The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy protects the lives and property of residents and guests. With the authority to enforce South Carolina’s criminal statutes and traffic laws, the patrol deputy prevents, detects and investigates crime. In addition, a patrol deputy serves civil processes and enforces court orders issued by Beaufort County’s courts.
Our agency is currently offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus and up to $2,500 in moving expenses to eligible applicants.
General Qualifications
South Carolina Code 23-23-60 (B) sets the minimum standards for law enforcement certification in South Carolina. Applicants must meet the following qualifications for employment:
- US Citizen
- 21 years of age minimum
- High School Diploma or GED
- Valid S.C. driver’s license (upon hiring)
- Registered S.C. voter (upon hiring)
- Resident of Beaufort County (upon hiring)
- Fluent in the oral and written communication of the English language
- Clean criminal record: No felony, serious misdemeanor or convictions of any crime of moral turpitude
- Good credit history
- Good driving record: no DUI or DUS convictions in the past five years
- Candidates who have been in the military must have received an Honorable Discharge
Salary
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has a highly competitive pay plan.
The annual salary for a new patrol deputy is adjusted based on experience and education The hiring pay range is $49,349 to $86,310 (from zero to 25 years of experience).
After one year of service, and every year of service that follows, deputy sheriffs are eligible to receive up to a 3% increase in pay based on satisfactory performance evaluations.
Pay Incentives for Education and Spanish Fluency
Deputies who have a degree from an accredited university or college when hired, or who obtain degrees while employed with the Sheriff’s Office, will receive an additional 3% for an associate’s degree, 6% for a bachelor’s degree, 9% for a master’s degree, and 12% for a doctoral degree.
Employees who can demonstrate fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the Spanish language are eligible to receive an additional $1,200 per year.
Cost of Living, Promotions and Overtime
There are periodic cost of living adjustments, pay increases based on promotion, and opportunities for overtime in a variety of forms (training, contracts, etc.).
Benefits
Beaufort County offers the following benefits to qualified full-time employees:
- Health, dental and vision insurance (with affordable employee contributions)
- Long-term disability
- Basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
- Medical and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Ancillary products through Creative Worksite Solutions, which include:
- Cancer, accidental, critical illness, whole life insurance with a long care term rider
- Employee Assistance Program
- Short-term disability
- 13 paid holidays
- Sick leave
- Paid leave time
- Retirement through the South Carolina Retirement System (peba.sc.gov/scrs)
- Optional participation in South Carolina’s Deferred Compensation Programs, 401(k) and 457(b) / traditional and Roth (peba.sc.gov/deferred-comp)
- Sheriff’s Office provides all uniforms and equipment
- Once certified, each deputy is provided a take-home vehicle.
- South Carolina Police Officers retirement (Full benefits at age 57 or 27 years of service)
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online utilizing the tab provide at the bottom of the page or come to our office and pick up an application. Once you have completed your application, a member of the Recruitment and Staffing Office will contact you and ask you to provide copies of the following items as part of your application package:
- Birth Certificate (Proof of U.S. Citizenship if not born in the United States)
- High School or GED and College Diplomas
- Driver’s License
- Social Security Card
- Court-issued legal documentation supporting any legal name change (i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)
- If you have prior military service, a copy of your DD214 with your separation code and the type of discharge you received.
- A certified driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles from all states licensed over the past six years.
- If you are a former law enforcement officer, provide all training certificates.
- Personal Inquiry Waiver (must be notarized)
- Deputy Acknowledgement Form
- Hiring Board Questionnaire (completed and submitted online)
The documents can be submitted any of the following ways:
- United States Postal Service
- Drop off in person to the Sheriff’s Office located at 2001 Duke Street in Beaufort, South Carolina
NOTE: The Recruitment Office offers free Notary services. If the applicant would like to use this service, the applicant may bring the completed form to the Recruitment Office located at 2001 Duke Street in Beaufort, South Carolina.
