[KozmoKramer]

I was wondering if you county folks could answer something for me.

Various County Houses of Correction from time to time run advertisements, and post on their web sites job openings for CO's. Suffolk and Essex are 2 that come to mind recently. But it seems to be specific to CO's. How do you get hired as an actual Deputy? Do they ever pull from the ranks of Corrections Officer? Do they run an exam? Is it somewhat a political job? Mostly prior cops? Any \ All of the above? And do the CO’s get sworn in as a Deputy, or is that something reserved for the Deputy job classification?

Thanks for replying. KK

 

[BartA1]

Kozmo,

It all depends on the specific department. I used to work at Suffolk HOC. There policy was you started as a CO and worked in a unit. Usually after your year probationary period was up you were appointed as a deputy sheriff. When I was there a large group of guys was waiting to get appointed. As far as different duties at Suffolk mostly everyone started out working a block. Some people got the hook up and got a good gig. Others didnt. It varies by Sheriffs Department. I worked a detail a couple of weeks a go with a plymouth county guy and was a deputy, but was not a CO. Alot of those things change with the Sheriffs election which I know Suffolk, Plymouth, and Essex have elections this year. My advice is to talk to someone that works at the department your are interested in.

 

[ejk55]

Are there different unions in a County Sheriffs Dept. Does the staff in a House of Correction belong to the same union as staff who work in a Jail? And do deputies have their own union? I was just curious.

 

[joe]

In Franklin County they have corrections officers that work in the jail. Transportation officers are deputies. Officers that take prisoners outside the jail for work details are deputies. Officers who work the road such as civil process, triad, dare, and community corrections are deputies. There are NO "special" deputies. Such as, make a donation to the Sheriff's campaign and you get a little wallet badge.

 

[BartA1]

EJK,

I can only answer about Suffolk when I worked there the Jail was one local of AFSCME and the House was a different local of AFSCME. When I was at the House the classifications of CO 1 to 4 were in the Same Union Captains where in there own. Since I left in 2001 things may have changed.

 

[KozmoKramer]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.

A few years back I had a neighbor that was a CO at Essex County. He wore a different badge and shoulder patch than the Essex Deputies that you would see escorting a prisoner in and out of court. I was just curious about how you made the transition from 1 job to another. Thanks again!! :thumbup: K.K.

 

[Otto]

In Worcester County, deputy sheriffs assigned to the Process Office do not have a union and are not corrections officers.

There are approximately 400 sworn corrections officers employed at the "jail and house." They all belong to one of the two corrections officers bargaining units. Of them, approximately 30 are also sworn as deputy sheriffs. They perform law enforcement functions at the "jail and house."

All deputy sheriff appointments are for the calendar year and are at the "will and pleasure" of the sheriff. The badge is different, but the uniform is the same.

So, if you are a deputy assigned to the Process Office and you lose your appointment, you are out of a job. If you work at the "jail and house" and lose your appointment, you still have a job as a corrections officer.

 

[reno911_2004]

I was wondering if you county folks could answer something for me.

Various County Houses of Correction from time to time run advertisements, and post on their web sites job openings for CO's. Suffolk and Essex are 2 that come to mind recently. But it seems to be specific to CO's. How do you get hired as an actual Deputy? Do they ever pull from the ranks of Corrections Officer? Do they run an exam? Is it somewhat a political job? Mostly prior cops? Any \ All of the above? And do the CO's get sworn in as a Deputy, or is that something reserved for the Deputy job classification?

Thanks for replying. KK

I went up for Middlesex (took a different job) but in the interview, they stated several times that for all positions above CO they are hired out of the current CO's. Basically saying that they all start at the same level and work up. As others have said, every county seems to run things a bit differently.

 

[MVS]

From what I have seen and heard after speaking to a few CO's in different counties, Middlesex appears to be, by far, the best run ship as far as hiring practices and treatment of the CO's/Deputies. Sheriff Dipaola (sp?) is a Deputies' kinda Sheriff, he seems to back his guys well and equips his department well also. Now I realize not everyone is thrilled about the counties having all the "toys", but at least from the deputies point, it allows them to work in various capacities. More advancement or areas to work in. I believe the Sheriff is a former PO, but I'm not certain, anyone else here know? I have met him a few times -- No, I don't throw him a few campaign $$ for a job-- but he seems like a pretty down to earth guy with a good head on his shoulders. His department does not appear to be political at all or at least not much.

