The Dakota County Sheriff's office offers a variety of opportunities for new and experienced law enforcement officers, correctional deputies and civilians. Our staff are supported by leadership and offered meaningful challenges within a culture grounded by personal growth and well-being.
We prioritize diversity and believe in collaboration, growth and mobility. Full-time staff are offered a full benefits package, including medical, health, dental,11 paid holidays and one floating holiday.
Also, the Sheriff's Office offers wellness perks, including an on-site gym, peer support group and annual mental health checks. Each position comes with its own unique benefits.
If you are looking for variety and work-life balance in a professional career, check out our different positions.
General Duty Deputy
A
general duty deputy performs courts and building security, transports prisoners, investigates crimes, apprehends criminals, enforces all laws, responds to the needs of citizens, and performs proactive and reactive law enforcement patrol functions within Dakota County.
This position provides an opportunity to have a licensed position that will fit your professional interests as well as a full-time career in law enforcement. You will have the ability to work a Monday–Friday schedule or a rotating schedule.
Our office has various positions and specialty assignments including:
- Courts
- Transport
- Civil
- Water/Snowmobile/ATV patrol
- School Resource Deputies
- Patrol
- K9
- Crime Scene Team
- Use of Force/Firearms Instructor
- Investigations
- Drug Task Force
- Marshals Fugitive Task Force
- DEA Task Force
- SWAT
- Dive Team
- Drone Operator
- Social Media Team
- Community Engagement/Recruitment Team
- Electronic Crime Unit
Learn more about our specialty units.
Professional development opportunities are available. We have a generous training budget that allows travel opportunities throughout the state and country. We have a wide range of responsibilities which comes along with many informal leadership roles. We have various supervisor ranks. Develop your own career path.
Our benefits include:
-
Medical (contributed to by employer)
-
Dental (contributed to by employer)
-
Vision
-
Basic life insurance
-
Supplemental life insurance
-
Short-term disability
-
Long-term disability
-
Flexible spending accounts (health care and dependent care)
-
Retirement – PERA pension
-
11 paid holidays and one floating holiday
-
Three weeks paid parental leave
-
Bilingual pay
-
Carry over unused flex vacation year to year
-
Higher accrual rate for those with more than 10 years of experience
-
Facial hair and tattoos allowed, per policy
-
Flexible scheduling
-
Comprehensive wellness program – peer support team, on-site fitness center, annual wellness check-in, and employee assistance program
-
Cutting edge equipment
-
Patrol stipend
-
Nighttime shift differential
-
External and load-bearing vests
-
Annual uniform allowance of $1,050
-
Take home squad for a majority of positions
-
Countless training opportunities
Lateral General Duty Deputy
Join us as a
lateral general duty deputy. We recognize the value your experience and professionalism will bring to our office.
Whether you're tired of working nights and weekends, don't want to spend the rest of your career in a squad car, looking to advance your career or maybe just want to cruise over a gravel road, the Sheriff's Office can add variety to your work life or stability to your work schedule. We have many opportunities, some of which include working in a climate-controlled environment with weekends and holidays off.
A General Duty Deputy performs courts and building security, transports prisoners, investigates crimes, apprehends criminals, enforces all laws, responds to the needs of citizens, and performs proactive and reactive law enforcement patrol functions within Dakota County.
This position provides an opportunity to have a licensed position that will fit your professional interests as well as a full-time career in law enforcement. You will have the ability to work a Monday-Friday schedule or a rotating schedule.
Our office has various positions and specialty assignments including:
- Courts
- Transport
- Civil
- Water/Snowmobile/ATV patrol
- School Resource Deputies
- Patrol
- K9
- Crime Scene Team
- Use of Force/Firearms Instructor
- Investigations
- Drug Task Force
- Marshals Fugitive Task Force
- DEA Task Force
- SWAT
- Dive Team
- Drone Operator
- Social Media Team
- Community Engagement/Recruitment Team
- Electronic Crime Unit
Learn more about our specialty units.
