• Investigate crimes
  
  
• Obtain and serve arrest warrants
  
  
• Perform building checks
  
  
• Complete detailed written reports
  
  
• Search and transport prisoners
  
  
• Respond to any and all dispatch calls received
  
  
• Inspect equipment and vehicle
  
  
• Record traffic/criminal citations
  
  
• Prosecute cases in court
  
  
• Testify in General Sessions Court or higher
  
  
• Operate the patrol vehicle and all vehicle equipment
  
  
• Perform foot patrols
  
  
• Assist other agencies as required
  
  
• Investigate traffic accidents
  
  
• Direct traffic and conduct traffic safety checkpoints
  
  
• Assist in the training of new deputies as assigned
  
  
• Communicate all major/critical incidents to Command Staff

• 21 years of age minimum
  
  
• 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
  
  
• Must be able to pass the following:
  • Intensive background investigation
  • Written standards testing
  • Medical physical examination
  • Polygraph testing
  • Psychological testing
  • Weapon familiarization course of fire
    
    
• Must successfully complete the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office physical agility course
  
  
• Must be able to complete Basic Law Enforcement Training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

• High school diploma or GED
  
  
• South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy certificates, licenses, registrations
  
  
• Basic law enforcement certification
  
  
• Firearms certification
  
  
• Language, mathematical and reasoning skills
  
  
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
  
  
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
  
  
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
  
  
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measures, work with whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute: rate, ratio and percent; and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
  
  
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in
  situations where only limited standardization exists
  
  
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form

• Must maintain good physical fitness
  
  
• Must work indoors and outdoors (in all weather conditions)
  
  
• Must be able to crawl, kneel, crouch, climb, lie down or stand for long periods of time

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office shall comply with the South Carolina Code of Laws 23-23-60 (B) referred to as the South Carolina Training Act regarding a candidate’s eligibility for certification as a law enforcement officer in South Carolina.

South Carolina Code 23-23-60 (B) sets the minimum standards for law enforcement certification in South Carolina. The Sheriff’s Office exceeds these minimum standards for Deputies hired by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in some situations.

• U.S. Citizenship
  
  
• An application under oath on a format prescribed by the Director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
  
  
• Evidence that the candidate has completed high school and received a high school diploma; equivalency (military or other) recognized and accepted by the South Carolina Department of Education or South Carolina.
  
  
• Evidence that the candidate is physically fit to fulfill the duties of a law enforcement officer. Such proof must be in obtaining a complete medical history by a licensed physician or medical examiner and a complete medical examination.
  
  
• The candidate has not been convicted of any criminal offense that carries a sentence of one year or more or a criminal offense that involves a crime of moral turpitude. The forfeiture of bond, a guilty plea, or a plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a conviction.
  
  
• Candidate must be a person of good character as established by an in-depth background investigation. In determining good character, consideration must be given to all law violations, including traffic and conservation law convictions, prior history of alcohol and drug abuse, etc.
  
  
• Candidate must have a valid and current state driver’s license with no record during the previous five years for suspension of the driver’s license as a result of driving under the influence, reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, or leaving the scene of an accident.
  
  
• A favorable credit check.
  
  
• Fingerprints that show the candidate has no felony convictions.
  
  
• The candidate must be photographed.
  
  
• Evidence that the candidate’s present age is not less than twenty-one years.
  
  
• If the candidate has successfully completed a course of law enforcement training by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy or another law enforcement training Academy, copies of the documents must be obtained.
  
  
• No convictions for criminal domestic violence.
  
  
• No excessive traffic tickets or convictions for Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol, driving with a suspended driver’s license or leaving the scene of a traffic accident within the last five years.
  
  
• Must have a responsible credit history.
  
  
• Must pass an in-depth background investigation.
  
  
• Must pass a reading and comprehension test, scoring a minimum of 70 percent out of a possible 100.
  
  
• Must successfully pass an Oral Interview Board.
  
  
• Must pass a medical examination, drug test, psychological screening and a polygraph examination.
  
  
• Must pass the Sheriff’s Office physical agility course in 3 minutes or less.
  
  
• Must successfully complete all of the training and certification requirements mandated by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
  
  
• Must be able to qualify with the agency issued weapons.
  
  
• Graduated from an accredited high school or obtained a GED. College graduates or candidates who are bilingual are encouraged to apply.
  
  
• Deputy Sheriffs must be willing to be assigned to any Branch within the Sheriff’s Office.
  
  
• Candidates who have been in the military must have received an Honorable Discharge.

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 (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.

View example pay scale chart HERE.

Applicants with Law Enforcement Experience
Applicants with law enforcement experience may enter the pay scale at a higher rate than those without experience.

For example: If applicant Jane Doe has between five and six years of law enforcement experience and has a bachelor’s degree, she may start at the Sheriff’s Office at the rank and pay rate of a corporal between five and six years with a bachelor’s degree.

Another example: If applicant John Doe has between three and four years of law enforcement experience and has no college degree; he may be hired at the Sheriff’s Office as a lance corporal at the between three and four-year high school diploma pay rate.

Starting pay rates for applicants who have between one and 25 years of law enforcement experience are evaluated on a case by case basis depending on years of experience and education levels.

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 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 opportunities for periodic cost of living adjustments, pay increases based on promotion to the rank of sergeant or higher and overtime.

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
• Each deputy is provided a take-home vehicle
• South Carolina Police Officers retirement (Full benefits at age 57 or 27 years of service)