How to Become a Deputy
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT
The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or veteran status. Here are our minimum requirements:
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a clear criminal history
- Must be a United States Citizen
- Driving record must not show a disregard for the law
- Credit history must show sound financial management with the ability to keep accounts paid up to date
- Results of all pre-employment tests and interview must meet standards
- Past employment record must be satisfactory
- Must pass a drug test
- Medical examination results must show that you are capable of performing all of the essential functions of the job for which you are applying with reasonable accommodation
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
M/F/H/V
Every law enforcement officer in the state of South Carolina is required to successfully graduate from basic training at the Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia. However, in order to attend the Academy, a candidate must first apply to and be hired by a law enforcement agency.
Download either our PDF application (you must hand-write to fill out this one) or our MS Word application (you can use Microsoft Word to type in this one) to get started and - once completed - submit it to our office either in person or via mail to be considered.
LIFE AT THE ACADEMY
To become a deputy with the CCSO, you will be required to graduate from the SC Criminal Justice Academy's Basic Training program. The program will require you to spend months on-campus in Columbia (you will be allowed to come home on the weekends) while you learn the ins-and-outs of our criminal justice system.
Your Academy days will typically start at around 6am and - according to your study habits - might not end until midnight or later. The core skills you will be taught include laws, defensive tactics, emergency driving, and weapons use. These skills are usually broken up into weeks-long blocks and - before you can proceed to the next block - you must successfully pass academic and proficiency tests as required. Failure to pass any of the blocks results in dismissal from the Academy and, in turn, from your agency.
You will be paid while you are at the Academy and all meals are provided, too. You will be lodged on-campus in 'Tent City' along with other deputies, officers, and agents from across the state.
The Academy has a quasi-military structure. As such, physical fitness training is a given, as is your conformance with the Academy's rules, policies, procedures, and chain of command.
Once your stay at the Academy is over, you will be able to return to Chesterfield County as a fully-sworn deputy. Even so, your training will not be complete. The CCSO will pair you with an experienced Field Training Officer upon your return for further training and observation.