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Deputy careers in our community
Our community
KCSO is located in the Pacific Northwest. King County is the 14th largest county (by population) in the country. It includes the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond, as well as many suburban communities and rural areas.
Our area offers:
- A wide variety of employment opportunities
- Year-round recreation
- Award-winning school districts
- Great quality of life
And contrary to popular belief, there are sunny days. Lots of them!
Deputy opportunities
King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) serves unincorporated King County. We operate many city police departments, as well as transit police units.
Learn more about our partner police agencies.
We offer dozens of unique assignments that range from school or community-based positions to drug enforcement and bomb disposal. KCSO has opportunities that can meet any deputy’s goals.
All deputies begin their career on patrol. We do not have a jail service requirement. All deputies provide service to the people of a particular district.
Deputies are assigned to single-person patrol cars. They gain a strong sense of ownership in their communities by interacting with the residents, business owners, and visitors to the area. Often, their work requires partnering with community members or supporting fellow deputies in adjoining districts.
Within the rank of deputy sheriff, there are many types of service and leadership opportunities:
- Patrol deputy
- City police officer
- Metro transit police
- Sound transit police
- Community storefront officer
- School resource officer
- Detective
- Master police officer
- Field training officer
- Other specialized units
Advancement opportunities
Deputies can take the sergeants promotional exam after five years with KCSO. We hope that many of our deputies will want to support our agency mission and goals by advancing to the leadership ranks of:
- Sergeant
- Captain
- Major
- Chief
You may also be able to achieve a position as a city police chief while maintaining your Sheriff's Office rank.
Frequently asked questions
No. Our retirement system is LEOFF 2. Unless you have prior law enforcement experience in this state before entering the military, there is no provision for buying into the system.
It is possible to buy back service credits once you are in the LEOFF system.
For additional retirement questions, visit Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
KCSO makes every effort to keep new deputies closer to home for PTO (field training). However, we reserve the right to make precinct assignments based on our staffing needs at the time.
Once you successfully complete probation, you can either:
- Put in a transfer request to any other precinct
- Apply to a contract if you meet the requirements
KCSO TAC-30 (SWAT) generally requires a minimum four years of experience prior to application. This is true with many other specialty units as well.
Most detective units require between 3 - 5 years' experience.
Other units like Traffic, City Contracting, Metro/Sound Transit and SRO simply require that you have successfully completed probation.
Laterals who complete probation may apply their previous experience to meet specialty unit requirements.
Tattoos above the neck or on the hands are permitted but must be covered with makeup or bandages. Other tattoos are allowed as long as they are not offensive to anyone or any group of people.
The Sheriff reserves the right to request that employees with full-sleeve tattoos wear long-sleeved uniform shirts year-round.
Cost of living
Cost of living varies by region. You can find a cost of living estimate with this calculator.
Employment
If your spouse or partner works, they will have plenty of employment opportunities in the area. Many large companies and non-profits are headquartered here, as well as smaller organizations.
Schools
Our school districts are exceptional. There are many extra-curricular activities available through schools and community groups.
School districts include:
|
Auburn |
Northshore |
|
Bellevue |
Renton |
|
Enumclaw |
Riverview |
|
Federal Way |
Seattle |
|
Kent |
Shoreline |
|
Highline |
Snoqualmie |
|
Issaquah |
Tahoma |
|
Lake Washington |
Tukwila |
|
Maple valley |
You can learn more about our schools at Washington State Superintendent or Public School Review.
Recreation
There are a variety or recreational opportunities in our region.
- The Cascade Range and Olympics offer easy day hikes as well as challenging overnight trips, and they're within a short drive. And, of course, there's Mount Rainier for serious mountaineers.
- There are two major lakes, multiple smaller lakes, and many beaches. Swimming, boating, and fishing are all within your reach.
Seattle and the surrounding communities also offer:
- Museums
- Theaters
- Amphitheaters that attract major concerts and performances
- Sporting events featuring amateur and professional teams
- Local fairs and festivals (including Seafair in July and August)
- Aquariums
- Zoos
- Amusement parks and more
Higher education
Colleges, universities, technical schools, and community colleges are plentiful in the area.
Learn more about higher education options