For answers to frequently asked questions specific to recruitments for the Sheriff's Office
This recruitment will be used for testing for the calendar year 2026. Tentative test dates are below.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office is currently accepting applications for Deputy Sheriff Trainee, Deputy Sheriff I, and Deputy Sheriff II. Please review individual job postings for the minimum qualifications required at each level. To participate at the Trainee level, I level, or II level, you must complete and submit separate applications for each recruitment:
Deputy Sheriff - Trainee #2026-16300-01
Deputy Sheriff - I #2026-16321-01
Qualified applicants will undergo an extensive background investigation to determine if they meet the high standards set by the Sheriff's Office in the areas including, but not limited to: high moral character, honesty, and exemplary work ethic. The Sheriff's Office also highly values those with a positive attitude toward fellow workers and the community they will be serving. Upon successful graduation from the POST Academy, Deputy Sheriff Trainee incumbents are automatically placed into the Deputy Sheriff I classification. Deputy Sheriff assignment locations may include Auburn, South Placer, or Tahoe.
This continuous recruitment will remain open for the calendar year, or until the final filing date, whichever occurs first. The eligible list established from this continuous recruitment will expire by the end of the calendar year. Applicants will be eligible to reapply and take an examination if a new recruitment opens the following calendar year.
Examinations will be scheduled throughout the year as applications are received. Qualified applicants will be notified of their testing date via email once the examination date has been scheduled.
Qualified applications received by August 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. will be invited to participate in the written examination the week of September 7, 2026.
You will receive an e-mail notification regarding the next steps in the recruitment process within a week of the cut-off date listed above.
Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.
To perform law enforcement, community-based policing, and crime prevention work within a variety of assignments, including to patrol assigned area and enforce state and local laws, to conduct investigations of misdemeanor and felony crimes, to supervise inmates in correctional facilities, to investigate and conduct coroner cases, and to ensure court security.
This is the entry level class in the sworn Deputy Sheriff series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.
Progression from this class is dependent upon continuing acquisition and development of knowledge, techniques, and skills in law enforcement work. This class is distinguished from Deputy Sheriff Trainee in that the Trainee is a training class for incumbents who have not completed the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Regular Basic Course/ Academy.
Receives immediate supervision from a Sergeant and technical and functional supervision from a Field Training Officer or other designated sworn personnel.
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Maintain law and order within the County by performing law enforcement activities in a variety of assignments.
When assigned to Patrol, patrol an assigned area by motor vehicle, on foot, or by other designated means to answer calls for the protection of life and property and the enforcement of County and state laws; conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, robberies, deaths and other criminal incidents; direct traffic and detain drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; issue citations and make arrests as necessary; investigate coroner cases, coordinate decedent removals to the morgue, and make death notifications.
When assigned to Investigations, investigate major crimes against property and persons, in addition to narcotics and vice-related crimes; conduct extensive follow-up investigation at the scene of crimes and accidents; gather evidence; conduct surveillance; locate and question witnesses; take statements from witnesses; present information to the District Attorney's office for filing charges; appear in court, as directed.
When assigned to Court Security, maintain safety and security for all personnel in the courtroom; act as bailiff in courtroom; transfer inmates to and from the courts and correctional facilities; search individuals entering the court when necessary; at all times, monitor all courtroom activities to anticipate any safety concerns; assist other courtroom personnel in ensuring smooth operation of the courtroom.
When assigned to Civil, serve civil and criminal subpoenas, summons, complaints, executions, attachments, and court orders; interview witnesses, neighbors, or other persons to gather information for investigations or the service of legal documents; determine daily geographical route and item schedule to maximize the service of legal documents.
When assigned to Corrections, receive, search, book, fingerprint, and guard prisoners in the jail or other prisoner holding facilities; supervise prisoners at work, in transport, during visit conferences, and other activities; prepare prisoners for court, visits from attorneys, and for the prisoner's transfer and release; transport prisoners between the jail and the courts.
