What does a sworn officer or deputy actually do?

Officers and deputies in this video describe responding to "emergency calls, my best battery calls, treble calls, calls for service" — patrol is the core, but the work also covers investigations, drug units, K-9, bomb, SWAT, negotiations, and detective roles. The career has range: "there’s always potential to move up."

What is the biggest reward of being a sworn officer or deputy?

Officers in this video describe lifesaving moments — one responded to a three-month-old choking on the CAD before being dispatched, started CPR, and saved the child’s life: "if I would’ve been a minute later, that kid would’ve passed away." Another helped a family being kicked out of their house, and months later: "what you guys did for me really changed my life."

Officers and deputies in this video are honest about it: "there can be definitely tough days, but it’s super, super rewarding." They describe meeting people "sometimes when they’re at their worst, I’m there to help them. Regardless."

How do I know if a law enforcement career is right for me?

Officers in this video recommend a clear first step: "go to your local agencies and do ride-alongs." Many say they always knew this was what they wanted to do, but multiple came to it from other careers entirely — including office work that "really wasn\u2019t fitting for me" before they found the right path.

What’s the biggest benefit of serving as a sworn officer or deputy?

"The biggest benefit of serving the community is just being part of something that’s bigger than yourself." Deputies in this video say at the end of the day, "you know that you made a difference going to work that day, and sometimes you may have saved a life."

Deputiesstepupandserveusa2026-09-18T19:55:21+00:00

Why Should You Become A Deputy?

Officers and deputies in this video say it’s the kind of job kids tell them they want when they grow up — “it is an amazing job, I love my job, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Whether you’re drawn to a county sheriff’s office, a municipal police department, a specialized investigations or detective unit, or any of the many sworn roles in between, law enforcement agencies across America are hiring people ready to demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, and a commitment to service. If you want to serve as a frontline protector of your community, becoming a sworn officer or deputy is the next step.

DEPUTIES HAVE AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

They preserve the peace and protect life and property in their county. They investigate crimes, including interviews and preserving evidence. They serve warrants and civil process orders of courts including arrest warrants, restraining orders and subpoenas.

They are vital to public safety.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Below are the general requirements to become a sheriff’s deputy in America. Specific requirements vary by state and by individual sheriff’s office, so check your county’s posting for exact details. All sheriff’s offices participating in Step Up & Serve are committed to Equal Opportunity Employment. The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association does not make hiring decisions at any agency.

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) does not have authority or involvement over any hiring decisions.

For a deeper look at how the deputy path compares to municipal police, read our guide: Deputy Sheriff vs. Police Officer: What’s the Difference? →

Must be age 21+ (a few departments hire at 18 or 20 for cadet roles)
Must be legally able to possess a firearm in your state
Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent though some agencies or departments require or prefer college credit
Must possess or be able to obtain a valid state driver’s license
Must agree to a complete background investigation
Must agree to a psychological assessment
Must agree to a medical examination

Training and academy.

After you’re hired, your agency sends you to a state-certified basic law-enforcement training academy. Academies range from about 400 to 900 hours by state, with a national average near 640 hours (roughly 16 weeks of full-time training). You’re paid your starting salary while you attend, and your agency pays the tuition.

The curriculum covers constitutional, criminal, and traffic law specific to your state; use of force, defensive tactics, and de-escalation; firearms qualification; emergency vehicle operation; crisis intervention and mental-health response; investigations and evidence preservation; patrol procedures, report writing, and courtroom testimony. Each state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) board sets the curriculum.

What it pays.

Pay for sheriff’s deputies in America varies significantly by state, agency, and years of service. As of May 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a mean annual salary of $79,320 for police and sheriff’s patrol officers nationally. The bottom 10% earned $48,230; the top 10% earned more than $120,460.

Most agencies include defined-benefit pension coverage, health and life insurance, paid academy training, holiday pay, overtime, and uniform allowance. See your county’s posting for the specific pay schedule.

Common questions about becoming a deputy

What does a sheriff's deputy actually do day-to-day?

