on its individual merits.
- With the exception of a wedding band tattoo on each finger, face, neck, or hand, tattoos are prohibited for applicants but may be waived at the discretion of the Sheriff.
The Ideal Candidate
To be considered an ideal candidate, one must meet all minimum qualifications and also possess the proven ability to deal courteously with others and exercise sound judgment and common sense even under stress. You must be able to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and prepare clear and concise written reports. A deputy will be required to physically perform the required tasks of the position and act quickly, calmly, and effectively in stressful situations.
If you have any questions or need to request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact our recruitment team via email ([email protected]) or by telephone at 703-746-5009, weekdays between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
We welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!
Click here to learn more about Employee Benefits
Click here to learn more about the City's Employee Development Program
The benefits referenced on this site may be changed from time to time without notice. For further information, please contact the Benefits and Records Division of the Human Resources Department at 703.746.3785.
