Description

Join the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) as a Volunteer Special Deputy! You will have the opportunity to expand your public safety experience and make a difference by providing quality professional services while building meaningful relationships that are sustainable within our communities. If you are a critical thinker and have great adaptability skills, then this position is for you.

Find us here at upcoming career fairs!

Location and hours:

Location will vary based on placement within Hennepin County.

Volunteers will participate in duties for a minimum of 16 hours per month. The first 12 months of duty will be in classroom training and a field training program. Specific programs within the Sheriff's Office include Patrol Support, Water Patrol, Mounted Patrol, and Communications and Response Team (CRT).

About These Position Types

These positions are volunteer, non-benefit earning, non-licensed peace officer positions.

These volunteer opportunities are subject to emergency callouts and involve public contact with the possibility of physical confrontation.

The anticipated start date is January 2027. You must be at least 18 years of age by the start date to be considered.

In These Positions, You Will

Provide specialized rescue and recovery operations.
Respond to calls requiring use of specialized communications, personal injury accidents, medical emergencies, and natural disasters.
Assist with dignitary details.
Direct traffic.
Patrol the lakes/rivers of Hennepin County.
Perform search and rescue operations.
Remove hazards to navigation on county waterways.
Inspect watercraft for rent, lease, or hire.
Assist with investigations of water accidents and drownings.
Attend community events and parades.
Present information to the general public on water/ice safety at open houses, safety camps, schools, and snowmobile/ATV classes.
Assist public safety agencies with communications integration, knowledge of radio systems and protocols, dispatching for special events and details.

Need to have:

Must be at least 18 years or older by January 2027 .
No felony convictions.
A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit.
Must attend the HCSO's Reserve Academy and all core training classes. These classes take place one night per week for approximately 16-24 weeks, depending on each specific unit's training curriculum.
Must attend all mandatory training sessions, yearly Basic Emergency Care/CPR/AED refresher classes, and other training sessions as directed.
Successfully pass each of the following exam components:
- Verbal examination.
- Background investigation.
- Psychological evaluation.
- Drug screen.
- Comprehensive medical examination prior to appointment to ascertain applicant's ability to perform essential job functions. The general medical requirements include, but are not limited to (these general medical requirements are not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of medical guidelines by the authorized examining physician):
  - Uncorrected vision of at least 20/40 in each eye.
  - Corrected vision of at least 20/20 in each eye.
  - Must meet normal hearing standards.
  - Must not have cardiovascular problems, including hypertension.
  - Must be able to identify primary colors.
  - Must not have any respiratory impairment.
The HCSO's Reserve School - this class takes place one night per week for seven consecutive weeks in March 2027. Each will have tests that will need to be completed and passed to move on to the next stage of training.
The HCSO's Special Deputy core training that starts in January 2027.
The HCSO's unit specific core training that starts in May 2027.

Nice to have:

For CRT area placement:
- Basic knowledge of computer systems and radio systems.
- Hold a Federal Communications Commission amateur Radio license or be able to obtain one within the 12-month probationary period and successfully receive a technician class license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
For Mounted Patrol area placement:
- Own personal horse, access to horse transportation and present the following:
- Current negative Coggins test and vaccination records for the horse.
- Complete training programs requested by the Sheriff's Office and satisfactorily complete an annual sensory evaluation course.
For Patrol Support:
- Assist Patrol Deputies with transporting arrestees to jail, and with blocking roads for emergency traffic.
- Ability to attend community events.
For Water Patrol:
- Ability to swim and pass a swim test consisting of a 100-yard timed swim, 10-minute water tread, and a 10-foot dive to retrieve a 10-pound brick. All these tests will be completed while fully clothed. You will be in uniform pants and shirt, with no shoes, for this test.

About The Department

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office serves the county's 1.2 million residents. State law mandates most of the sheriff's office duties, including managing the county jail, providing security to the district court, and patrolling the waterways in the county.

The Sheriff's Office also runs specialized initiatives like Criminal Information Sharing and Analysis (CISA), Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF), Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Investigation, Community Outreach and Employee Wellness. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office mission is to provide quality professional services while building meaningful relationships that are sustainable within our communities, and with our partners, to ensure justice and safety for all.

About Hennepin County

Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all and our vision of a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive.

Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge (login as Guest).

Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the elimination of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.

Your future. Made here.

This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.

Watch this video for application best practices and tips.

Applications will be forwarded to the hiring supervisor on an on-going basis until the vacancy is filled. Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience .

If You Have Any Questions, Please Contact

Sheriff Office

Sheriff.SpecialDeputyRecruitment@Hennepin.us

Hennepin County Sheriff

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Volunteer: Special Deputy - Sheriff's Office