Professional development opportunities are available. We have a generous training budget that allows travel opportunities throughout the state and country. We have a wide range of responsibilities which comes along with many informal leadership roles. We also have various supervisor ranks which come with a healthy rotation. Develop your own career path at the Sheriff's Office.
Our benefits include:
-
Medical (contributed to by employer)
-
Dental (contributed to by employer)
-
Vision
-
Basic life insurance
-
Supplemental life insurance
-
Short-term disability
-
Long-term disability
-
Flexible spending accounts (health care and dependent care)
-
Retirement – PERA pension
-
11 paid holidays and one floating holiday
-
Three weeks paid parental leave
-
Bilingual pay
-
Carry over unused flex vacation year to year
-
Higher accrual rate for those with more than 10 years of experience
-
Facial hair and tattoos allowed, per policy
-
Flexible scheduling
-
Comprehensive wellness program – peer support team, on-site fitness center, annual wellness check-in, and employee assistance program
-
Patrol stipend
-
Nighttime shift differential
-
Cutting edge equipment
-
External and load-bearing vests
-
Annual uniform allowance of $1,050
-
Take home squad for a majority of positions
-
Potential for expedited field training based on training and experience
-
Countless training opportunities
Correctional Deputy
Correctional deputies are responsible for the control, observation and direct supervision of inmate populations of the Dakota County Jail.
Work is performed in a 24/7 secure facility. Staff will work a 12-hour shift rotation. You will work only seven out of the 14 days of a typical pay period, which includes having every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday off.
Special duty assignments include Booking Specialist, Fingerprinting Specialist, Court Security, Special Response Team, Inmates Motivated for Change and more.
Lateral candidates from other agencies are strongly encouraged to apply. Starting salary for lateral transfers will be based upon officer qualifications, training and years of service as a correctional officer.
Learn more about the Dakota County Jail.
Our benefits include:
-
Medical (contributed to by employer)
-
Dental (contributed to by employer)
-
Vision
-
Basic life insurance
-
Supplemental life insurance
-
Short-term disability
-
Long-term disability
-
Flexible spending accounts (health care and dependent care)
-
Retirement – PERA pension
-
11 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday
-
Three weeks paid parental leave
-
Bilingual pay
-
Carry over unused flex vacation year to year
-
Higher accrual rate for those with more than 10 years of experience
-
Facial hair and tattoos allowed, per policy
-
Flexible scheduling
-
Comprehensive wellness program – peer support team, on-site fitness center, annual wellness check-in, and employee assistance program
-
Cutting edge equipment
-
Annual uniform allowance of $775
-
Countless training opportunities
Park, Lakes and Trails Ranger
Parks, lakes and trails rangers assist county park visitors with using county waterways and public trails. Rangers provide security to park visitors and property and enforce Dakota County Park ordinances. Park rangers report to the sergeant supervising the unit.
Park rangers must be able to communicate positively and effectively with the public. They should also be comfortable operating motor vehicles including ATVs, UTVs, boats and snowmobiles.
Program Service Assistant
Program service assistants work in either Operations or Detention Services in Hastings or Apple Valley. Staff in this classification perform complex level word processing duties and access and navigate computer databases and record management systems. Program services assistants must be able to operate effectively with little or no supervision and manage multiple tasks at one time. Staff work with Sheriff's Office personnel, other law enforcement agencies, the public and family members of inmates. They also could have occasional inmate contact.
Work from home flexibility is available in some instances.
Our benefits include:
- Medical (contributed to by employer)
- Dental (contributed to by employer)
- Vision
- Basic life insurance
- Supplemental life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Flexible spending accounts (health care and dependent care)
- Retirement - PERA pension
- 11 paid holidays and one floating holiday
- Three weeks paid parental leave
- Carry over unused flex vacation year to year
- Facial hair and tattoos allowed, per policy
- Flexible scheduling
- Comprehensive wellness program – peer support team, on-site fitness center, annual wellness check-in and employee assistance program
Volunteering and Internships