KCSO receives your scores 7-10 days after your initial test date.  Once you begin the background investigation, you might know in as quickly as 2-3 months whether you will be offered a job, or as long as 5-6 months depending upon the extent of the investigation. The background investigation begins when a candidate completes and returns the KCSO form titled Personal History Questionnaire Supplemental.

No. Our hiring process deliberately requires about six in-person appointments.

There is some consolidation of those appointments for out-of-state candidates, so that the process requires only 3 trips (written/physical test, oral board & post-conditional offer appointments). If you are hired as a lateral-entry deputy, King County may reimburse up to two of your travel trips/expenses.

Yes it does. Once you are hired, you will need to work with our Human Resources personnel to complete the necessary paperwork.

No. Our retirement system is LEOFF 2. Unless you have prior law enforcement experience in this state before entering the military, there is no provision for buying into the system. It is possible to buy back service credits once you are in the LEOFF system.

For additional questions on retirement, visit www.drs.wa.gov.

No. Generally the on-campus housing and meals program at CJTC is reserved for agencies located more than 40 miles away.  King County deputies attending the academy are responsible for commuting. If this will create a tremendous hardship, you may consider going in on an apartment with a couple of your classmates, or commute during the week from a friend or family's member's home.

Yes. During the academy you will get to rank your precinct preferences 1-3. KCSO makes every effort to keep new deputies closer to home for FTO, however we do reserve the right to make precinct assignments based on our staffing needs at the time. Once you successfully complete probation, you may put in a transfer request to any other precinct.

The SWAT Unit generally requires a minimum of four years experience with the Sheriff’s Office. This is true of the other specialty units as well. Most detective units require between 3 and 5 years experience. Other units like Traffic, city policing, Metro, and SRO simply require that you have successfully completed probation. For laterals, once they complete probation, their lateral time applies to most of the requirements for specialty units.

There is currently no formal policy on tattoos, as long as they are not offensive to anyone or to any group of people.   The Sheriff reserves the right to request employees with full-sleeve tattoos to wear long-sleeved uniform shirts year round. 

Yes. Please bring your DD-214 with you to your Oral Board interview. The Civil Service Administration Unit will then calculate the appropriate percentage to add to your passing score.

Ride alongs are scheduled for candidates once they have successfully completed the Oral Board. At that time, candidates also will be given the opportunity to participate in the KCSO Mentoring Program.  Your mentor will be your first ride and then he/she can facilitate more, if you wish.