Sheriff Deputy I (Entry-Level)
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Sheriff Deputy I (Entry-Level)
Salary
$52,267.00 Annually
Location
1080 Coverstone Dr., Winchester, VA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
00756
Department
SHERIFF
Opening Date
08/24/2026
Description
Benefits
Description
Have you ever wanted a job where every day is different, where you can make a real impact, and where your community counts on you? Becoming a Sheriff's Deputy I isn't just a job. It's a chance to serve, protect, and be a positive force in people's lives. Whether you've worked in customer service, construction, healthcare, the military, or any other profession, your skills and experiences could make you a great fit.
You don't need prior law enforcement experience. We'll provide all the training and certifications you need to succeed. If you have a strong sense of integrity, a desire to help others, and the ability to stay calm in challenging situations, we encourage you to apply!
Why Join Us?
No Experience? No Problem! - We provide fully paid training at a state-certified law enforcement academy.
Career Growth - Opportunities for promotions, specialty units (K9, SWAT, investigations), and leadership roles.
Make a Difference - Protect and serve your community, help those in need, and build public trust.
What You'll Do:
As a Deputy I, you will:
Respond to calls for service, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, and disruptive behavior; assess situations and take appropriate action.
Investigate crimes; interview witnesses and victims; collect and preserve evidence; and conduct follow-up investigations.
Serve warrants, summonses, subpoenas, and court orders; make arrests; prepare reports; and testify in court.
Enforce traffic laws; issue citations; and perform radar enforcement, traffic control, and motorist assists.
Conduct security checks of homes, neighborhoods, businesses, courthouses, and other assigned areas.
Use computer systems to conduct criminal history, missing-person, and other required checks.
Maintain communication with complainants and victims and provide updates on investigations.
Prepare and process required reports and documentation.
Assist and provide information to the public, juveniles, and adults; refer individuals to appropriate resources when needed.
What We're Looking For:
Must be a citizen of the United States.
Must be 21 years old, or within 180 days of 21st birthday at time of application, or currently a Police Cadet and within 180 days of 21st birthday.
Possess a valid Driver's License for a minimum of 2 years.
Must successfully complete a criminal background investigation, a polygraph examination, a psychological examination, and a medical/physical exam to include a drug screening test prior to appointment.
Deputy Sheriff Automatic Disqualifiers
Criminal History:
Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Conviction of any Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor, excluding traffic violations which are discussed separately, or the Virginia State Law equivalent within the last 5 years.
Any conviction of plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude including but not limited to petit larceny under Section 18.2-96 of the Code of Virginia or any offense involving moral turpitude that would be a misdemeanor if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Crimes of moral turpitude include but limited to: fraud, all theft offenses and perjury.
Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor sex offense in the Commonwealth of Virginia, another state, or the United States, including but not limited to sexual battery under Section 18.2-67.4 of the Code Of Virginia or consensual sexual intercourse with a minor 15 or older under clause (ii) of Section 18.2-371 of the Code of Virginia, or domestic assault under Section 18.2-57.2 of the Code of Virginia or any offense that would be domestic assault under the laws of another state or the United States.
Any conviction that requires the registration in the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
Adult commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature.
Traffic Violations:
Three or more negative points on a Virginia Operator's License or the equivalent for out of state licenses. Points may be negated up to 5 points by attending defensive driving school offered by the Division of Motor Vehicles prior to initial testing.
A conviction of Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol in the past three years, or more than one conviction of Driving Under the Influence in the applicant's lifetime. Any conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, refusal to take blood or breath test, eluding police, racing, or leaving the scene of an accident within the last 5 years.
Active revocation or suspension of driving privileges in any state or driver's license suspended or revoked in the previous three years.
A conviction in the previous three years of failure to stop after an accident (hit and run), operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver's license, participating in a speed contest or drag racing, fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer, reckless driving or driving to endanger or violation of state regulations on implied consent.
Involvement in two or more avoidable (at fault) motor vehicle accidents during the previous three years.
Drugs:
Sale or distribution of illegal drugs of any kind.
Any illegal use of cocaine or heroin, or any other controlled substance listed in Schedule I or Schedule II of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past five (5) years, or the use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II more than once in the applicant's lifetime.
Any illegal use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or Schedule II of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past five (5) years or the illegal use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II more than twice in the past ten years. The use of any hallucinogenic substance, such as LSD, PCP, or Psilocybin at any time in the applicant's life.
Illegal use or possession of anabolic steroids within the last three (3) years.
Illegal use or possession of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the previous twelve (12) months at time of application.
Any illegal drug use of any kind after the age of thirty (30) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis which has surpassed the duration limits set above in numbers 1 through 5 of the drug section.
Illegal drug is defined as set forth in the Federal Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. §800 et al. and by the Code of Virginia.
Credit:
Demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility. (Examples of areas of concern include unpaid collections or unsatisfactory judgments where no payment plan has been established). Please call the academy staff to discuss your specific credit issues and concerns.
Others:
Past or current gang affiliation.
Dishonorable discharge from any military service.
Untruthfulness and/or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.
Intentional failure to follow the directions outlined in the testing process or relying on others to complete any portion of the testing process.
Note:
This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. Applicants who are successful in the initial testing will undergo a thorough background investigation, including polygraph examination. Areas of concern will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the @context of the full investigation/review. Examples of areas of concern may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Reduction of charges as a result of a plea agreement or other form of sentencing disposition prior to a conviction in any of the aforementioned criminal and driving history categories
Crimes committed as a juvenile, including undetected crime.
Patterns of reckless and/or irresponsible driving.
Multiple convictions of driving under the influence.
Illegal drug use or possession that does not fall within the parameters defined above, including the use or possession of prescription drugs without a proper prescription.
Less than honorable military discharge, erratic work record, or unfavorable employment references.
Pending litigation or prosecution for criminal offenses must be resolved prior to consideration for employment.
Some minor offenses are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors (e.g. littering) but would not result in automatic disqualification. Convictions of this nature would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in the @context of the full investigation/review.
Supplemental Information
To learn more about Frederick County, Virginia employee benefits, please visit the following webpage: https://www.fcva.us/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits
All positions are subject to a criminal background check for any convictions that relate to the job duties and responsibilities. Frederick County Virginia Government is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The County's EEO Utilization Report is available at www.fcva.us/jobs
