Sheriff's Lieutenant

Job Description:

Sheriff's Lieutenant

Description

Introduction

This is a promotional recruitment - only permanent and/or probationary County employees are eligible to apply.

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit an education and job-related resume with your application. You may upload an electronic copy during the application process on the tab labeled "Resume" or the tab labeled "Other."

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for this classification will be invited to attend the written examination on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 . Applicants who receive a passing score on the written examination will be invited to attend the oral examination on Tuesday, May 19 , 2026 (a second examination day will be added on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 , if necessary, based upon the size of the applicant pool). Please note that this position may require incumbents to work unusual and/or prolonged work schedules.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Sheriff's Office has a current vacancy for Sheriff's Lieutenant. The eligible list established as a result of this recruitment may also be used to fill future vacancies as they arise.

The ideal candidate is a confident and strategic leader who can effectively direct and support supervisory staff, ensuring alignment across teams while maintaining a strong awareness of operational demands, staffing needs, and emerging issues. They demonstrate sound judgment and decisive decision-making, even in complex or evolving situations, and communicate clearly, directly, and consistently. They model professionalism under pressure, apply policies consistently, and take ownership of decisions and outcomes. A commitment to accountability, ethical leadership, and setting clear expectations is essential, along with the ability to proactively identify challenges and implement timely, effective solutions.

The successful candidate will bring a comprehensive understanding of supervisory and administrative principles, including planning, goal setting, program and budget development, and performance management. They are skilled in mentoring and developing staff, particularly at the supervisory level, and are attentive to employee wellness, including recognizing and addressing fatigue, burnout, and critical incident stress. They are adept at managing complex assignments, delegating effectively, and coordinating across agencies during large-scale incidents. They possess knowledge of ICS/NIMS principles, risk management in both correctional and field environments, and an awareness of civil liability and legal considerations. Additionally, they value relationship-building with internal and external stakeholders and demonstrate reliability and availability, including responsiveness outside of standard business hours when necessary.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Management - Safety benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To plan, organize, and direct the activities of a designated section within the Sheriff's Office; to coordinate section activities with other divisions or departments; and to provide highly responsible technical support to a Sheriff's Captain.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Lieutenant level recognizes positions that provide full second-line, direct supervision to employees within a work section and/or assume substantive and significant programmatic responsibility in a defined area or specialty.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from a Sheriff's Captain.

Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, technical, and clerical personnel.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize, and supervise activities within a major division, including functional assignment and responsibility for corrections, field operations, support services, or the Lake Tahoe Substation within the Sheriff's Office; coordinate work with other divisions and departments; recommend and implement section goals and objectives; act as staff supervisor and assist the Captain in establishing performance standards and methods for a variety of law enforcement activities; develop and implement policies and procedures.
  
• Plan, develop, and oversee the work of staff involved in performing patrol, investigations, corrections, and administrative work.
  
• When assigned to Corrections, review staff reports about jail incidents; review written correspondence from inmates; supervise jail sergeants and ensure that staff receives necessary training; review and resolve jail medical liability issues; review and answer inmate grievances; oversee staff and security of the court system; oversee the transportation of inmates to the court for appearances; meet and confer with judges and court administrators regarding security and bailiff scheduling.
  
• When assigned to Field Operations, prepare rotation schedules of patrol personnel; supervise field supervisors and dispatch on nights, weekends, and holidays; on dayshift, perform administrative functions related to planning, staffing, organizing, directing, and controlling the Field Operations division; act as Incident Commander during major incidents.
  
• When assigned to Support Services, monitor and supervise the processing and serving of criminal and civil documents; coordinate the department's, personnel functions with other county departments, especially recruitments, background investigations, and testing procedures; facilitate and administer Sheriff's Office training and physical performance programs; manage and supervise the Professional Standards Unit.
  
• When assigned to the Lake Tahoe Substation, supervise Patrol and Custody Divisions; responsible as secondary supervisor of investigators, dispatch, and clerical; and act as station commander in the Captain's absence.
  
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned unit; recommend improvements and modifications and implement as directed; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for staffing or equipment/material needs; monitor and control expenditures.
  
