Careers
Join the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Build a Career in Public Service
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office offers a rewarding and meaningful career for individuals who are committed to public service, professional excellence, and making a positive impact in their community. Employees have access to a wide range of career paths and opportunities for lateral movement across specialized assignments — including patrol, corrections, investigations, court services, transportation, training, emergency services, and administrative support functions.
The Sheriff’s Office is committed to investing in its workforce through ongoing professional development, advanced training, leadership development programs, and promotional opportunities that support career growth and advancement. As a member of our team, you’ll play a vital role in providing law enforcement, correctional, court security, emergency response, and community-oriented services that enhance public safety and improve the quality of life for the residents of Imperial County.
Whether you’re beginning your career or bringing prior experience, the Sheriff’s Office provides a supportive environment where dedication, initiative, and professionalism are recognized and rewarded.
How to Apply
Start Your Application
ICSO career opportunities open routinely throughout the year. See what’s available and start your application process through Imperial County Human Resources.
View Open Sheriff’s Office Positions →
Questions? Want to speak with a recruiter? Email Join@icso.org.
Operations — Become a Deputy Sheriff
It’s not just a job — it’s a mission to protect and serve the County of Imperial.
A career as an Imperial County Deputy Sheriff offers the opportunity to work across a wide range of assignments — patrol, investigations, specialized units, and community engagement — with a supportive team, professional training, and a clear path for advancement.
Basic Requirements — California POST Standards
All applicants must meet the following California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) minimum standards:
- Education: U.S. High School diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has applied for citizenship
- Age: Deputy Recruit minimum 20.5 years old (at start of academy); Deputy Lateral minimum 21 years old
- Driver’s License: Valid California driver’s license
- Criminal History: No felony convictions or disqualifying offenses
- Additional: Pass physical agility, written exam, background, polygraph, medical screening, and psychological evaluation
Hiring Process — What to Expect
1. Submit an Online Application
Start by submitting your application through Imperial County Human Resources. View open Sheriff’s Office positions →
2. Written Exam (PELLET-B or Equivalent)
- Reading comprehension
- English, grammar, and punctuation
3. Physical Agility Test (PAT)
- 1½-mile run completed in under 14 minutes
- Obstacle course including a 6-foot wooden wall, 6-foot chain fence, and a 99-yard obstacle course
- 165-pound weighted dummy drag
- 500-meter sprint
4. Oral Interview
Panel interview evaluating judgment, communication, and professionalism — required by POST regulations.
5. Extensive Background Investigation
- Employment history
- Residential history
- Criminal history
- Personal conduct
- Family and reference contacts
6. Polygraph Examination
All applicants must pass a polygraph examination as part of the background process.
7. Medical Evaluation
Must meet POST medical standards — includes vision, hearing, and overall fitness.
8. Psychological Evaluation
Conducted by a licensed psychologist. Includes written testing plus a clinical interview.
Academy Training
All Deputy Recruit applicants must attend and successfully graduate from a State of California POST-certified Basic Peace Officer Training academy.
- 952 hours — Total academy training
- ~6 months — Program length
- High-discipline, high-stress — Program environment
Peace Officer Academy Learning Domains
- California Criminal & Civil Law
- Firearms and Chemical Agents training
- Defensive tactics
- Emergency vehicle operations
- Investigative report writing
- Community policing
- Cultural diversity
- Fitness
Deputy Sheriff Lateral
Experienced peace officers may qualify as a Deputy Sheriff Lateral if they meet the following:
- Must possess a California POST Basic Peace Officer Academy certificate
- Out-of-state laterals are required to complete a POST requalification course
Lateral hiring process includes: oral interview, physical agility test (PAT), background investigation (with polygraph), medical clearance, and psychological assessment.
Deputy Lateral Hiring Bonus
- Up to $3,000 — With current Basic POST certificate
- +$2,000 — Additional bonus after 2 years of service
Must stay with the Department for two years to qualify for the additional $2,000 bonus.
