Description
***JOIN OUR TEAM NOW TO RECEIVE A ONE-TIME BONUS PAYMENT OF $5,000***
Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program BeAFloridaHero.com
Persons who gain or are appointed as full-time Certified Law Enforcement Officers with a Florida criminal justice agency on or after July 1, 2022 and who have never previously been employed as a Law Enforcement Officer within the State of Florida, are eligible for a One-Time Bonus Payment of $5,000.
Bonus payments are considered to be taxable income, and will be issued by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in the gross amount of $6,694 (includes $1,694 for the payment of taxes). The DEO remains responsible for issuing payments and enforcing repayment, should the recipient leave employment as a Law Enforcement Officer before the two-year agreement has been completed. Additional Program Information is available here.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, STARTING SALARY UP TO $78,557 for SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH PRIOR EXPERIENCE
This position performs general law enforcement work with the responsibility of preservation and protection of life and property, the prevention and investigation of crime,
the maintenance of good public order, the enforcement of civil and criminal law and other related duties as directed or assigned. Work involves an element of personal danger. Employees must be able to act effectively without direct supervision and to exercise discretion, caution, common sense, reasonable calmness, and self-control under adverse conditions while maintaining control of a particular situation or emergency.
Duties may involve other special assignments of similar complexity including forest patrol, search and rescue, mental health unit, and homeless outreach street team, providing assistance to those who are unable to care for themselves, the intoxicated, addicted, mentally ill, physically disabled, and persons of all ages. Work may be performed either in uniform or plain clothes, on foot or in an automobile, and on any assigned shift.
Employees report to a designated Sergeant and are responsible to their Lieutenant, Captain, Chief, Assistant Sheriff, and the Sheriff. Performance is evaluated through reports, personal contact, inspection, examination, discussions, and appropriate employee performance appraisals.
The position adheres to the agency core values of honesty and integrity, accountability, teamwork, trust and respect and commitment to excellence and acts in accordance with the Canon of Law Enforcement Ethics.
To be successful in this position, the employee must demonstrate competency in local, state and federal statutes and ordinances, officer safety, firearms proficiency, knowledge of geographical jurisdiction, defensive and control tactics, conflict resolution, general communication skills (both written and oral), inter-personal skills, problem solving, driving, team building skills and interviewing skills.
The establishment of the eligibility list is based upon the successful completion of the following sequential steps (each step must be successfully completed in order to be eligible for the next step):
1. Pass LCSO's Physical Abilities Test in 6 minutes 4 seconds.
2. Complete the Oral Board process.
3. Receive approval of the Sheriff.
Please visit the LCSO website at www.leoncountyso.com for additional information. Applications must be submitted online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/leoncountyso to be considered.
Requirements
Eligibility Criteria:
- High School Diploma.
- Associates Degree preferred.
- In compliance with 943.13 F.S., the position requires the employee to be at least 19 years of age, be a citizen of the United States, be of good moral character, and must have completed a basic training program for Law Enforcement approved by the CJSTC and pass the Florida certification examination.
- Must not be disqualified by any factors outlined in the application for employment.
- Must maintain a primary residence within Leon County or a county adjacent to Leon (Wakulla, Liberty, Gadsden, and Jefferson Counties in Florida, Thomas and Grady Counties in Georgia).
- Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license with a good driving history.
- Sit/stand for extended periods of time.
- See/hear at normal range.
- Speak, read, write, and understand English fluently.
- Ambulate independently.
- Lift/carry 150 pounds.
- Push/pull moderate to heavy loads.
- Bend and squat.
- Manual dexterity.
- Drive a vehicle.
- Pass standard Physical Agility Test as required.
- Pass Firearms and Defensive Tactics courses as required.
- Pass various driving tests as required.
- Pass all other courses/training as mandated by LCSO and/or FCJSTC.
- May operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) for Deputy assigned to forest patrol.
- Load and offload an ATV and other equipment for Deputy assigned to forest patrol.
- Position requires frequent work outdoors, during high and low temperatures and inclement weather or disasters.
- Position has an increased risk of occupational exposure to hazardous and infectious materials.
- Must be able to wear required uniform and equipment including a safety belt weighing 10 or more pounds.
- Knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations and the application of such to the performance of the job.
- Knowledge of the geography of the County, its unincorporated areas and the general roadway system of the County.
- Knowledge of first aid practices and the ability to render physical assistance to victims.
- Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
- Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
- Ability to cope with stressful situations and perform calmly under stressful conditions.
- Testify at trials, hearings, grand juries and/or depositions truthfully, accurately and professionally.
- Ability to work closely with others as a team.
- Ability to prepare and present clear, accurate, concise and objective written and oral reports.
- Ability to enforce the law with firmness, tact and impartiality and to deal courteously with the public.
- Ability to maintain a level of physical conditioning to be able to physically subdue, restrain, and apprehend law violators.
- Ability to meet requirements of periodic in-service training in all high liability areas as well as all requirements to maintain the position's certification.
- Ability to adhere to the standards and principles of the agency's core values, abide by the Canon of Law Enforcement Ethics and professionally represent the agency.
- Possess investigative skills and apply the skills in real time situations including but not limited to evidence collection, interviews with witnesses or suspects, linking of key facts in a case, authoring a legally supported probable cause and laying the groundwork for a solvable case.
- Skill in calmly and systematically eliciting critical information from individuals who may be injured and/or highly emotional.
- Skill in firearms to be able to operate authorized firearms designated by the agency from a standing, crouch, kneeling, or prone position with the dominant hand with accuracy.
- Skill in the operation of motor vehicles in a safe and efficient manner in a law enforcement environment. Essentials for this requirement shall include, but not be limited to ability to sit in a standard car seat, ability to use right foot for operation of gas pedal, ability to use right foot for operation of brake pedal, ability to use gearshift, ability to obtain and maintain a valid Florida driver's license (minimum Class E), ability to properly identify colors utilized in descriptions.
- Ability to report to work timely, consistently and as scheduled.
- Ability to report to work in times of an emergency disaster as declared by local, state or federal officials or agencies.
- Ability to work rotating 8–12-hour shifts involving daytime and night-time hours as well as weekends.
