Patrol Deputy

$5,000 NEW HIRE INCENTIVE

Job Purpose

Patrols assigned areas of the County, responds to calls for service; enforces all local, federal and state laws relating to public safety and welfare. Works under stressful, high-risk conditions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs routine patrol duties, including but not limited to patrolling assigned areas of the County, responding to emergency calls and/or public calls for assistance, maintaining order and public safety, apprehending and arresting law violators and criminal suspects, issuing traffic citations/summonses, transporting prisoners and mental patients.
• Enforces all local, federal and state laws relating to public safety and welfare; 
• Assists with criminal investigations. Interviews witnesses, complainants and victims; gathers physical evidence and preserves it for court; provides case follow-up as needed.
• Prepares cases for prosecution; provides court testimony as necessary.
• Prepares various documents including incident reports, accident reports, investigative reports, pursuit reports, warrants, subpoenas, and case documentation.

Job Specifications and Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• High School diploma or equivalent, with no experience required.

 Licensing and Certifications:

• Valid South Carolina Driver’s License; and
• Class I Law Enforcement Certification from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (already have or ability to achieve within 1 year of hire date)

Qualifications for Deputy (Patrol)

Must be 21 years old, or within 3 months of turning 21 years old to apply.

Must be a United States citizen.

Must be a South Carolina resident, or will move to SC upon hire.

Must have one (1) of the following:

• Certified Class 1-LE from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, or
• Certified law enforcement from another state, or
• Military Police experience, or
• 3 years or more military experience in any job duty, or
• Associates degree or higher.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

• Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.
• Positions in this class typically require talking, hearing, seeing, fingering, grasping, standing, walking, running, repetitive motions, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, climbing, balancing, pushing, pulling, and lifting. Positions in this class may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, intense noises, gases, workspace restrictions, and vibrations.

Lexington County offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, retirement, holiday pay, vacation leave, sick leave, flexible spending accounts, wellness incentive health reimbursement account, deferred compensation, and more.

To learn more details, visit our website's benefits page.


Salary for already certified Detention and Law Enforcement Deputy applicants

Starting Salary: $51,808 - $54,782
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working less than three years. Salary reflects working our standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Three Years of Service Salary: $53,283 - $55,273
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working three years. Salary reflects working our standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Six Years of Service Salary: $54,782 - $56,772
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working six years. Salary reflects working our standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Salary for uncertified Detention and Law Enforcement Deputy applicants

Starting Salary: $49,795 - $53,772
Applies to the brand-new detention or law enforcement applicant. Salary reflects working our standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Applicants may be eligible for additional incentives, depending on education and Spanish fluency.  Call our HR Division office at 803-785-2407 to learn more.

Health Insurance

The County of Lexington provides medical insurance for its employees through a county funded Employee Health Care Plan. There are multiple coverages available for the employee to choose from, depending on his/her personal coverage needs. 

Actual rate within the range is determined on which coverage plan is chosen and how many children are being covered.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:

Employee Only $35.00 – $88.50
Employee and Child(ren) $62.00 – $257.50
Employee and Spouse $135.50 – $242.00
Employee and Family 162.00 – $410.50

Employee Wellness Center

The County of Lexington provides a Wellness Center for its employees and their dependents who are covered under county health insurance. The staff of the Health and Wellness Center is licensed to diagnose, treat and prescribe for a wide variety of common illness and injuries at no cost to the employee and their covered dependents, when participating in the Gold or Silver Health Insurance Plan. There is a small co-pay if employees choose the Bronze Health Insurance Plan.  Check out Marathon Health at www1.marathon-health.com.

Dental Insurance

The County of Lexington provides dental insurance for its employees through the county’s plan. There are two coverage plans from which the employee can choose, depending on his/her personal coverage needs. 

Actual rate within the range is determined on which coverage plan is chosen and how many children are being covered.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:

Employee Only $3.11 – $3.58
Employee and Child(ren) $8.52 – $31.98
Employee and Spouse $9.28 – $10.67
Employee and Family $14.69 – $35.57

Vision Insurance

The County of Lexington provides vision insurance for its employees through the county’s plan.  Basic coverage is provided at a minimal cost to the employee. Employees who wish to cover members of their family may do so through payroll deductions.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:
Employee Only $3.75
Employee and Child(ren) $7.75
Employee and Spouse $7.60
Employee and Family $11.80

Life Insurance

The County of Lexington provides life insurance for its employees. Basic coverage is provided at no cost to the employee, with a benefit amount at 1.5 times the employee's basic annual earnings, up to $50,000.

Additional coverage on the employee or his or her dependents is available and can be paid for through payroll deduction.

Retirement

All full-time employees of the county participate in the South Carolina Retirement System or the South Carolina Police Officer’s Retirement System.

Deferred Compensation

Employees are eligible to participate in the South Carolina Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K or 457. The amount deposited is determined by the employee and participation is optional. This is a tax-deferred savings program and is handled automatically by payroll deduction.

Overtime

Employees who are eligible for overtime are paid overtime at the rate of 1.5 times his or her regular rate of pay for time worked. Overtime will be calculated at any hours worked over 86 in a two week pay period for non-exempt, sworn personnel. 

Holiday Pay
The County of Lexington observes 13 paid holidays each year. When 86-hour law enforcement and detention deputies work on of these holidays, they are paid for twice the number of hours worked on the holiday.

Annual Leave and Sick Leave

Annual leave is accrued at the rate of 10 days per year for employees with less than five years of service with the county; 15 days for 5-10 years of service; and 20 days for 10 or more years of service. Sick leave is accrued at 12 days per year.

Collateral Duty Pay

Employees receive collateral duty pay, in the form of quarterly-paid supplements, for serving in specialized assignments over and above their regular, paid assigned job duties.

Extra Duty Opportunities

Law enforcement officers (patrol deputies and other class 1 certified officers) have the opportunity to sign-up for extra-duty jobs to earn extra income working for secondary employers.  Most extra-duty jobs pay $50/hour, with a 3-hour minimum.

Education Incentive Pay

Employees receive educational incentive pay for completing degrees in pre-approved courses of study at approved accredited institutions.

College Tuition Discount

Employees may be eligible for law enforcement tuition discounts at various institutions.  The employee needs to check with the college or university to inquire if they have a tuition discount available to law enforcement.

Montgomery G.I. Bill

Veterans may qualify to use their G.I. Bill education benefits while working and receiving on-the-job training at the Sheriff’s Department.

Gym Membership

Gym memberships are available to all employees at a highly discounted rate to the employee, made possible through the efforts of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers' Association Membership

The department pays for membership in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association for all law enforcement and detention deputies. Membership in SCLEOA entitles the member to a list of member benefits. For more information, see SCLEOA’s website at scleoa.org.

South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Membership

Certified personnel receive an Individual Membership to the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association. For more information, see South Carolina Sheriffs' Association website at sheriffsc.org

Work Schedules

Patrol deputies and detention deputies work the following schedule:

12-hour shifts – 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 6 a.m.

Patrol Deputies:  Two days on, two days off; three days on, two days off; two days on, three days off; (this cycle then repeats).

Detention deputies work a permanent shift (days or nights).

Patrol deputies rotate between dayshift and nightshift every 28 days.

Vehicles

At the discretion of the Sheriff, employees in designated positions are authorized to be assigned a department vehicle on a 24/7 week basis. Take-home vehicles are only available to personnel living in Lexington County or living in one of the adjacent/bordering counties of Aiken, Calhoun, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland or Saluda.

Equipment

Department personnel receive the equipment (uniforms, firearms, etc.) necessary for the position for which they are hired.