 

[k9sheriff]

RPD931, If i'm correct he is a former Malden police officer, and from what i've been told has quite the Grant writer.

 

[MVS]

RPD931, If i'm correct he is a former Malden police officer, and from what i've been told has quite the Grant writer.

I figured that. I said before when other folks complained about all the "Toys" he gets..... Its all about the grants, if a dept doesn't apply for them they don't get them.. if the dept has a moron writing the grant they probably won't get them.... they don't just give it away, you gotta find them and apply for them...

 

[SCS03]

Are there different unions in a County Sheriffs Dept. Does the staff in a House of Correction belong to the same union as staff who work in a Jail? And do deputies have their own union? I was just curious.

In Suffolk County the jail belongs to JOEASC, and the HOC is AFSCME. Deputies in Suffolk County are under whatever facility they work out of as far as unions go. Most people believe that a deputies fall under a completely different body of the Sheriff's dept. In fact a lot of deputies remain working in the units of the jail or hoc. Being a deputy means you are able to have a broader range of duties, such as transportation, warrant apprehension, DARE, etc. Although Civil Deputies are completely different. No union, and somewhat different powers compared to a "regular" Deputy. They stick to the process serving sector.

 

[thumper2168]

Not at all SO's but throw some $$$ and you'll see. The Sheriff of Middlesex was quoted as saying that he would reivent the jails and keep his CO's inside the jail where they belong. alas another politician another lie. You want to be a local police officer or a city or state officer take a test and put your wallet away, have some intergrity and do what the rest of us have done sweat out the academy.

 

[odob16]

smartin up thumper, you cant buy your way into the Middlesex academy

 

[MVS]

smartin up thumper, you cant buy your way into the Middlesex academy

This is true. Anyone that makes it into Middlesex earned it the legit way... not by waving their wallet around. I think standards and integrity are something Middlesex SO has over all the other County SO's.

 

[thumper2168]

smartin up Ok then??, if you read my posts I said almost all,,,, I don't deal with Middlesex all that much because I don't like the Sheriff.. You'll never get a chance to lie to me twice... As I have been saying all along if they standardize the test for the entire state so that ALL deputies are taking the same entry test and are not allowed to buy the badge, then I have no more problems. But as I stop and take more badges a year than I know what to do with they need to regulate their own which they do not do. AS a whole the Sheriff's in Massachusetts will not get any respect due to the ones that buy, contribute or hack for a badge, job and such...

 

[PANACHE]

Hey Thumper I think you need anger management. How is it your taking badges???
Aren't you assigned to a specialty Unit The MSPG-Unit.
I think all agencies have a couple of those you don't want to mention.
So Good Luck with your Sheriff Bashing

 

[thumper2168]

Posted Wed Sep 22, 2004 1:34 am:

Wrong unit but good guess. I held off on "Bashing" the Middlesex SO's because as I said I didn't have enough contact with them... I said and will say again that until ALL Deputies statewide go with a standard test and not pay for their badges that they will have no respect. BUT now the Sheriff himself comes out and says it, yes we give out badges after (probably) running illegal CORI background checks to almost anyone that wants to pay us $$$ Do you not have a job or did you pay for a Sheriff's job mmhh and your feeling bad about my remarks about the Sheriff's. Take a test, put your wallet and rest your hands from holding that campaign sign. Shake every door downtown at 3 AM in the snow and put some bracelets on a couple hundred people and then come back and talk to me. Yes I will bash all hacks for buying a job. All guys that want a job don't weep and buy them some go out and work their ass off like 95% of the people on this board. And yes I was a screw soo their goes that thought.

 

[MVS]

Hey Thumper I think you need anger management.

:dito:

 

[k9sheriff]

Thumper2168, just a question for you.You say that until there is a standardized test sheriff's won't get any respect.I can tell you one thing I get plenty of respect because of the way I conduct myself along with my fellow Deputies.I do agree with you , out of the 14 sheriff departments in Massachusetts 8 of the counties have abolished county government, so 8 of us are state employees while the rest of them county run.What a screwed up state.But my main question for you is this.If there should be a standardized test(to which i agree) shouldn't there then be a policy of aboilishing all non civil service towns where there are are hundreds or more police who therefore are not legitimate officers because they didn't take the standardized civil service exam, but started out as Auxilliary then Reserve and then merely got appointed by the selectmen because the chief liked him/her.Maybe some of them take an exam but it isn't the civil service exam.Just curious on your take on this.