Skip to Main Content

Patrol Deputy & Detention Officer

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR

PATROL DEPUTY AND DETENTION OFFICER

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION- The Patrol Deputy works under the direction and supervision of the Patrol Sergeant and is responsible for performing general law enforcement duties and services. This position is governed by law enforcement procedures, state and federal laws, and department policy.

The person holding the position of Patrol Deputy must be certified or be able to become certified law enforcement officer by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) as established by ACA 12-9-204.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - SWORN DEPUTY SHERIFF:
(Arkansas Minimum Standards) Every officer employed by a law enforcement unit shall:

  • Be a citizen of the United States (proof required).
  • Be at least 21 years of age (proof required).
  • Be fingerprinted and a search initiated of state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
  • Be free of felony record. A felony record shall mean having entered a plea of guilty, been found guilty, or otherwise having been convicted of an offense, the punishment for which could have been imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or a state penitentiary. The fact that an individual has received a pardon, or their record has been expunged, sealed, sentence suspended, or judgment otherwise held in abeyance shall not release the individual from having a felony record for the purposes of this regulation.
  • Be of good character as determined by a thorough background investigation.
  • Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level (proof required). 
  • Be examined by a licensed physician and meet prescribed physical requirements.
  • Be interviewed personally prior to employment by the department head or his representative, or representatives, to determine such things as the applicant's motivation, appearance, demeanor, attitude, and ability to communicate.
  • Pass a psychological screening that includes being screened by an individual licensed to practice psychiatry or psychology and qualified to perform such evaluations in the State of Arkansas, who after the examination finds the officer to be competent and recommends the agency to hire the individual.
  • Possess a valid Arkansas driver license when hired.


GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION- The Detention Officer works under the direction and supervision of the Shift Supervisor and is responsible for supervising inmates and monitoring their activity while incarcerated in the Detention Center. This position is governed by law enforcement procedures, state and federal laws, and department policy.

  • All Detention Officers shall successfully complete training equivalent to the basic jail course which is offered by the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy or the Department of Correction within nine (9) months of being hired. Personnel may be granted a three (3) month extension within which to complete the training. Certified law enforcement officers are exempt as long as the Chief Executive certifies that the officer is knowledgeable of these Standards. If training cannot be completed within nine months (with a three (3) month extension) from date of hire, the Chief Executive shall document in writing the attempts made to complete training. In no case shall training be deferred beyond two (2) years. Each new employee shall work on a probationary status for a minimum of one (1) year from date of hire.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - DETENTION OFFICER:
Non-Sworn civilian employees, including Secretarial, Clerical, Administrative personnel and sworn employees with restricted arrest powers (such as Jailers) must normally meet all of the same requirements as sworn employees, with the following exceptions:

  • Non-sworn civilian employees and sworn employees with restricted powers must only be eighteen (18) years of age rather than twenty-one (21) years of age. (County Policy Manual, Section 15G, page 19).
  • on-sworn civilian employees are not required to submit to psychological evaluation, while sworn employees with restricted powers (Jailers limited primarily to serving warrants in the Detention Center) are required to submit to psychological evaluation.


Contact the Marion County Sheriff's Department at 870.449.4236 for additional information.

Sheriff Gregg L Alexander