Sheriff Career Opportunities

Collage of sheriff deputies in their various job duties

 



 

Join our team! 2 testing dates available: Feb. 1, 2025, and April 8, 2025. Starting wage is $70,871 with outstanding benefits! Application deadlines are January 17 and March 24, 2025.


 

Join the team at the
Johnson County Sheriff's Office

 

Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Testing

The Johnson County Civil Service Commission will conduct a periodic testing of applicants for the position of Deputy Sheriff on the following dates:

  • February 1, 2025.  All application materials are due by 5:00 PM on January 17, 2025.
  • April 8, 2025.  All application materials are due by 5:00 PM on March 24, 2025.

The core mission of the Sheriff's Office is to provide the citizens of Johnson County with the highest level of law enforcement in a fair and equitable manner. In your career with our office, you will serve in the distinguished field of law enforcement while having extensive opportunities to make a difference in your community. Whether you are just starting out or seeking your next profession, you will find a rewarding, challenging career and family with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

Starting salary is $70,871/annually plus outstanding benefits.  Current certified law enforcement officers may be eligible to start at an advanced wage commensurate with their years of certified experience.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the information below thoroughly for required application forms, testing locations, testing requirements and minimum qualifications.
 

Required applications and documentation for all applicants

All applicants are required to complete the Civil Service Test Application and the Personal Information Release Waiver.

All non-certified applicants are also required to complete the Physical Fitness Waiver.

Veteran's Preference - Honorably discharged veterans as defined in Section 400.10 of the Code of Iowa shall have five (5) points added to their written examination score.  An additional five (5) points shall be added if such veteran has been awarded the Purple Heart for disabilities incurred in action or has a service-connected disability.  A copy of Form DD-214, Form 1 and documentation verifying a service-connected disability must be submitted with your application materials.

The application, waiver(s) and DD-214 (if applicable) must be submitted by

  • 5PM on January 17, 2025 for the February Testing
  • 5PM on March 24, 2025 for the April Testing

Materials can be submitted by email to Major Lamm at [email protected] or mailed to:

Johnson County Sheriff's Office
Attn:  Major Lamm
PO Box 2540
Iowa City, Iowa  52244

Certified peace officers

Current State of Iowa certified peace officers, who are in good standing, will not be required to complete the physical and POST test.  Once your Civil Service Test Application and Personal Information Release Waiver are submitted, reviewed and approved you will be contacted to complete a longer application and schedule an interview.

Physical fitness test location and requirements

**Applicants will be notified of testing location**
Check in begins at 8:00 A.M.
Physical Fitness Assessment will start at 8:30 A.M.
 

  • All applicants must present a state driver's license or state issued I.D. card at check-in.
  • ALL non-certified applicants are required to take the physical fitness assessment.
  • The physical fitness assessment consists of three individual events which include:
    • One minute sit-up test
    • One minute push-up test
    • 1.5 mile run
  • The physical fitness assessment is scored on a Pass/Fail basis and applicants must successfully pass all three events.
  • The performance requirements to pass each assessment are based on gender and age and can be found at the following link:

Written test location and requirements

The written test will start after the physical fitness assessment at the following location:
Johnson County Sheriff's Office
511 South Capitol Street, Iowa City, Iowa  52240

  • All applicants will be permitted to either take the written National Police Officer Standard Testing (POST) required for all Iowa peace officers or transfer passing POST scores taken within the last 12 months from another Iowa law enforcement agency.  If you choose to retest, the most recent score will be used in our hiring process.
  • The POST test will take approximately one and one-half (1 1/2) hours and consists of four timed sections:
    • Arithmetic
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Grammar
    • Incident report writing
  • The minimum passing score is 70% on each of the four sections.
  • Candidates interested in preparing for the POST can purchase online POST practice tests and study guides through the Stanard & Associates link here.

Deputy Sheriff qualifications

To qualify for the position of Deputy Sheriff with Johnson County applicants must meet the basic requirements per the Iowa Administrative Code.  These requirements provide that, prior to appointment, the candidate must:

  1. Be a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed;
  2. Be 18 years of age at the time of appointment;
  3. Hold a valid Iowa driver's license;
  4. Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by §400.17 of the Code of Iowa];
  5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
  6. Successfully pass physical fitness test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy;
  7. Not be opposed to use of force to fulfill duties;
  8. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate;
  9. Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the occupational demands of law enforcement;
  10. Meets hearing standards;
  11. Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer;
  12. Undergo psychological testing;
  13. Undergo cognitive (basic skills) testing

In addition

  • All applicants should be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the Deputy Sheriff job description.
  • Fingerprints, an extensive background investigation and polygraph examination may be conducted on finalists.

How to prepare for testing day


Video Transcript

Physical testing

Recognizing the importance of physical fitness in job performance, the Iowa Law Enforcement Council established the physical fitness test regimen as a pre-employment standard that consists of three events: one minute push-up, one minute sit-up, and one and one-half mile run. Performance requirements to pass each physical fitness test are based on gender and age and outlined in the link below.

Written testing

In addition to the physical fitness test, candidates must also successfully complete the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST). The written exam consists of four sections; arithmetic, reading comprehension, grammar and incident report writing. The minimum passing score is 70% on each of the four sections.

Deputy Sheriff duties

Typically, all new full time deputies are assigned to work in the Jail Division. Primary duties may include:

  • Ensuring the custody, welfare and security of prisoners including booking, feeding, exercising and related record keeping
  • Controlling inmate movement
  • Transporting prisoners and individuals under mental health commitments in compliance with court orders
  • Attending court
  • Responding to emergency situations

Future opportunities include working in the Patrol, Civil, Detective or Courthouse Security Divisions.  Some of these duties may include:

  • Providing contracted law enforcement for the cities of Lone Tree, Hills, Solon, Shueyville, Swisher, Tiffin and Oxford.  Regularly patrolling all areas of the county and providing security at special events.
  • Executing, processing and serving notices and orders of the court including small claims, subpoenas, and related civil papers.
  • Conducting in depth investigations that may require additional specialized training such as burglary, robbery, sexual assault, fraud, murder and arson.
  • Providing security at the Courthouse.
Johnson County benefits

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office offers a competitive salary and outstanding benefit package which includes:

Starting salary is $70,871/annually.  Current certified law enforcement officers may be eligible to start at an advanced salary commensurate with their years of experience.

  • Paid vacation days, sick days and holidays
  • Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • Flexible Spending Life Insurance and Long Term Disability
  • IPERS retirement plan and Deferred Compensation (457)
  • Opportunities for advancement
  • For more information about benefits and compensation please review the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Collective Bargaining Agreement at the link below
Quick links

Important links for testing day can also be found here:

Applications and Waivers

Job Description

Physical Fitness Test

P.O.S.T. Exam Study Guide