Accept the challenge and begin your career as a Sheriff's Office deputy.

The King County Sheriff's Office is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. With a commissioned staff of more than 720, we are among the largest sheriff’s departments in the country. Our deputies have opportunities to serve in many different communities, including unincorporated King County, numerous city police departments, a transit police agency, among others.

What kind of deputy careers do we offer?

We offer countless unique assignments that range from school or community-based positions to drug enforcement and bomb disposal. Some deputies stay in a specialized career assignment, while others move between assignment types as they advance or expand their expertise. Regardless of your assignment, you’ll serve the citizens of local communities and work with them and your peers to solve crime problems. Applying to become a KCSO deputy sheriff is your first step towards an exciting and rewarding law enforcement career serving your community.

Who do we hire and how often?

The King County Sheriff's Office actively recruits qualified new and lateral-entry (previous experience) applicants throughout the year. Because of the size of our operations, there are usually new positions opening up every month. 

We strive to recruit candidates who represent the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome men and women of every culture and ethnic background, and believe that the internal environment of the KCSO supports and respects the differences that exist between us. If you can embrace our mission, vision, goals and core values, then we are interested in you.

If you don't have experience as a commissioned officer, you should apply as an entry-level deputy. Lateral-entry deputies have one or more years of experience as a commissioned law enforcement officer. Our wage package allows for advanced step wage placement, using a sliding scale based on your experience, training and education.

What are the qualifications?

You may be asking yourself, "Do I have what it takes?" Well, there are a few basic qualifications and disqualifiers that you can check out very quickly. These qualifications are absolute musts. Note that there are some additional qualifications for lateral entry applicants. You can also use the self-screening tool to see if you are the candidate we are looking for.

How can I learn more?

To learn more, we invite you to attend a workshop. The workshop is led by our recruiter, who will provide you with a complete overview of what to expect during the testing and hiring process. Our recruiter is an experienced deputy who will also give you an idea of what the job is really like. Workshops are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Room 123 of the Chinook Building at 401-5th Avenue, Seattle.

Reserve your seat by e-mailing our recruiter directly at kcso.recruiter@kingcounty.gov or by calling (206) 205-7625.