Hiring Procedure
Common Questions:
General Questions
- Do I have to be certified to apply with Cass County as a Deputy Sheriff?
- Do I have to start as a Deputy with the Jail Staff?
- What is the criteria for transfer to the road patrol division?
- What divisions do deputies serve within the Sheriff's Office?
- Do I get a take home patrol car?
- What kind of equipment does the Cass County Sheriff's Office use?
- What equipment does the Sheriff's Office provide?
- What type of in service training is available?
- Is the salary range different for Jail Staff Deputies and Road Staff Deputies?
- How does the pay structure work?
- What type of shifts do deputies work
- What type of field training does a deputy receive?
- What other benefits does the Sheriff's Office Offer?
Qualifications
- What is required.
- What will disqualify you.
Hiring Process
- Pre-Employment Screening Application.
- Physical Ability Test.
- Written Test.
- Oral Board.
- Background Investigation Interview.
- C.V.S.A..
- Interview with the Sheriff.
- Post offer Medical Physical.
Do I have to be certified to apply with Cass County as a Deputy Sheriff?
- Yes, you must have a class B certification (470 hour academy) through MO POST.
If you are currently attending a Police Academy you can apply and be hired
contingent on your completion of the academy. If hired while in the academy you
will be allowed to graduate in uniform as a Cass County Deputy Sheriff.
Do I have to start as a Deputy with the Jail Staff?
- Our Deputies do start their career with the Jail Staff. This sometimes makes new
applicants hesitant to apply as they feel that working in the jail is a step
back from their academy training. On the contrary, we have found that by
starting Deputies in the jail it enhances the skills they learned in the academy
and builds on this training. We have also found that with the state of the art
facility, training and working environment only about one third of the Deputies
from the jail staff apply for transfer to other divisions. Those that do apply
for other divisions, we have found advance quicker and easier through training
and have a good foundation to their career. Most, if not all of our Deputies
have not regretted the time and experience gained from starting in the jail.
What is the criteria for transfer to the road patrol division?
- You must complete your FTO training in the jail (approximately 3 months), not be on
disciplinary probation, and apply for the road patrol position when those
positions become available. Transfers depend on the amount of positions open and your seniority.
What divisions do deputies serve within the Sheriff's Office?
- Bailiff
- Jail Staff
- Civil Process
- Court House Security
- Road Patrol
- Extraditions
- Detective Unit
- Narcotics/Vice
- Cell Extraction Team
- Tactical Team
- D.A.R.E./SRO
- Honor Guard
- Recruiting
Do I get a take home patrol car?
- Once you are transferred to Road Patrol, Civil Process or Detective Unit and
reside within Cass County you will be issued a take home patrol car.
What kind of equipment does the Cass County Sheriff's Office use?
- Currently we use and are issued a Sig Sauer P220 .45 caliber semi automatic
pistol. We also carry Asp batons, Pepper spray and are in the process of
implementing Tasers within the Jail, Road and Court Security Divisions.
What equipment does the Sheriff's Office provide?
- All uniforms, leather, body armor (road patrol), handgun, pepper spray, baton,
collar brass, badge, coat, ammunition.
What type of in service training is available?
- Through our training coordinator requests can be made to go to any specialized
training at the academy or other locations and will be granted or denied depending on cost
and need of the Sheriff's Office. We also will be offering P.O.S.T. in house training in
different areas monthly. Tactical, CERT teams and Honor Guard also train at least once a month.
Firearms training will also take place every other month with qualifications twice a year.
Is the salary range different for Jail Staff Deputies and Road Staff Deputies?
- No, all deputies have the same pay structure.
How does the pay structure work?
- A deputy's starting pay is currently $40,627.17. Each year for eight years a deputy will
automatically receive a 2% raise. Each deputy can also receive an additional 2% each year for meeting
evaluation standards. If a deputy meets evaluation standards each year he will reach the top end salary
after eight years (4% each year) which is currently $55,601.09. Additional raises are possible with
promotion and cost of living raises.
What type of shifts do deputies work?
- Both patrol and jail deputies generally work 12 hour shifts with rotating days
off each week. Week 1 a deputy would work Monday, Tuesday and Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. Week 2 a deputy would work Wednesday and Thursday. Most shifts are
from 0700 to 1900 and 1900 to 0700.
- Court Security, Civil Process, Narcotics and Detectives generally work 8 or 10
hour shifts depending on their duties.
What type of field training does a deputy receive?
- Training for both the road patrol and jail staff is based on the San Jose field
training program which consists of 3 months of training, each month with a
different FTO. Every area is covered with instruction and practical application
which is documented. Each trainee is also evaluated every day in order for them
to receive immediate feed back of their progress. The road patrol also has a
"Shadow" period of two weeks at the end of the training period where the FTO
rides with the trainee in civilian clothes.
What other benefits does the Sheriff's Office Offer?
- Health Insurance - Employees are offered health insurance through Coventry. Cass County will
pay $200.00 toward the employee's monthly premium. Family coverage is available at the employee's expense.
