Deputy Sheriff

Salary : $60,606.00 Annually
Location : Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA
Job Type: Full Time & Part Time Vacancies
Job Number: 2026-DS08E
Department: Sheriff
Division: Sheriff
Opening Date: 08/11/2026


Application Requirements
The Northampton County Sheriff's Department is searching for capable, energetic candidates who are up to the challenge to be their best. In return, they will get the satisfaction of serving their community and a sense of pride that will last a lifetime. We offer a competitive starting salary, excellent benefits, and continuous training and educational opportunities throughout your career.
Written Exam Dates - TBD
Effective immediately, applicants may take the exam for this position a maximum of two (2) times per 12-month period.
IMPORTANT NOTE:

Upon hire new Deputy Sheriff's must attend the 19-week training Academy at Penn State University. This is required and residency is mandatory for this training. For additional information regarding this Academy, please click here . Those with Act 2 or Act 120 training will complete Waiver Training, as outlined on the site.
In order to be considered for this position, candidates must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Please answer any supplemental questions truthfully and completely. Use the employment history section of your application to substantiate your answers to supplemental questions.

Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the minimum requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered for the position.

All qualified, eligible applicants will move on to the next step in the recruitment process, which is a Written Exam. Candidates will be notified to schedule their testing session; they will be allowed up to three hours to complete the exam, which is a law enforcement test called FrontLine National. The test consists of the following:

• Situational Judgment and Human Relations Video Test
• Report Writing Test
• Reading Test

FrontLine National does offer practice tests which can be accessed


Candidates will receive email notification regarding the results of their exam. Applicants who pass the test will receive subsequent email notification of the next step in the recruitment process, the Physical Agility Test. Information regarding the Physical Agility Test requirements will be provided to applicants when they take the written exam. Please note, candidates who possess Pennsylvania Act 2 or Act 120 certifications are exempt from taking the Physical Agility Test.

Candidates are also required to successfully pass the following:

• Polygraph Examination
• Background Investigation
• Psychological Evaluation
• Medical Examination (including a drug screen)

Equal Employment Opportunities - It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst, at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Job Description

GENERAL PURPOSE A Deputy Sheriff is a sworn and certified law enforcement officer who provides courthouse and courtroom security, transportation of prisoners, and service of court orders and writs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED This position reports directly to a Deputy Sheriff Sergeant, a Sheriff's Lieutenant, Chief Deputy Sheriff, and/or the Sheriff.


SUPERVISION EXERCISED This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION Serves court orders and writs. Tracks down individuals named in such papers, visiting home and business addresses, and talking to family members. Locates individuals and serves legal papers.

Apprehends and arrests individuals who are wanted for Commonwealth Court issued orders/warrants, probation violations, and other orders. Serves protection from abuse papers. Enforces court orders. Serves incompetency papers securing witness signatures. Locates personal property, including vehicles, for sale or levy. Executes court orders, injunctions, and possessions.

Provides security for Northampton County government buildings by screening all individuals entering the building for weapons, drugs, explosives, or other prohibited items.

Responds to emergencies in the Courthouse, courtrooms, or other government buildings as required.

Transports individuals from prison to court for trials, hearings, and sentencing. Escorts sentenced defendants from courtroom to collection, and other offices, as required for each case. Transports prisoners to and from various penal institutions within the state, and for extradition to and from other jurisdictions. Drives and/or rides escort in County vehicles to effect such transport. Searches individuals being transported for weapons, drugs, or other contraband.

Directs security in courtrooms. Calls for prisoners. Depending on nature and circumstances of cases being heard, searches individuals entering courtroom. Observes court proceedings, particularly individuals' activities and demeanor, to anticipate and control problem situations. Guards jurors and judges during course of trial. In the event of an emergency, summons appropriate agency, and within limits of training, renders emergency treatment.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Completion of a high school, or general equivalency diploma; AND

Must be 21 years of age by date of hire; AND

Employees assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license and have a clean driving record; AND

Employees assigned to this title will be required to achieve and maintain certification under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania act of February 9, 1984 (known as Act 2) and amended by the act of July 9, 2014 (known as Act-114) known as the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Act.

