Division Of Sheriffs Accepting Applicants For Academy

The Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs announced Friday it is accepting new applicants for the fall 2019 training academy.

Colonel James Manni, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said in a statement that the department is looking for "qualified, motivated and diverse" applicants.

“Our goal is to attract a diverse pool of well-qualified, highly motivated men and women who want to serve as deputy sheriffs,” Colonel Manni said. “We hope to find top-quality candidates who reflect the diverse communities we serve.”

According to Chief Sheriff David DeCesare, deputy sheriff duties mainly include security details in courthouses across the state and transportation of prisoners and inmates to and form courts and other facilities such as hospitals, prisons, jails and cell blocks. In addition, deputy sheriffs perform extraditions, execute civil and criminal writs and issue summonses for witnesses to appear in court.

“It’s a challenging job,” Chief DeCesare said. “This is an excellent opportunity for anyone considering a rewarding and fulfilling career in law enforcement.”

Applications will be accepted from March 17 until April 28. All applications must be submitted online through the state's recruitment website.

During the selection process, applicants will be require to go through several tests, including a test physical agility, written exam, interview with the board, medical and psychological evaluations and a criminal background check. More information about specific requirements is available on the department's website.

Selected candidates will be enrolled in the Rhode Island Sheriff's Academy, a six-week program beginning in the fall. Once completed, deputy sheriffs will immediately be hired or placed on waiting lists to fill positions as they become available, with starting salaries currently ranging from $44,793 to $62,555.

For more information, visit the Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs website or call (401) 275-2924.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the department was looking for "racially diverse" group of candidates due to a misstatement in the press release from the Rhode Island State Police. It has been corrected to say "diverse."