Employment - Deputy Sheriff
We are not accepting applications at this time.
For any questions please contact:
Will County Sheriff’s Merit Commission
57 N. Ottawa, Suite 502
Joliet, IL 60432
815.727.5680
meritcommission@willcosheriff.org ( 
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Contents:
- Requirements
- Testing Process
- Test Preparation
- Description of the Test
- Physical Agility Test
- Long Application
- Personality Evaluation
- Polygraph Exam
- In-Depth Background Investigation
- Oral Interviews
- Medical Exam
- Post Employment Information
- Application
Requirements:
- U.S. Citizen
- 21 Years of Age ( No Age Cap )
- Valid Driver’s License
- An Associates Degree or minimum 60 semester hours
( From a Regionally accredited college ) - No felony or certain misdemeanor convictions from any jurisdiction
Must establish residency in Will County within 2 years from date of appointment.
You may download an application from the end of this website or they are available to pick up at the following locations:
- Will County Sheriff’s Merit Commission - Map to Location (
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57 N. Ottawa, Suite 502, Joliet, IL - Will County Adult Detention Facility - Map to Location ( )
95 S. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL - Will County Sheriff’s Office, Will County Courthouse - Map to Location ( )
14 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL - Will County Sheriff’s Police - Map to Location ( )
2402 E. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL - Will County Sheriff’s Police Substation - Map to Location ( )
1928 W Exchange Street, Crete, IL
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The Testing Process:
A written test, physical agility test, a 32-page long application, personality evaluation screening, a polygraph exam, an in-depth background investigation, and an interview with the Will County Merit Commission Board. After you successfully pass the testing process and interview, you will be placed on a 2-year certified list of applicants for the Sheriff. Once selected you will be interviewed by the Sheriff and will be sent for a full medical exam including a drug-screening test before being hired.
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Written Test:
The written test component for the position of Deputy Sheriff is designed to measure the applicant’s proficiency in the following areas:
- Basic Math
- Reading Comprehension
- Basic Grammar
- Incident Report Writing
A grade of 70% for EACH section is necessary for the applicant to pass and continue in the testing process.
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Physical Agility Test:
- A job analysis of Will County Sheriff’s Deputies was conducted to determine the essential or important physical functions associated with the job. In most Sheriff’s Departments, Deputies must be able to run ( speed and distance ), climb over obstacles ( fences ), lift, carry, walk, sit or stand for long periods of time and arrest resisting individuals. This test measures job related physical skills. Only those skills, which do not require training to become proficient, are assessed.
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Test Preparation:
- Avoid junk food and alcohol, concentrate on a well balanced diet several days before the test.
- Avoid tranquilizers and stimulants such as caffeinated beverages, especially on the day of the test.
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Do not eat or drink right before taking the test
PLEASE NOTE: On the day of the physical agility test, all candidates are required to wear long pants ( sweat pants ). Shorts are not allowed. You will not be allowed to test if you are not wearing long pants for safety reasons. Sports / gym shoes are highly recommended. Please wear your glasses or contacts, as one of the test components involves visual identification of a suspect.
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Description of the Test:
The test requires an applicant to complete several specified physical tasks in a given sequence within an allotted time frame. An orientation and walk through is conducted prior to testing. No one will be allowed to take the test unless he/she fully understands what is expected.
To simulate a deputy on duty, applicants will be required to wear a weighted utility belt during the physical testing session. This belt is intended to simulate the weight of a police belt, and will be provided.
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The Physical Agility Test:
- Patrol Car: To begin the test, the candidate sits in the driver's seat of a patrol car with the doors closed and awaits further instructions.
- Physical Description: A test monitor gives the candidate verbal instructions to pursue a fleeing criminal suspect ( fictitious ) by providing a description of the suspect and what the suspect is wearing. Then the test monitor tells the candidate to "GO". The applicant must then complete the following physical tasks.
- Run: The candidate gets out of the car and runs a total distance of about 160 yards. Timing begins when the candidate is told to "GO".
- Steps: The candidate runs up a small set of steps, across a platform and back down the other side.
- Fence Climb: The candidate climbs over a 6-foot high chain-link fence.
- Hill Run: The candidate runs up the side of a hill, along the top of the hill for approximately 10 yards and then down the hill.
- Small Obstacle: The candidate jumps over/across a small area of gravel on the ground to simulate jumping over a ditch. Candidates are not penalized if they do not completely clear the ditch, but they must attempt to jump over it.
- Obstacle Run: The candidate runs to three parked cars and maneuvers around and in-between the cars in the manner specified on the course diagrams.
- Suspect Identification: After running between and around the cars, the applicant identifies the proper suspect from four targets, each are numbered and dressed differently.
- Suspect Move: The candidate then moves a dummy weighing approximately 165 pounds completely past a line 20 feet away, whereupon timing will stop.
A candidate, who is able to complete the entire series of events successfully, in proper sequence in 72 seconds or less, passes the test.
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The Long Application:
The applicant will be given a 32 page long application ( after the physical agility test ) to completely fill out with personal information as well as references and employment history for the past 10 years, this document also has to be notarized. An appointment time will be given to each applicant. At this time the applicant will meet with an investigator to go over the long application. Additionally, the applicant will be photographed, fingerprinted, fill out additional information sheets, and turn in copies of their Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, Drivers License, FOID Card and DD214 ( If applicable ).
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Personality Evaluation:
Applicants will be given an information sheet to make an appointment for their personality evaluation. The result of this test is a “recommended” or “not recommended”. Applicant must be recommended to continue in the process.
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Polygraph Exam:
Applicant will be given information to make an appointment for their polygraph exam. Applicant must pass polygraph exam to continue in the process.
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In-Depth Background Investigation:
A mail-out is completed from the Long Application. An investigator conducts a background investigation on applicant and writes up a report. You will be notified by mail once this is completed.
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Oral Interviews:
Applicant will be scheduled for an Oral Interview with the Merit Board and if successful, will be placed on a 2-year certified list of applicants for the Sheriff. Once selected you will be contacted by the Sheriff’s office for an interview.
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Medical Exam:
Applicants will be sent for a full medical exam including a drug-screening test before being hired.
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Post Employment Information:
Once hired as a Will County Sheriff's Office Deputy, the applicant will receive the following training:
- Twelve weeks of academy training
- Fourteen weeks of Patrol Field training
- Forty hours of annual In-Service training
- After the initial phase, the Deputy will choose his/her assignment by rank seniority.
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Application:
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