Sheriff's Deputy

Incumbent serves as Deputy for the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office, responsible for the enforcement of the laws of the state and protection of County residents and their property.

DUTIES:

• Enforces local and state laws by implementing effective policy for the prevention and investigation of crimes to protect the lives and property of the people.
• Regularly patrols roads within the County and other designated areas, ensuring the security of residences and businesses, investigating, and reporting suspicious or unlawful activities, and performing necessary actions to ensure the proper enforcement of applicable laws.
• Performs vehicle stops, including checking for proper licensing and registration, enforcing traffic laws and speed limits, issuing warnings and/or citations, administering roadside sobriety tests as necessary, and effecting arrests as warranted.
• Responds to and investigates traffic accidents, including assessing the extent of personal injuries, requesting emergency assistance, aiding the injured, regulating and directing traffic, escorting emergency vehicles, and assisting stranded motorists. Tags and disposes of abandoned vehicles as needed.
• Pursues suspects in vehicle and/or on foot, subduing and arresting suspects, advising individuals of their constitutional rights, searching suspects/arrestees, seizing weapons and/or contraband, and transporting suspects to detention facility.
• Investigates misdemeanors and felony complaints for crimes against people, animals and/or property, and missing persons. Investigates illegal possession, distribution, and sale of controlled substances.
• Maintains knowledge of criminal activities in the area.
• Secures, protects, and documents crime scenes. Collects and preserves evidence, maintaining chain of custody of evidence. Locates witnesses of criminal activities, interviews and/or interrogates witnesses/suspects, and protects and/or council victims and witnesses.
• Conducts searches of both persons and property with and without a warrant in accordance with the law.
• Receives and disseminates information to other law enforcement units. Operates IDACS/NCIC to receive and transmit information, including, but not limited to, criminal histories, warrant information, and license plates.
• Prepares and submits to superiors all required reports and summaries of activities according to established Office deadlines.
• May periodically assist Jailers in the transportation, detention, and/or supervision of offenders.
• Serves subpoenas, civil process papers and other Court documents as directed.
• May serve on or coordinate specialized law enforcement teams, such as drone operator, K-9 or SWAT tactical teams, or may be given special assignments, such as public speaking engagements or providing police escorts.
• Inspects condition of assigned vehicle and equipment and maintains uniform in a neat and professional manner.
• Provides testimony and presents evidence in legal proceedings.
• Maintains confidentiality and security of information/cases.
• Attends seminars, in-service, and State mandated training as required.
• Serves 24-hour on-call for emergencies and responds to emergencies from an off-duty status.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Ability to pass the Office’s physical agility test which consists of vertical jump (16”), one-minute sit-ups (29), 300 meter run (71 seconds), push-up (25), and 1.5 mile run (16 minutes, 28 seconds).
• Completion of Law Enforcement Officer training by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain possession of all required certifications, including, but not limited to, handgun/firearm qualification by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and First Responder/CPR and IDACS/NCIC certifications.
• Ability to meet all Office hiring and retention requirements, including passage of a drug screen and written, medical and psychological exams.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of the customary practices, procedures, rules and regulations of the Office, to perform standardized patrol operations and take authoritative action as situations demand.
• Thorough knowledge of community geography and police jurisdiction/boundaries, and working knowledge of local, state, and federal laws.
• Working knowledge of and ability to use all assigned Office equipment and weapons, including, but not limited to, computer, keyboard, camera, vehicle, radio, binoculars, breathalyzer, drug/narcotic identification kit, fingerprint equipment, baton/nightstick, rifle, handgun, shotgun, tear gas/mace, stun gun and handcuffs.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to complete required reports within Office deadlines.
• Working knowledge of universal health precautions and bloodborne pathogens control, and ability to apply such knowledge to protect oneself against infection.
• Working knowledge of radio frequencies, codes, procedures, and limitations and ability to speak clearly and distinctly, hear and be heard and understood when communicating in person, by radio or by telephone.
• Working knowledge of and ability to effectively apply evidence collection/preservation techniques and ability to appropriately receive, maintain, and account for articles received in evidence.
• Ability to appropriately interview witnesses, advise law offenders of rights, and counsel or comfort victims.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County Offices, Office superiors, other law enforcement agencies, offenders, victims, witnesses, and members of the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Office information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to comply with all employer and Office policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.
• Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense.
• Ability to perform essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of self and other individuals in the workplace.
• Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, occasionally under time pressure.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions, make determinations, and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to provide testimony in court/legal proceedings.
• Ability to work extended, irregular, evening and/or weekend hours and occasionally travel out of town for training, sometimes overnight.
• Ability to serve on-call 24-hours a day and respond swiftly and rationally from off-duty.
• Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent performs a wide variety of police duties according to established Office policies and police procedures, making independent decisions and taking authoritative action in response to situational demands. Errors in decision or work may not be readily detected by supervisory review and could lead to loss of life, and/or have adverse effects upon Office operations or members of the public.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

• Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County Offices, Office superiors, other law enforcement agencies, offenders, victims, witnesses, and members of the public for purposes of exchanging information, enforcing laws, and de-escalating potentially violent situations through conversation/negotiation.
• Incumbent reports directly to Road Sergeant and/or Corporal.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Incumbent performs duties in a police station, in a vehicle, and in the field, and is frequently exposed to the normal hazards associated with enforcement of the law. Regular duties involve sitting/walking at will, sitting/standing/walking for long periods, driving at high speeds, lifting/carrying objects weighing over 50 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, close/far vision, color/depth perception, handling/grasping/fingering objects, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communication. Incumbent performs regular automobile patrols and is subject to weather extremes and strenuous physical effort during emergency situations. Incumbent may occasionally be required to force entry into buildings, run up/down stairs, crawl in confined areas, climb over obstacles, and subdue an attacking and/or armed individual.
• Incumbent works extended, irregular, evening and/or weekend hours, occasionally travels out of town for training, sometimes overnight, and responds to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $63,148.00 per year

Benefits:

• 457(b)
• Dental insurance
• Dependent health insurance coverage
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Military leave
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 12 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Rotating shift
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• Lagrange, IN: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: On the road