Public Safety Service Officer

COUNTY OF SHASTA

INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF

                                                       PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE OFFICER

THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE SHASTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2024

SEE “SPECIAL REQUIREMENT” SECTION REGARDING 

POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE 

RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED

FINAL FILING DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2024 AT 12:00 PM

SALARY INFORMATION

Public Safety Service Officer:

$ 3,473 - $4,434 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY* / $20.04 - $25.58 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases* Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous.

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere.  With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Sheriff's Office is organized into four major divisions: Custody, Services, Enforcement and Coroner.

The Custody Division includes the County Jail and the Annex Work Facility. The purpose of the jail is to incarcerate offenders while providing basic medical care for County, State, out-of-County, and federal prisoners who are ineligible to be assigned to alternative custody programs. The jail is a maximum-security facility that houses both pre-sentenced and sentenced persons.

The Services Division includes The Local Office of Emergency Services, Personnel and Hiring, the Background Unit, Internal Affairs, and the Records Unit.

The Enforcement Division handles all Patrol related matters. The Major Crimes Unit augments patrol and investigates property crimes, and crimes against people. The Enforcement Division is also responsible for municipal law enforcement services within the City of Shasta Lake. The Animal Regulation Unit is also under the Enforcement Division of the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff is also the County Coroner; therefore, the Coroner’s Division is responsible for investigating sudden, violent, unusual, and unexpected deaths, when the decedent has not been recently seen by a physician. The Coroner’s Division is commanded by a Lieutenant who serves as the agency’s Chief Deputy Coroner. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision, assists sworn personnel by handling non-hazardous support responsibilities in the Sheriff’s Office, and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Public Safety Service Officer is a generalist non-sworn classification that performs a wide variety of law enforcement support tasks that do not require the exercise of peace officer powers of arrest or firearms. Public Safety Service Officers are assigned to the Sheriff’s Office (primarily to the Jail or the ID Lab).  Public Safety Service Officers are paraprofessional civilian personnel utilized to augment sworn members in the performance of their primary custody/enforcement, security, property, evidence, and investigation responsibilities.  Positions in this classification are distinguished from positions designated as “sworn safety” by the lack of direct responsibility for physical restraint of prisoners, protecting life and property, apprehending criminal violators, and other duties that must be carried out by sworn personnel.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

An ideal candidate for this position is one who is detail oriented, articulate in both their written and oral communication, displays an understanding and ability to work with technical and computer related hardware and software, has a minimum of one-year prior inventory or property management experience, and has prior experience working for a law enforcement agency, or has some college units in criminal justice or related field of study.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

If assigned to the Jail: Processes inmates into detention facilities; initiates and completes applicable booking forms; assists with processing inmates' personal property and clothing, finger printing, and photographs; maintains inmates' court schedules and appearances via computer assisted terminals; coordinates daily appearances with direct communication with courts; calculates inmate sentences; processes bails, fines, and commissary accounts during booking and release;  controls visitation with inmates, including visits by the public and officials;  monitors security intercom systems and closed circuit television monitors; operates electronically controlled security gates, doors and elevators; responsible for all functions associated with the operations of a security level; supervises all of the activities of the inmates and addresses the inmates' safety and well-being; views the inmates in their pods via the television monitors and through the windows;  directs inmates to leave their pods to go to different locations (court, medical, professional visits, church services, etc.); assists inmate movement to respective pods and cells; responsible for the assignment of inmates to the different work details; assigns inmates to work positions in the jail and at the alternative custody program center; processes inmates for work in above units as well as handling complaints with existing workers; serves as a property control officer by receiving, processing, and releasing evidence, personal property, and lost and found items; maintains departmental inventory control; inspects and maintains departmental emergency vehicles by arranging for service and preventive maintenance and ensures that departmental vehicles are fully equipped; works under minimal supervision; works with other law enforcement agencies; performs related duties as assigned. Many positions require shift work, and work on weekends and holidays.

If assigned to the ID Lab: Receives, stores, and maintains custody of all property and evidence; records entries for activity in computer; stores all property in a manner so that it is safe and can be accurately retrieved; maintains a chain of accountability for all property, with particular attention to narcotics, money, valuables, and other items of an unusual or sensitive nature; tags, marks, and properly packages evidence for shipment to other departments and agencies; resolves complaints from the public about property that is contraband or evidence that cannot be released; returns property cleared for release and obtains receipts after legal ownership is proven; provides Deputies with evidence and exhibits (including requests for photographs) when needed by the Courts or other agencies; disposes of property items no longer needed (narcotics, weapons, hazardous materials, and medical evidence) by means of return, auction, destruction, etc.; maintains Property Policy Manual; performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of: Modern office procedures and practices; computerized data entry systems; laws, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to the operation of the County Detention Facility, booking, and the care and custody of inmates; property procedures, principles, policies, and laws relating to property; basic recordkeeping and filing systems; safety practices in lifting and in storing materials; general police work, Rules of Evidence, Penal Code, other Federal, State and local codes and regulations as applied to evidence/property.

Ability to: Deal tactfully and courteously with the public; perform clerical work and make simple arithmetical calculations; learn to operate a computer terminal;  work effectively under pressure with frequent interruptions; exercise good judgment in making decisions according to existing laws, regulations, and policies; use discretion and mature judgment in the handling of sensitive and confidential information; establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with the public and other employees; successfully complete 176 hour CORE course training including 13 hours of physical training and conditioning, 5 hours of evasive self-defense, 5 hours of Fire and Life safety; 8 hours of community CPR and First Aid, and 145 hours of classroom instruction; successfully complete 24 hours of Standards training for Correction Officers annually; participate in monthly in-service training/practical exercises; complete Fire and Life Safety training course every two years; carry and operate a 40 lb. Scott Air Pack; and complete First Aid/CPR training every two years.

These employment standards are typically attained with some experience in public contact work, or general clerical work, or completion of 15 college semester units in criminal justice.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Possession of or ability to obtain, prior to employment, a Class C California Driver's License and a good driving record.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you have some experience in public contact work, general clerical work, or completion of 15 college semester units in criminal justice? Yes/No.
2. If yes, please provide details about employers, job duties, and/or education. If no, please type N/A.
3. Do you have any experience related to property or inventory management? Yes/No
4. If yes, please provide a brief description of your related experience. If no, please type N/A.
5. Do you have any prior experience working for a law enforcement agency? Yes/No
6. If yes, please provide the name of the agency and the position held. If no, please type N/A.
7. Do you have any prior experience working in a custody setting or at any jail facility?  Yes/No
8. If yes, please provide a brief description of your related experience. If no, please type N/A.
9. I acknowledge that this position requires a valid California driver’s license. Yes/No

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job but may vary depending on assignment.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk or hear; and taste or smell.  The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  The specific hearing abilities required by this position include distant, peripheral, and nearby, and hearing adequate to monitor various security systems and audio alarms.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job but may vary depending on assignment.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The employee has regular contact with individuals with communicable diseases such as AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, etc.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
• Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
• As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. 
• Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. 
• Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf. If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer.  
• Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 9.5% his/her pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/employee-benefitsfor additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern.
• In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
• Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California – General Unit.  

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 12:00 p.m., on October 28, 2024. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. 

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. 

Veterans' Credit: Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE.

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515