• Participate in the selection of staff; coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline procedures as directed.
  
• Conduct internal affairs investigations and investigations of citizen complaints, as necessary.
  
• Act as coordinator for special teams (e.g., SWAT, K-9, Search & Rescue, etc).
  
• Act as liaison with other law enforcement agencies; participate in law enforcement conferences and stay abreast of modern police methods.
  
• Collect data; analyze and prepare special surveys, investigations, and comprehensive reports.
  
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
  
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
  
• Respond to emergencies when off duty; monitor and respond to electronic communications outside of business hours; provide adequate staffing and shift coverage as needed.
  
• Perform Peace Officer duties as required.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and outdoors in all weather conditions. Duties are performed in close proximity to moving vehicles, individuals who may be dangerous and/or uncooperative, firearms and other weapons, and other environmental conditions related to law enforcement field work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the require knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Six years of increasingly responsible experience in responsible law enforcement work, including two years at the rank of Sergeant or higher with Placer County.

Training: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public or business administration, organizational development, criminal justice, public safety, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
  
• Possession of valid California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Intermediate and Supervisory Certificates and be eligible to obtain Advanced Certificate within one (1) year of appointment.
  

NOTE: Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for this recruitment by the date of the written examination, which is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of criminal law, investigations, and crime prevention methods; laws of arrest, search and seizure, and rules of evidence; methods and principles of sound law enforcement administration.
  
• Pertinent local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and laws.
  
• Organization, rules, regulations, and procedures of the Sheriff's Office.
  
• Accepted procedures and methods of serving civil notices, especially those relating to the attachment and sale of property.
  
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  
• Principles and practices of research, analysis, and management.
  
• Budgeting procedures and techniques.
  
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
  
• Principles and practices of work safety.
  

Ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct a section of Sheriff's Office operations/activities.
  
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify, interpret, and explain technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks; explain and interpret policy.
  
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; see with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions; hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate through written means; lift light weight.
  
• On an intermittent basis, walk and stand for long periods of time; bend, twist, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to access office and field work equipment and to perform field activities; climb stairs and/or ladders; twist while making arrests; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; intermittently wear utility belt and other law enforcement equipment of approximately 30 pounds; intermittently lift very heavy weight.
  
• Interpret and explain pertinent County and department policies and procedures.
  
• Perform the most complex work of the unit.
  
• Analyze situations accurately; adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions under a variety of conditions; employ de-escalation techniques when safe and reasonable.
  
• Work effectively in stressful situations; act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
  
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
  
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
  
• Enforce the law firmly, tactfully, and impartially; interact courteously with the general public, subordinates, employee organizations, other County departments, and other agencies.
  
• Skillfully and properly use and care for firearms.
  
• Maintain good physical, emotional, and mental condition to satisfactorily perform the functions of the position; meet and maintain required peace officer employment standards to safely and effectively perform assigned duties.
  
• Conduct Sheriff's sales and gain a fair return in selling attached property.
  
• Obtain information through interviewing and interrogation.
  
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
  
• Implement a participatory management program throughout the Sheriff's Office and motivate staff by inclusion.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  
• Work irregular or prolonged hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, shift work, and/or after hours.
  

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Written Examination (30%)

The written examination may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, matching, and/or essay type questions directly related to the required knowledge and abilities for this classification.

Oral Examination (70%)

The oral examination will be conducted by a panel of raters who will assess and rate the degree to which each applicant demonstrates the knowledge and abilities required for this classification. Applicants’ responses to a series of job related questions, as well as their education and experience, will be rated in relation to the requirements for this classification.

Note: There will not be alternative or make-up exam date(s) scheduled. The written examination is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and the oral examination is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 (a second examination day will be added on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, if necessary, based upon the size of the applicant pool).

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Andrea Marthaler, Administrative Technician, at [email protected] or (530) 886-4664.

Closing Date/Time: 4/21/2026 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$73.46 - $91.74/hour; $12,733.07 - $15,901.60/month; $152,796.80 - $190,819.20/year