- Pharmacy - Pharmacy benefits are offered through WMS prescription program
- Life Insurance: The county provides at no cost to the employee,
life insurance for the employee and their dependents
- Employee life insurance- $50,000.00
- Spouse- $5,000
- Children over 6 months old- $2500.00
- Children under 6 months old- $100.00
- Retirement Plans -
Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS)- provided at no cost to the employee-
five years to be vested
- County Employee Retirement Fund (CERF) - 4% of monthly salary tax deferred and the employee
is vested after 8 years. (also provides $10,000 death benefit)
- Deferred Compensation Plans -
County employees may participate in the following tax deferred compensation plans:
- Nationwide retirement solutions
- ING Insurance Company
- R.P.A. (Prudential)
- Great West (CERF) matching deferred plan.
- Credit Union -
Employees may become a member of the Richards-Gebaur Credit Union
- Direct Deposit
- Employees receive their pay through direct deposit
- Cafeteria Plan -
Cass County offers several cafeteria plans for employees:
- AFLAC
- American Medical (dental)
- Blue-Cross Blue Shield dependent coverage
- Vision Care Direct
- Dental Source
- Pre-paid legal
- Also offered are two investment funds:
- American Funds
- Waddell and Reed
- Sick Leave Pool -
Employees may become part of a county sick leave pool after 3 months of employment. Employees must
donate 1 sick day a year.
- Annual Vacation:
- After 1st anniversary date = 40 hours
- After 2nd anniversary date = 80 hours
- After 7th anniversary date = 120 hours
- Holidays -
Cass County has 13 paid holidays per year
- Dental/Vision Plan -
Employees may be reimbursed up to $150.00 per calendar year for dental/vision work
Qualifications:
- 21 years of age prior to graduation from the Police Academy
- Valid Missouri Driver's License
- Certified MO peace officer either Class A or B certification or enrolled and attending
- High School Diploma or G.E.D.
- Vision correctable to 20/20
- Must be a credible witness in court
- Able to successfully complete and pass all stages of the hiring procedure
- Able to perform the job of Deputy Sheriff
Disqualification or failure to pass a stage in the hiring process
If an applicant fails a portion of the hiring process they will be allowed to re-test a year from
the time of failure. If an applicant becomes disqualified they will not be allowed to re-test. An
applicant becomes disqualified if they would not be able to meet the qualifications for Deputy
Sheriff at any time in the future, such as a felony conviction were discovered on their record.
Reasons for Disqualification
- Meet all qualifications stated above for deputy Sheriff.
- False Statement of material fact/deception/fraud.
- Felonies- no felony convictions.
- Protections Orders: no protection orders against applicant.
- No DWI/Hit and Run in the last 3 years or three or more chargeable or at fault accidents
within the last 3 years. No valid driver's license.
- Probation and Parole: currently on probation or parole (including deferred adjudication).
Pardoned for any other reason than being innocent.
- Narcotics/Controlled Substance: Must be drug free for complete 3 years.
- Sale of Drugs: sale of illegal drugs or legal drugs without a license.
- Military Discharge/Conduct: discharge other than honorable (no conditions). No conviction or
commission of a court martial offense.
Hiring Process
Pre-Employment Screening Application:
- Must be submitted prior to the closing date announced, approximately 1 week prior
to the scheduled test. After review of qualifications and a criminal check the applicant will be
contacted to confirm they are scheduled for the testing. Generally the physical ability test will be
given the same day as the written test, with the physical ability test given first. The written test will
be given 1 hour after all applicants have completed the physical ability test. Depending on the amount
of people testing, applicants should plan on testing to take between 4 to 6 hours total.
-
On the Date of the Test. Applicants need to arrive 1/2 hour early to register for the test.
The applicant will need to have a valid picture ID with them at the time of testing.
Applicants will also be given a background investigation packet to complete and return at the time
of their oral board.
Physical Ability Test:
- The physical agility test consists of a job related course
(Click Here). Each applicant
will be required to sign a wavier prior to taking the test. The course is pass/fail and is
not timed. The course must be completed in order for the applicant to pass. Applicants
will need to wear pants that will allow them to wear a paddle holster and
simulation firearm. (These items will be furnished by the Sheriff's Office).
Written Test:
- The written test is generally given after the physical ability test and usually takes
between 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The test is then sent off to a private agency for scoring.
Results usually take about a week. You will then be contacted for a Oral Board Exam.
Oral Board:
- When you arrive for the oral board you will need to bring a valid picture ID and also
your completed background investigation packet. The oral board consists of a panel
of four to five members of the Cass County Sheriff's Office. The panel will ask
the applicant 19 questions and usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. An average score of
70% is needed to pass this phase. You will usually be notified within a week if you
have passed this phase.
Background Investigation Interview:
- If a passing score is obtained on the oral board then a background investigator will
contact you for an interview regarding your background. The interview generally
takes about an hour. A background investigation will then be conducted which will
included but is not limited to the applicants general character, criminal history, driving
history, employment, references, education and financial responsibility. The
background investigation is generally completed within 2 to 3 weeks.
CVSA:
- Whenever possible the applicant will be scheduled for a Voice Stress Analyzer Exam
on the same day as the background interview to make it more conveniant for the
applicant. The CVSA operator will test the applicants on job related information and
the process generally takes about 1 hour.
Interview with the Sheriff:
-
If the applicant passes the previous stages of the employment process then they will
be scheduled for an interview with the Sheriff. After meeting with all of the candidates
the Sheriff will make the final determination on offers of employment.
Post offer Medical Physical:
-
Applicants will be required to take a medical physical after a job offered to them.
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