Deputy Sheriff Trainee — Recruitment Guide

[Robert Berglund]

RED COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
DEPUTY SHERIFF TRAINEE — RECRUITMENT GUIDE

REVISED MAY 2025

FOREWARD

• The Applicant Study Guide provides an overview of the Red County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) and is designed to prepare Deputy Sheriff Recruit applicants for the selection and hiring process. Information contained in this guide focuses on the Department’s mission, purpose, and objectives as well as the duties of a Deputy Sheriff. This guide will assist the applicant in understanding the overall responsibility of becoming an RCSD Deputy Sheriff.
  
  The Applicant Study Guide is an excellent resource for applicants preparing for the Written Examination, Background Investigation, Background Interview, Academy Training and a career with the RCSD. The success of each applicant is very important to the RCSD. Therefore, we strongly encourage each applicant to thoroughly review the Applicant Study Guide. Questions may be referred to Recruitment Program staff electronic mail at [email protected].

REVISED JAN 2024

SELECTION PROCESS

• Deputy Sheriff Recruit, Red County Sheriff's Department (RCSD), is the entry level training classification for qualified persons to learn the duties of an RCSD Deputy Sheriff. All RCSD Deputy Sheriffs begin their careers at this classification. Applications for Deputy Sheriff Trainee RCSD, are accepted on a continuous basis. Examinations are conducted statewide in each field Division. There are four (4) separate phases in the recruit selection process. Typically, the testing and evaluation process requires an average of six months to one year to complete. The sequence is listed below:
  • Application
  • Background Investigation
  • Background Interview
  
  
  1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EXAMINATION.
  • a.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Age. 20 to 35 years of age. By state law, the maximum age for examination is 35 years. Successful applicants must be at least 21 years of age prior to graduation from the Academy.
    
    b.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Education. High school diploma from a United States (U.S.) institution or a general equivalency diploma (GED). Applicants may also have passed the San Andreas High School Proficiency Examination or possess a diploma from a Department of Defense High School
    
    c.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Citizenship. Effective January 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship is no longer a requirement. A person must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. (Applicants may be in the process of obtaining legal authorization upon application, but will need to show proof of legal authorization to work in the U.S. under federal law before being accepted into the Academy).
    
    d.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Character. No felony convictions.
    
    e.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (( Level 3+ Character )). Level 3 on atleast one character.
    
    f.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (( Working TeamSpeak3 & Microphone )). Must possess a working TeamSpeak 3 with a functional microphone.
    
    g.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (( Character )). Must have not been punished administratively in the last sixty (60) days.
  
  2. PHYSICAL CONDITION.
  • a.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Good health, sound physical condition.
    
    b.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Normal hearing.
    
    c.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Freedom from any physical or mental condition that would interfere with the full performance of the essential duties of a Deputy Sheriff, RCSD.
    
    d.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Vision. The applicant must read from a standard eye test chart. If eyeglasses or hard contact lenses are worn, uncorrected vision must be no less than 20/40 in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in each eye. Applicants who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 12 months are not required to meet an uncorrected standard as long as their corrected vision is 20/20 in each eye. At least four quarterly checks for vision stabilization are required for applicants who have had any eye surgery. Normal color vision is required as assessed by the Farnsworth-D-15 test. An X-Chrom Lens is prohibited.
  
  3. APPLICATION.
  • As of December 23, 2023 paper applications will no longer be accepted. Each applicant must submit an application online during open application timeframes.

REVISED JAN 2024

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, WRITTEN EXAM

• 1. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION.
  • (( OOC EXPECTATIONS
    
    The Red County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) is a prominent law enforcement agency operating within San Andreas, reasonably resembling the real-life Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD).
    
    Throughout your training at the academy, you'll notice a strong emphasis on aligning our roleplay with the immersive operations of our real-life counterpart while maintaining a reasonable balance. Upon successfully completing the academy and joining as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee, it's vital to keep up-to-date with official faction guides aimed at providing exceptional police roleplay to the community. The faction provides ample resources and guidance on RCSD procedures and guidelines, ensuring a seamless transition into the role.
    
    We expect all applicants and members of our faction to develop appropriate characters with authentic backgrounds and experiences. Our recruitment process is designed to assess your roleplaying abilities as well as your proficiency in English.
    
    There are several factors that may lead to denial based on poor character development:
    
    Wealth: While California law enforcement officers are among the highest paid, extravagant living without reasonable explanation isn't realistic. Despite economic conditions in the server, we acknowledge real-life wage constraints and expect members to do the same. It's crucial to provide a believable rationale for portraying wealth in roleplay scenarios. We don't ask that you give away all your money in order to join, but simply ask you not to partake in unreasonably luxurious activities while you're roleplaying in our faction.
    
    Demographics: Although many real-life OCSD deputies come from diverse backgrounds, portraying a character born in another country without plausible reasons often leads to clichéd and unrealistic roleplay. It's encouraged to depict characters born in the San Andreas area for authenticity, but if choosing otherwise, thorough research on immigration processes is necessary.
    
    Education: Character education should align with their background and career aspirations. Whether they're academically inclined or prefer hands-on learning, educational choices should reflect realistic pathways. In the United States, eligibility for law enforcement typically requires a high school diploma and being at least 21 years old upon academy graduation. Further education, such as a college degree in Criminal Justice, can enhance career prospects and provide a backup plan.
    
    Previous Job Experience: Prior work experience shapes a character's journey. If bypassing further education after high school, a character must realistically account for the waiting period before applying to law enforcement. Creative yet plausible explanations for interim occupations are essential, avoiding common script jobs like Trucking, Taxi Driver or Mechanic for more authentic roleplay experiences.
    
    
    ))
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND INTERVIEW, ACADEMY INVITATION
  • 1. BACKGROUND INTERVIEW.
    • (( OOC EXPECTATIONS
      
      The main purpose of the interview is to test the applicant's English proficiency & RP abilities in real-time. The applicant must strive to exhibit adequate roleplay & write in proficient English in order to pass the interview from an OOC perspective. Please read Background Investigation Chapter 1 OOC Expectations for more details. Please conduct the necessary research into the faction, and its real-life counterpart, before attending the interview. Please attempt to RP thoroughly throughout the interview. RP interactions are measured by the quality & quantity of the [/me], [/my], and [/do] lines written throughout the interview. ))
      
      An interview appointment will be made with the applicant by the RCSD Deputy Sheriffs who conduct the background investigation. The interview will be oral with an RCSD Deputy Sheriff who conduct background investigation. Prepare yourself and make sure that you dress accordingly in a business-formal attire. Arrive at the interview a few minutes early to ensure that you're on time. The primary interview location is at RCSD Headquarters located in Dillimore. You will receive a letter of discontinuance if you were not successful within 72-hours after the interview. It is normal not to receive any e-mail regarding the status of your application following the interview if your application is successful. Please refer to 2. Academy Invitation for further information.
    
    
    2. ACADEMY INVITATION.
    • Applicants who were successful in all phases of the selection process and eligible to attend the Academy will normally receive an Academy invitation via e-mail at least two to four weeks prior to the start of an Academy class. Refer to Deputy Sheriff Recruit Academy Access for a general overview about the Academy, Academy facilities and accommodations, and the type of training and courses provided.
    REVISED JAN 2024