Whatcom looking to hire with nearly 17% of budgeted corrections deputy positions vacant
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office announced it is attempting to fill 11 vacant corrections deputy positions, meaning the county is actively looking to hire nearly 17% of the staff for which it is budgeted.
Whatcom County is budgeted for 66 full-time-equivalent corrections deputies, sheriff’s office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
“The work of Corrections Deputies is fundamental to community safety and the effective administration of justice,” Sheriff Bill Elfo said in Wednesday, May 25, news release about hiring. “Deputies work closely together as a team whose focus is on excellence, integrity and teamwork.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for men and women to enter a very rewarding career. Opportunities also exist for Corrections Deputies to fill a wide range of specialty positions, including the Critical Response Team, Honor Guard, trainers in defensive tactics and firearms, inmate transportation and many others.”
As an incentive for potential applicants, the sheriff’s office announced that it was waving the fee for the Public Safety Testing. Applicants are usually required to pay $39 to test for one or two agencies, Slater told The Herald.
Corrections deputies, who work at the downtown jail and work center, are expected to serve a minimum of three years, according to Wednesday’s release, with may “gaining valuable job experience and skills that have facilitated other public service career opportunities.”
New hires will attend the 10-week Corrections Officers Academy in Burien and be mentored by experienced corrections deputies, according to the release, which added that the entry-level salary for corrections deputies is $60,000 per year with opportunities for overtime and a comprehensive benefits package.
“The best benefit of working in the jail is the close-knit work family,” said Sgt. Curt Mount, who’s been with Whatcom Sheriff’s Office Corrections since 1987, in the release. “We work with people every single day who need help and we do everything we can to help them. That is very rewarding.”
More information about the vacant positions and the selection process is available at whatcomcounty.us/publicsafetyjobs.
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 10:51 AM.