Promotional Opportunities — Deputy Career Ladder
- Deputy — Entry-level sworn position
- Senior Deputy — Advanced deputy assignment
- Sheriff’s Sergeant — First-line supervisor
- Sheriff’s Lieutenant — Mid-level command
- Chief Deputy — Senior executive command
Shift Schedules
- 12-hour Patrol Shifts — 3 & 4 day rotation
- 10-hour Shifts — Specialized Units
- 9/80 Schedule — Available in some divisions
Monthly Salary
- Deputy Sheriff Recruit — $4,175 – $5,323 / month
- Deputy Sheriff Lateral — $5,067 – $6,472 / month
Benefits
- Sick & Vacation Time
- Annual Buyback for Sick & Vacation Time
- Compensation Time earned on Holidays
- Annual Uniform Allowance — $1,500
- Retirement — 2.7% at 57 years old (PEPRA)
- Health Insurance Premium paid after retirement with 25 years of service (up to 100%)
- Dental & Vision Insurance provided
- Additional Life Insurance available — $125,000 Term plus
- Group Term Life Insurance — $125,000 per MOU
- Medical Flex Spending Plan
- Deferred Compensation Plans (457b)
- Tuition Reimbursement
Operational Assignments & Specialized Units
Deputies may have the opportunity to work different operational assignments and specialized units throughout their career:
- Patrol Operations
- K-9 Handler (Patrol or Specialized Unit)
- Field Training Officer (FTO)
- Mentoring Program
- Peer Support / Wellness & Performance Team
- Recruitment Team
- Honor Guard
- School Resource Officer (SRO)
- Mobile Field Force Team (MFF)
- Criminal Investigator
- Administrative Investigations Unit (AIU)
- Task Force Officer — Narcotics (NTF) & HIDTA
- Border Crimes Suppression Team (BCST)
- Off-Highway Vehicle Enforcement Team (OHVEST)
- Boating Enforcement Safety Team (BEST)
- Coroner’s Office (Deputy Coroner Investigator)
- Court Services (Bailiff)
- Sheriff Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T. / SWAT)
- Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT)
- ICSURT (Underwater Recovery Team)
- Drone Operator
Corrections Career Opportunities
Entry-Level Positions
- Correctional Officer Recruit (Pre-Academy)
- Correctional Officer
- Sheriff Correctional Clerk
- Correctional Service Assistant
- Laundry Officer
- Food Service Lead
- Commissary Clerk
Specialized Units & Positions in Corrections
- Administrative Separation
- Transportation Division
- Disciplinary Officers
- Corrections Special Operations Response Team (C-SORT)
- Training
- Classification
- Sheriff’s Community Services
- K-9 Handler
- Administrative Investigations Unit
- Programs & Education
- Recreation Officers
- Medical Security
- Jail Training Officer (J.T.O.)
- Jail Intel Team (J.I.T.)
- Honor Guard
- Underwater Recovery Team
- Task Force Officer
Promotional Opportunities — Corrections Career Ladder
- Correctional Officer — Entry-level sworn position
- Correctional Corporal — First-line lead position
- Correctional Sergeant — Supervisor of officers
- Correctional Lieutenant — Mid-level command
- Correctional Captain — Senior command, facility leadership
Corrections Requirements
All applicants for sworn Corrections positions must meet the following minimum requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- High School Diploma or G.E.D.
- Valid California Driver’s License
- U.S. Citizenship (or application in progress)
- Pass Physical Agility Exam
- Pass Written Exam
- Attend Oral Board Interview
- Pass Background Investigation
- Pass a Polygraph Test
- Health Screening
- Psychological Examination
Corrections Physical Agility Testing
The physical agility exam tests several physical performance skills identified as necessary in the field of corrections. Successful completion of every skill is mandatory.
- Body Drag — Drag a 165-pound lifelike dummy 20 feet. Maximum passing time: 10 seconds.
- 200-Yard Run — No stopping or walking. Maximum passing time: 1 minute.
- Push-Ups — Minimum of 20 push-ups within 60 seconds.
- 1.5-Mile Run — Complete within 15 minutes (equivalent to 6 laps of a standard running track).
Preparing for the Agility Exam
We recommend candidates begin preparing well in advance. Build aerobic fitness, upper-body strength, and core stability into your training routine over several weeks before the test date.
Have Questions?
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment team is here to help. Reach out to us with any questions about positions, requirements, hiring timelines, or what to expect during the application process.
Email: Join@icso.org
Phone: (442) 265-2008 (Administration)