Far more than patrol. Deputies work traffic, respond to calls, staff schools, handle K-9 units, investigate crimes, and become fixtures in the neighborhoods they serve. As one deputy in More Than Just Patrol describes it, there is a role on the force for just about everyone. Watch: More Than Just Patrol: Finding Your Role on the Force →.

Do I need a family history in law enforcement to become a deputy?

No. Deputies come from every background — trades, college, restaurants, the military, and desk jobs. What they share is a willingness to serve, not a family lineage. Watch: Step Up & Serve — Why I Wear the Badge (Officers & Deputies) →.

What kinds of specialty assignments exist for deputies?

K-9 handler, school resource officer, detective, tactical, community outreach, training, and more. K9 Gator's handler describes his role as "being part of something that's bigger than yourself." Watch: Meet Our K9 Gator: We Serve the Community Together →.

What does the community actually see when a deputy shows up?

Presence, listening, and problem-solving — not just enforcement. Deputies in these videos describe helping people at their worst moments and being the calm in the chaos. Watch: Law Enforcement: Treating Every Human with Respect →.

Is being a deputy a long-term career or a stepping stone?

Both. Many deputies build 25- to 30-year careers, moving through patrol, investigations, and leadership. Others use it as a launch to federal service or specialized roles — but the majority stay because of the mission. Watch: A Career in One Word: Fulfillment →.

What is the hardest and most rewarding part of being a deputy?

The hardest: showing up to the worst day of someone else’s life. The most rewarding: knowing you made that day survivable. As Dwight Baird puts it, "I really feel good at the end of the day when I am able to help people out." Watch: A Career in One Word: Fulfillment →.

More voices from the field

See all voices →

Why I Joined Law Enforcement

“I'm telling you that if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

The Moment I Knew I Had to Serve

“I would have been a minute later, that kid would have passed away.”

Meet Our K9 Gator: We Serve the Community Together

“Serving the community is just being part of something that's bigger than yourself.”

The Benefits of Serving: Bringing Closure to Victims

“When you have a conclusion to a case that brings a, a victim the closure that”

View video transcript

The biggest compliments that I ever get is kids saying they wanna be just like me when they grow up and I tell them, it is an amazing job. I love my job you know, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I started out on different career path and realized that was not what I wanted to be doing. I enjoyed the outdoors.

I enjoyed an active lifestyle, so something more than just business worth sitting behind a desk it really wasn’t fitting for me. Paid the bills. Talking to being a a law enforcement, serving the community is the best part of this. Job. I responded to emergency calls, my best battery calls, treble calls, calls for service.

It’s something that I loved. There can be definitely tough days, but it’s super, super rewarding. We’re stepping up and saying, I’m gonna do everything I can to bring about a positive change. Over the radio. A three month old was choking, turning blue.

I saw it pop up on the CAD before I was even dispatched, got there, started doing CPR and back close, and if I would’ve been a minute later, that kid would’ve passed away so to me, I mean, saving a three months old life is, it’s, it’s key it was one time where it was a couple and they had two kids they were being kicked out of the house by some other family members, and we actually all came up with enough money, put this family in a hotel, and I think about three or four months later, he’s like, man, what you guys did for me really changed my life you know, you can see the difference that you make.

There’s two types of people in the world, one that darkens the room when they walk in, and one that lightens the room and then when I walk in. I meet people at sometimes when they’re at their worst, I’m there to help them. Regardless.

Whether you’re working on the street, you’re working in investigations, you’re working in a drug unit, K nine bomb SWAT negotiations team we have so many different opportunities because there’s always potential to move.

Up at the end of the day, you know that you made a difference going to work that day, and sometimes you may have saved a life the biggest benefit of serving the community is just being part of something that’s bigger than yourself. Go to your local agencies and do ride alongs. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind. I knew I, this is what I wanted to do.

I hope you join the team and step up and serve step up and serve step up and serve with your heart, with your mind that is what we need in law enforcement every day, 24 7.