Job Description
Applicants must be certified with the State of South Dakota to be considered.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office invites applications for a Deputy Sheriff position. This individual will provide law enforcement services to maintain law and order throughout Lincoln County. Responsibilities include investigating illegal or suspicious activities and completing and maintaining accurate records and reports.
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Offers:
• State-of-the-art equipment
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Family-like culture
• 10-hour shifts with rotating weekends off
• Take home vehicle for those that live in Lincoln County (living in the county is not required)
• Strong community support
In addition to a lucrative benefits package, Lincoln County Certified Law Enforcement Officers also receive:
• Additional 3.5% per hour night shift differential
• Additional 3.5% per hour weekend shift differential
• Additional 2% per hour for those selected by the Sheriff to be a Field Training Officer
• Additional 3% per hour for those selected by the Sheriff to be a Detective/Civil Deputy
• Overtime available
• Employee Assistance Program – 5 free sessions available for employees and their immediate family members
$7,500 Hiring Bonus Available!
To be Eligible for the Hiring Bonus:
- Must successfully complete the recruitment process and pre-employment background requirements.
- Must be a current Certified Law Enforcement Officer in the State of South Dakota by the position deadline or another state AND successfully complete and pass the reciprocity exam within one year of employment.
- Must be in good standing with the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission and/or the state in which the incumbent received law enforcement certification.
- Selected and eligible individuals who are currently South Dakota certified will receive:
- $2,000 in the first payroll after time of hire
- $1,000 in the payroll following 6 months of hire
- $1,000 in the payroll following 12 months of hire
- $1,000 in the payroll following 18 months of hire
- $2,500 in the payroll following 24 months of hire
- Must maintain satisfactory performance.
***If the Candidate's employment with Lincoln County terminates less than 6 months after the Start Date, the Candidate agrees to repay 100% of the first bonus of $2,000. The Candidate further agrees that they will repay the bonus by no later than the effective date of the employment termination and that any outstanding balance on such repayment obligation is delinquent and immediately collectible the day following the effective date of termination. ***
Certified applicants will be given preference in the selection process and will not need to take a written examination but will need to attach their law enforcement certification to the application. Upon the position closing, those that meet the qualifications will be contacted to schedule an interview.
If there is not a certified applicant that meets the Sheriff’s criteria and qualifications, then un-certified applicants that meet the minimum qualifications of the position will be considered and will be contacted.
Examples of Duties Include:
- Conduct vehicular patrol within the county perimeters, respond to calls for service, investigate the scenes of accidents and make reports appropriately.
- Perform security checks of the perimeter and checks of the buildings and grounds. Patrol assigned area to enforce laws, issue citations for traffic violations, investigate crimes, collect evidence, conduct interviews, and arrests violators. Investigate illegal or suspicious activities of persons, quell disturbances and arrest law violators. Coordinate investigations with other agencies.
- Assume control at traffic accidents to maintain traffic flow, assist accident victims and investigate causes of accidents.
- Conduct area security checks with business and residences within the county.
- Load, unload, aim and fire approved department firearms and meet qualification standards.
- Prepare and serve warrants, subpoenas, summonses, etc. Confirm warrants. Locate and take persons into custody on arrest warrants.
- Monitor communication channels, monitor dispatch calls, provide notification of accidents and emergencies, supervise response to emergency situations.
- Respond to questions, complaints and requests for information/assistance from the public, media, legal and medical staff, various agencies, etc., administer first aid and CPR, maintain weapons, vehicle, and equipment. Maintain and monitor the security of keys and equipment.
- Provide protection to the courts and court officials, employees, witnesses, jurors, defendants, and the general public. Attend hearings and court proceedings as necessary.
- Complete case reports of every action taken on the job, ensure all activity is properly documented.
- Conduct follow up investigations in order to complete case reports for processing of case closure or further prosecution.
- Assist new deputies with learning training and procedure protocols, keep current on changing protocols for the department.
- Ensure all authority is being exercised consistently under the oath of office.
- This position may include forensics, detective, 24/7 coordinator and/or jail coordinator responsibilities.
- Prepare case files for trials; provide records and reports; provide summaries of victim and witness accounts and impact statements, conduct additional investigations, assist prosecutors in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of cases, and provide testimony at legal proceedings.
- Identify, collect and preserve physical evidence from crime scenes, ensure all evidence is documented, packaged and preserved appropriately, ensure photographic and video documentation of crime scenes and traffic accidents is collected and documented.
- Recover impression evidence employing a variety of casting materials and recovery methodologies.
- Communicate with victims of crimes, witnesses, law enforcement, and other involved agencies or entities, law enforcement, and other parties, explain legal processes to clients and prepare them for the court process, interview victims and witnesses, refer and coordinate services for victims and witnesses within and outside the criminal justice system, including Crime Victims Compensation, social service agencies, and other service providers, and monitor offender progress in court ordered treatment programs.
- Evaluate and address evidence deficiencies, obtain reports and records, obtain, copy, edit, and prepare evidence for courtroom presentation, provide for the physical transfer of evidence to and from the courthouse for legal proceedings, provide for the release and return of all evidence after cases are closed and appeals are expired, and oversee the security and storage of cold case and closed case files.
- Complete inmate paperwork, fingerprinting, photographing, data entry, and conducts NCIC and other checks for outstanding warrants, protection orders, etc.
- Place testing units on clients to obtain breath samples from 24/7 program clients. Communicate with the client to obtain required information.
- Maintain client records for the 24/7 program.
- Observe client account balance and collect cash payment from clients and issue appropriate change.
- Perform routine patrols of all schools within the county, conduct lock down drills in schools, investigate school crimes, teach "I Can" student program, and assist school officials with truant students.
- Transport or escort prisoners between courtrooms, prison, jail and medical facilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
Two years of college (Associate's degree) or vocational school in criminal justice, or a closely related field; or two years of work experience as a certified law enforcement officer; or two years of active, full-time military experience; or four years of military reserve experience; or four years of relevant work experience. Comparable combination of education and experience may be considered. Must pass a physical examination and a pre-employment drug test. Must be age 21 at the time of hiring.
**To be considered, candidates must submit transcripts, proof of law enforcement certification, or DD214 by attaching the documents to the online application or by submitting the documents to Human Resources. Please contact Human Resources with questions at 605-764-6609 or hr@lincolncountysd.org.**
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, business, social science, or a closely related field plus three years; work experience as a certified law enforcement officer; three years of active, full-time military experience; five years of military reserve experience; or five years of comparable combination of education and experience. Experience/Knowledge with processing and preservation of physical evidence such as fingerprints, firearm evidence, physiological fluids, shoe and tire impressions. Knowledge of technical equipment for copying and editing patrol car videos and/or outside surveillance and media.