What does a deputy sheriff do?
A deputy sheriff is a law enforcement officer who serves the public by preventing and intervening crimes at a particular county, including multiple small towns and several larger cities. Deputy Sheriffs are first responders to emergencies such as criminal activities, vehicle accidents, weather incidents, and medical emergencies. They are present in courthouses to guard courtrooms and inmates who are transported from prisons. As law enforcers, they are also required to have an understanding of the laws of their jurisdiction.
Deputy sheriff responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real deputy sheriff resumes:
- Hire and manage credit officers responsible for Citigroup's new commodity derivatives business in Houston.
- Act as a supervisor and FTO.
- Monitor access control systems including CCTV systems.
- Act as first responder for medical emergencies and criminal acts.
- Observe inmate and staff activity in person and on CCTV monitors.
- Work as a jail deputy, patrol deputy, patrol supervisor, k-9 handler
- Answer all incoming E911 calls and dispatch fire, police, and ems.
- Review, analyze, interpret and implement DoD, DA and IMCOM regulations and directives
- Train in fire safety, care custody and control, CPR certify, and special force
- Verify inmate's name, booking number, photograph, and thumbprint before releasing inmate.
- Install and relocate computers and printers with accompanying data lines and train new reserve deputy sheriffs.
- Obtain factual information from a variety of personal and record sources to produce reports of investigation.
- Provide backup during civil relate enforcement situations such as forcible evictions, child custody transfers, restraining order service.
- Work closely with internal and external resources regarding crime reduction efforts and the investigation of crimes occurring within the county.
- Support program management, contracts, DOD acquisition policies and program integration, consistently stepping up to any and all challenges.
Deputy sheriff skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Deputy Sheriffs are proficient in Patrol, Public Safety, and Transport Inmates. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Empathy, and Good judgment.
We break down the percentage of Deputy Sheriffs that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patrol, 25%
Executed pro-active, self-initiated patrol in areas requiring police presence and constant attention based on the prevalence of criminal activity.
- Public Safety, 7%
Responded to calls for law enforcement assistance ensuring public safety, gathered information for criminal investigations, and testified in court.
- Transport Inmates, 6%
Operate an emergency vehicle to successfully transport inmates and temporary detention orders.
- Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%
Developed relationships with key individuals with other law enforcement agencies to ensure continued team work and expansion of emergency response procedures.
- Emergency Situations, 5%
Served as a road patrol deputy providing professional law enforcement and customer service when responding to citizens calls and emergency situations.
- Field Training, 4%
Performed all required duties and responsibilities as a certified commissioned Deputy Sheriff and Field Training Officer.
Common skills that a deputy sheriff uses to do their job include "patrol," "public safety," and "transport inmates." You can find details on the most important deputy sheriff responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a deputy sheriff to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." Deputy sheriffs often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "direct traffic, enforce motor vehicle operating and parking regulations, and perform communication functions. "
Empathy. Many deputy sheriff duties rely on empathy. "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public.," so a deputy sheriff will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways deputy sheriff responsibilities rely on empathy: "developed broad understanding of the law and public safety. "
Good judgment. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of deputy sheriffs is good judgment. This skill is critical to many everyday deputy sheriff duties, as "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "enforced motor vehicle and criminal laws and promoted good community relations. "
Leadership skills. A big part of what deputy sheriffs do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to deputy sheriff responsibilities because "police officers must be comfortable with being a highly visible member of their community, as the public looks to them for help in emergencies." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical deputy sheriff tasks: "gained proficiencies and experience in: leadership styles, first-responder/investigations, report writing, search and seizures, criminal investigations. "
Physical strength. Another common skill required for deputy sheriff responsibilities is "physical strength." This skill comes up in the duties of deputy sheriffs all the time, as "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." An excerpt from a real deputy sheriff resume shows how this skill is central to what a deputy sheriff does: "enforce a large body of laws relating to the licensing, operation and physical conditions of motor vehicles. "
The three companies that hire the most deputy sheriffs are:
- Stanford University6 deputy sheriffs jobs
- County of Nevada, CA6 deputy sheriffs jobs
- Polk County Sheriff's Office6 deputy sheriffs jobs
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Compare different deputy sheriffs
Deputy sheriff vs. K9 handler
The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a deputy sheriff are more likely to require skills like "transport inmates," "field training," "firearms," and "subpoenas." On the other hand, a job as a k9 handler requires skills like "explosive detection," "atf," "crowd control," and "training aids." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
K9 handlers tend to reach similar levels of education than deputy sheriffs. In fact, k9 handlers are 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Deputy sheriff vs. Law enforcement officer
Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law. They ensure that people in their assigned community follow the law. They also ensure that proper sanctions are given out to anyone who does not follow. Some police officers are assigned in the field, meaning they work outside of police stations. Those assigned to police stations are responsible for maintaining administrative matters as well, aside from maintaining peace and order. Police officers are expected to be trustworthy, to work with honor, and to keep their integrity intact.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, deputy sheriff responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "transport inmates," "motor vehicle," "sheriffs," and "medical facilities." Meanwhile, a law enforcement officer has duties that require skills in areas such as "criminal justice," "computer aided dispatch," "motor vehicle accidents," and "responder." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Law enforcement officers earn a lower average salary than deputy sheriffs. But law enforcement officers earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $42,104. Additionally, deputy sheriffs earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $53,370 annually.law enforcement officers earn similar levels of education than deputy sheriffs in general. They're 3.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Deputy sheriff vs. Police officer
The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, deputy sheriffs are more likely to have skills like "transport inmates," "motor vehicle," "emergency calls," and "sheriffs." But a police officer is more likely to have skills like "criminal justice," "motor vehicle accidents," "police reports," and "community relations."
Police officers earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $53,822. Deputy sheriffs earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $53,370.police officers typically earn similar educational levels compared to deputy sheriffs. Specifically, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Deputy sheriff vs. Patrol officer
Types of deputy sheriff
Updated January 8, 2025