- Make arrests as necessary; interview victims, complainants, and witnesses; interrogate suspects; gather and preserve evidence; testify and present evidence in court.
- Gather evidence using a variety of methods and techniques, including taking photographs, lifting fingerprints, tracing movements, and talking with informants.
Serve warrants and subpoenas; file complaints; prepare, process, and maintain necessary files, documents, and reports; perform other work related to the processing of misdemeanor and felony complaints.
Prepare detailed reports on all activities; write reports on arrests, traffic violations, inmate conflicts, impounded property, and other situations; maintain Sheriff's Office records and files when necessary.
Receive and investigate complaints of violations by or against juveniles; confer with juveniles and their parents; prepare citations for Juvenile Court.
May be assigned to canine patrol duty.
Check buildings for physical security; report street lamps or traffic signals that are not working; report or remove traffic hazards; report and take corrective action on other conditions detrimental to the general public.
Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
Attend meetings with civic groups; participate in and conduct public awareness/education programs at schools.
Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems, work collaboratively with the community to solve problems, and preserve good relationships with the public.
Substantiate findings in court; testify when necessary in court.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
Provide adequate staffing and shift coverage, as needed.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Work is typically performed outdoors in all weather conditions and in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions. Duties are performed in close proximity to moving vehicles, individuals who may be dangerous and/or uncooperative, firearms and other weapons, and other environmental conditions related to law enforcement field work.
It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.
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 required.
Training: Completion of the twelfth grade or GED.
Required License or Certificate:
Possession of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified Regular Basic course completion certificate or equivalency 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:
- Basic principles and practices of law enforcement.
Ability to:
- Read and understand Sheriff's Office policies, rules, instructions, laws, ordinances, and general literature pertaining to law enforcement activities.
- On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; 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 individuals, behaviors, situations, and activities relevant to area of assignment; 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; explain law to public.
- On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in a vehicle; walk and stand for long periods of time; 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 manipulation; see with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions; hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate through written means; continuously wear utility belt and other law enforcement equipment of approximately 30 pounds; intermittently lift very heavy weight.
- Successfully complete required Field and Jail Training Programs, including meeting all Sheriff's Office minimum standards and requirements for deputies.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Write accurately and legibly with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
- Analyze situations accurately; adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions under a variety of conditions.
- Demonstrate keen powers of observation and memory; observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places.
- Understand and follow written and oral directions.
- Keep accurate records and submit clear reports.
- Learn to use and care for small firearms and other law enforcement equipment and tools to meet Sheriff's Office requirements and standards.
- Work courteously, but firmly with the public to support community-based policing efforts and solve matters of crime, disorder, safety, etc.
- Resolve conflicts in an effective manner; employ de-escalation techniques when safe and reasonable.
- 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.
- Maintain physical, emotional, and mental condition to satisfactorily perform the functions of the position; meet and maintain required peace officer employment standards to safely and effectively perform assigned duties.
- Work under physical and mental pressure and in potentially hazardous situations.
- Work irregular or prolonged hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, shift work, and/or overtime.
Written Examination (100%)
The written examination consists of the POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB). T-scores received from this examination will determine applicant ranking on the eligible list.
NOTE: Applicants who have already taken the POST PELLETB exam within twelve (12) months of their scheduled testing date may attach their official score report notice (including agency name, exam name, exam date, and exam scores) to their application materials to forward their scores to Placer County. Different agencies use different cutoff scores for the PELLETB exam. Therefore, it is possible for an applicant to pass the exam with one agency and fail it with another using the same score.
NOTE: Per California POST, applicants may not take the PELLETB exam more than once within a thirty (30) day calendar period. Applicants who have already taken the PELLETB exam within 30 days of a Placer County exam administration will not be permitted to test again.
Examinations will be scheduled throughout the year as applications are received. Qualified applicants will be notified of their scheduled testing date via email.
The written examination has been tentatively scheduled for the week of September 7, 2026
Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of eighteen (18) months.
Bargaining Unit:
Deputy Sheriff's Association - Safety
Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.
The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.
Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process.
Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.
