Deputy Sheriff IV

Summary

The Deputy Sheriff IV (Lieutenant) serves in a senior command-level role within the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, providing executive oversight, strategic leadership, and operational command across multiple areas. The position is responsible for delivering the Sheriff’s Office’s strategic direction into operational outcomes. The Lieutenant functions as a senior decision-maker, incident commander, and executive liaison, with responsibility for complex operations, personnel management, policy development and interagency coordination.

A criminal background check is required.

Essential Duties

• Serves as a command-level leader responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of assigned divisions, units, or countywide operational functions.
• Acts as Officer-in-Charge or Incident Commander for critical incidents, major court operations, emergencies, and special events, utilizing NIMS/ICS principles.
• Provide executive-level decision making during high-risk, high-liability, or politically sensitive operations.
• Represents the Sheriff’s Office in meetings with county leadership, judges, law enforcement executives, prosecutors, and external partner agencies.
• Ensure operational readiness, staffing alignment, and deployment strategies consistent with organization priorities.
• Review, approve, and evaluate operational plans, post orders, special assignments, and critical incident responses.
• Directly supervise supervisory personnel, including Sergeants, Corporals or civilian staff with indirect oversight of deputies and support staff.
• Oversee and participate in internal investigations, disciplinary actions, and personnel-related decision-making in coordination with command staff and Chester County Human Resources.
• Evaluate, develop, and revise policies, procedures, and operational directions to ensure compliance with state and federal law, and best practices.
• Oversee scheduling, overtime management, and workforce utilization to ensure fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency.
• Review budgetary impacts related to staffing, training, and operational initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all required training standards for sworn personnel, including firearms qualifications, defensive tactics, and annual in-service requirements.
• Perform related duties, special assignments, and strategic projects assigned by the Chief Deputy or Sheriff.

Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Five years of experience in criminal justice, law enforcement or job-related field.
• Must posses either Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training certification (Act 120) or PCCD – required Act 2 certification at the time of appointment.
• Applicants hired with Act 120 certification must obtain PCCD- required Act 2 certification within one (1) year of the date of hire.
• Completion of a recognized police supervisor training course.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership skills and abilities.
• Complete all required annual training.
• Maintain CPR / AED, EMS and OC certifications.
• Maintain firearms qualifications.
• Ability to establish priorities while remaining focused on daily operations.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with various software packages.
• Customer service-oriented skills.
• Ability to work independently and proceed with objectives.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Must pass a pre-promotional drug screening test conducted at an HR-approved testing facility.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice.
• Strong professional ethics.
• Ability to follow office protocol.
• More than Ten (10) years of prior law enforcement experience.
• More than Five (5) years of prior supervisory law enforcement experience
• More than two (2) years of prior executive law enforcement experience
• Prior military experience.
• Experience in managing large-scale operations, critical incidents, or specialized law enforcement units.
• Criminal and Civil Law knowledge and experience.
• Strong knowledge of defensive and security tactics.
• Firearms qualification.
• Strong listening skills.
• Common sense understanding of written or verbal instructions.
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems.
• Strong time management skills.
• Accurate and detail oriented.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Able to carry tasks to completion.

Additional Information

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic Word skills
• Basic Excel skills
• Basic Access skills
• Basic OutLook skills
• Basic Internet Explorer skills

• Close and distant vision.
• Depth perception (three-dimensional vision ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
• Ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus (driving and firearms handling)
• Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point) due to criminals approaching from the side.
• Ability to qualify yearly for night shooting.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Will work outside in all weather conditions serving civil processes or other office functions.
• Will work in an office setting completing administrative and operational requirements.
• Assist with special operations assignments for searches, crowd control or any event requiring the use of Incident Command or NIMs procedures.
• Must remain on the defensive at all times due to the nature of the profession.

• Ability to work extended hours, as necessary.
• This position requires a professional demeanor at all times.