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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR JOB APPLICANTS

 The Orange County online applications for sworn positions are periodically accepted during scheduled windows of opportunity.  (See below for details and opening/closing dates.)  During administrative periods when the OCSO is not accepting applications, you are strongly encouraged to start the screening process by taking advantage of the pre-application Competitive Assessment (click on link below).  This professional service is offered as a courtesy and carries no obligation. 

  Click HERE to apply and/or to update your application
             and/or to take the Competitive Assessment 

 

The Orange County Sheriff's Office prides itself with hiring highly qualified candidates of the highest integrity for all positions.  We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who strives to reflect the diversity found in our community.  We are aggressively modernizing the agency as Orange County continues to lead the nation in growth.  Law enforcement careers are dramatically accelerated as a function of area expansion.  We incorporate cutting edge technology with state of the art training to ensure our Deputies fight and survive while making a daily difference. 

Qualifications

 The Orange County Sheriff's Office is a highly respected professional law enforcement agency.  We hire only the best and most qualified candidates available.  We process thousands of candidates throughout the year and only a small percentage are offered a job.  

The process for becoming a Deputy Sheriff is very competitive.  Candidates who meet only the minimum requirements or who have concerns are generally not considered competitive. 

 

The ideal candidate possesses related work experience, college, and/or military experience.  A strong candidate has favorable work history, driving history, credit ratings, and a low incident rate of substance abuse.  Click on the link above to take a courtesy assessment to determine if you are competitive.

Minimum Requirements:

• Two years of college, military or law enforcement related experience or any combination thereof, or two years full-time law enforcement experience.
• H.S. or GED diploma 
• At least 20 years of age
• U.S. Citizen
• Valid drivers license for the last year and have no more than two moving violations over the past three years.  No DUI convictions for past 5 years.  Other driving history will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• Must not have been convicted of a felony. Must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral character, false statements, perjury or domestic violence.
• Must never have received a dishonorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces
• No illegal drug usage over the past three years.  Other drug usage will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• Good physical condition
• Vision of 20/40 corrected or better

 All candidates for deputy positions will participate in the following steps:

• Online application
• Written Skills Test
• Voice Stress Analysis (truth verification)
• Panel Interview
• Ride-along with deputy may be required
• Swim Test
• Complete Background Check
• Physical Fitness Test (for academy sponsorship candidates) (1.5 mile run in 18 minutes or less; 15 push-ups in 1 minute; 25 sit-ups in 1 minute)
• Medical exam & drug screen (after conditional job offer)
• Psychological Evaluation (after conditional job offer)

Once selected for processing, candidates for academy sponsorship must take the Basic Abilities Test (BAT) available at any law enforcement academy in the State of Florida. 

Candidates can expect to hear from us by phone or mail in approximately 2-4 weeks.  Processing time for sworn positions will vary depending on the positions being processed and information in the candidate's file.  The average time is 4-6 months.  Some applications are placed in a pool for future openings.

Sworn Positions/Deputy Sheriff

• Certified -- OPEN 
• Court -- OPEN
• Reserves (already certified) -- OPEN
• Sponsorships -- OPEN through February 15, 2012

Deputy Sheriffs are responsible for the protection of life and property and the enforcement of laws and regulations. This work involves an element of personal danger and frequent contact with the public during routine and emergency situations.

Salary 

• $37,523 per year or $38,667 with 3+ years experience 
• Eligible for shift differential pay for evenings and midnights after completing probation
• Eligible for sworn incentive monies for education and training

Benefits – All full-time employees of the Orange County Sheriff's Office receive an excellent benefits and compensation package. 

• Sheriff contributes majority of cost for medical coverage
• Life insurance and long term disability insurance is provided by Sheriff; employees may elect to purchase additional coverage 
• Retirement benefits are provided by the Florida Retirement System  
• Uniforms, weapons, and other equipment furnished
• Take home car issued after field training completed
• Education incentive and reimbursement programs
• 12 vacation days per year/accrues at 3.69 hours bi-weekly
• Sick time accrues at 3.69 hours bi-weekly
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Gym facilities in many agency buildings

Career Opportunities - Many deputies who start their law enforcement career with the Orange County Sheriff's Office stay for many, many years because the opportunities are endless.  Here is a list of some of the areas for which you qualify for at some point during your career.

Specialty Units                   

• Criminal Investigations                    
• School Resource & DARE Program
• Community Policing
• Homeland Security             
• Intelligence Section                          
• Mounted Patrol                                 
• Marine Unit
• Motorcycle Unit
• Agricultural Crimes Unit                    
• 6 Distinct Patrol Sectors
• Court Services
• K-9 Unit
• Aviation Unit

Part-time Specialty Teams

• SWAT Team
• Dive Team
• Hostage Negotiations Team
• Emergency Response Team
• Hazardous Device Team
• Crisis Intervention Team

Promotions - Some deputies pursue the supervisory & management track through competitive testing.  Promotions to the following ranks all go through a specific testing process.

• Deputy First Class
• Corporal
• Sergeant
• Lieutenant

Fitness Standards for Law Enforcement Academy -  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission approved a new 60-hour physical training course for the Law Enforcement Academy and a 40-hour physical training course for the Corrections Academy.  These new courses are in addition to the current 80-hours Defensive Tactics course. 

In order for a student to be successful in the academy and to prevent injuries during physical fitness and defensive tactics training, there is a recommended minimum level of fitness prior to entering the academy.  Each student will be tested during the first week of the academy and again at the end of the academy to measure improvement in overall physical fitness.  Listed are the recommended entry-level fitness standards for all recruits:

• Complete a 1.5 mile run in 14 minutes or less
• Complete at least 40 push-ups in one minute
• Complete at least 30 sit-ups in one minute

Physical fitness at the academy is intense; you must be physically fit on the first day.  Our instructors and your classmates need you to be in great shape on the day you start.

Preparation Instructions:

• Build up to running 3 miles a day, 4 times a week.  One method to achieve this goal is to jog for 2 minutes then brisk walk for 1 minute and repeat for 30 to 40 minutes.  Work your way down to jogging for 3-5 minutes and walking for 45 seconds.  Keep reducing the walk time until you aren’t walking anymore.
• When the run is over, immediately drop down and do as many sit-ups as you can, until it is impossible to complete another repetition.  Take a 10 second break and then repeat twice more. 
• When you are finished with the sit-ups, immediately drop down and do as many push-ups as you can, until it is impossible to complete another repetition.  Take a 10 second break and then repeat twice more.
• When you are finished with the push-ups, complete 5 squat jumps, jumping as high as you can every time.  Take a 10 second break and then repeat twice more.