NOTE: The County may give preference to a candidate who has Act 2 (Deputy Sheriff's Academy) or Act 120 (Municipal Police Officer's Academy) certification. This exception may be used when Deputy Sheriff's Academy availability is limited or when the operational needs of the Sheriff's Department require faster certification of an applicant(s). Faster certification is possible when an applicant has either (1) already completed the Deputy Sheriff's Academy and is certified or (2) completed Act 120 training and can obtain a waiver to take the shorter, two week Deputy Sheriff's Academy training. Candidates on the eligibility list bypassed when this exception is used shall remain on the list. This exception is not intended to be used at all times when an applicant has a Deputy Sheriff's Academy certification or has completed Act 120 training.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION - All Deputy Sheriff candidates are required to successfully pass a polygraph test.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - All Deputy Sheriff candidates are required to successfully pass a background investigation, including a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and credit history.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION - All Deputy Sheriff candidates are required to successfully pass a psychological examination.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION - All Deputy Sheriff candidates are required successfully pass a medical examination, including a drug screen.

Must maintain certifications in First Aid, CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillation)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of the methods and techniques commonly employed in law enforcement, security, and prisoner transportation.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of the criminal and civil justice system, including the rules of procedure.

Knowledge of the goals and objectives of law enforcement work at the County level.

Familiarity with the use and maintenance of weapons used in law enforcement.

Ability to maintain order, including the control of disruptive individuals, in a variety of situations.


Ability to locate geographical locations, including alternate routes, across the County and State.

Ability to keep records and prepare reports from them.

Ability to write reports and citations, and document and maintain files, including using computers for reporting and retrieval.

Ability to conduct a criminal investigation, prepare criminal complaints/affidavits, file criminal charges, and prepare for prosecution.

Knowledge of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Laws of Arrest.

Ability to operate computers, alarms, and emergency dispatching radios/equipment.

Ability to react calmly and effectively in an emergency situation.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials and representatives of other agencies, associates, and the public.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.


TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Sheriff Department vehicle, sheriff radio, handgun, shotgun, handcuffs, conducted energy device (CED) (e.g. Taser), telephone, cell phone, first aid equipment, flashlight, expandable baton, oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray) and other less lethal equipment such as personal computer (including word processing software), video and audio equipment, digital camera, writing implements, fax machine, copier, and paper shredder.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee must have the physical ability to make an arrest under the law. Employee must be able to apprehend, detain, and secure those who violate the law.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions, and may occasionally work near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.

May come in contact with bio-hazardous materials and waste, secondhand smoke, narcotics, and individuals with contagious diseases. May be shot, stabbed, bitten, kicked, and/or hit by various objects.

The noise level in the work environment varies.


SELECTION GUIDELINES Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.


The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: DS-23
UNION STATUS: NORTHAMPTON COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION

Updated August 2023
Full-time employees of the County of Northampton are afforded a package of benefits which includes the following:
Medical Insurance
Vision and Prescription
Dental
Life Insurance
Retirement
I. Medical Insurance

Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plans varies by the coverage selection and number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage through the spouse's employer is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual $1,500.00 opt out payment.
II. Vision and Prescription

Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. Coverage under the vision plan varies and depends upon the employee's choice of doctor and frame selection.
III. Dental Coverage

Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member.
IV. Life Insurance

A life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees beginning on the first day of employment, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement. $20,000 is afforded to all eligible employees.
V. Retirement

All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1000 hours per year qualify for County of Northampton retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and employees may choose to add additional voluntary contributions, not to exceed an additional 10%. Additionally, employees may participate in an optional deferred compensation plan (457(b)) which may provide present tax advantages and future retirement savings. Such arrangements are made directly with the providers and the County will administer payroll deductions only.
01


Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the applicant screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

• Yes
• No

02


Current Northampton County employees MUST detail ALL County work experience on their application. Failure to include correct work history and employment dates will result in the rejection of your application. If you need assistance with this information, please reach out to the Human Resources department BEFORE submitting your application. Please select "yes" to confirm your understanding of this requirement. If you are not a current County employee, please select "no".

• Yes
• No

03


Are you at least twenty-one (21) years of age?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you possess a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license, with an acceptable driving record? If so, please be sure to attach a copy/photo of the front of your license.

• Yes
• No

05


The attachment of your driver's license is required for application submission. Failure to attach this documentation will result in the rejection of your application. Please select "yes" to indicate you understand this requirement.

• Yes
• No

06


Do you possess Act 2 Certification? If yes, you must attach a copy of your certification to your application.

• Yes
• No

07


Do you possess Act 120 Certification? If yes, you must attach a copy of your certification to your application.

• Yes
• No

08


Please provide three (3) references in the space below - you may include personal and/or professional references.Please include name, address, and telephone number(s) and indicate if it is a personal or professional reference.
09


New Deputy Sheriff's without Act 2 or Act 120 certification must attend the 19-week training academy at Penn State University after hire. This is mandatory and residency at Penn State is required for training. Please select "yes" to confirm you understand this requirement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question