Employment & Recruitment FAQ's

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Answers to many of these and other questions can be found in our Member Recruitment Brochure available here.

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1) What are the minimum qualifications required to apply for a position as County Police Officer (Deputy Sheriff)?

2) What are the minimum qualifications required to apply for a position as a Corrections Officer?

3) Where can I obtain an application for a position at the Sheriff's Office?

4) Is there a processing fee to submit an application for County Police

    Officer Examination?

5) Do I have to be a United States citizen to take the County Police Officer 

    examination?

6) Do I have to be a resident of Ontario County to take the examinations?

7) Does the OCSO accept lateral transfers from other departments?

8) What are the eyesight requirements?

9) What are the current salary ranges and vacation benefits for a County

     Police Officer?

10) Will I be required to submit to a polygraph examination and a psychological screening prior to appointment?

11) What, if any, health insurance coverage is available?

12) How much vacation time will I have?

13) What retirement benefits will I have?

14) Are there any additional retirement savings plans to which I may

      contribute?

15) What, if any, additional benefits are there?

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1)What are the minimum qualifications required to apply for a position as County Police Officer (Deputy Sheriff)?

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1. High School diploma or equivalency
2. Possession of 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university at the time of appointment or
3. Two (2) years service as a police officer pursuant to section 58 of the Civil Service Law; or
4. Two (2) years service as a military police officer; or; an equivalent combination of education and experience as set by the limits of (1), (2) and (3) above.
5. United States citizenship;
6. Possession of a valid New York State operator’s license at the time of appointment and maintenance of such license throughout the tenure of employment in the position.
7. Satisfaction of the medical and physical fitness requirements for Police Officers, established by the Municipal Police Training council;
8. Candidates must be between 19 and 35 years of age.

2) What are the minimum qualifications required to apply for a position as a Corrections Officer

1. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma issued by a State Education authority, AND

2. Possession of a valid New York State Operator's license at the time of appointment, and maintenance of such license throughout the tenure of employment in the position.

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3) Where can I obtain an application for a position at the Sheriff's Office?

1. Applications can be obtained at the Ontario County Department of Human Resources, 3019 County Complex Dr., Canandaigua, NY 14424. 

2. Applications are also available for download at the Human Resources website at http://www.co.ontario.ny.us/doccenter/HRApp092906.pdf

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4) Is there a processing fee to submit an application for an examination?

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• Yes: $15.00 (Check or Money Order)

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5) Do I have to be a United States citizen to take either examination?

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• Yes

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6) Do I have to be a resident of Ontario County to take either examination?

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• To take the County Police Officer examination, you must be a resident for one month prior to the exam of Ontario, Livingston, Monroe, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne or Yates County. 
• To take the Corrections Officer examination you must be a resident of Ontario County at the time the application is submitted. 
• IN ADDITION, to be appointed to the Office of Sheriff for either position, you must be a resident of Ontario County a minimum of one month prior to your appointment and maintain your residency throughout the duration of your employment.

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7) Does the OCSO accept lateral transfers from other departments?

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• Certain criteria must be met for a lateral transfer. Contact the Ontario County Department of Human Resources for further information (585) 396-4465 or via e-mail at hr@co.ontario.ny.us.

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8) What are the eyesight requirements for the County Police Officer?

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• 20/30 corrected. Specific criteria must also be met for color & depth perception along with peripheral vision

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9) What are the current salary ranges for a County Police Officer and Corrections Officer?

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• Beginning salary (County Police Officer): $46,737.60 (2011)
• Top salary (County Police Officer): $60,403.20 (2011)
• Beginning salary (Investigator and Sergeant): $60,403.20 (2011)
• Top Salary (Investigator and Sergeant): $72,155.20 (2011)
• Beginning Salary (Corrections Officer): $39,380.74 (2011)
• Top Salary (Corrections Officer): $55,035.47 (2011)
• Beginning Salary (Corrections Sergeant): $45.240.00 (2011)
• Top Salary (Correction Sergeant) $61,554.58 (2011)

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10) Will I be required to submit to a polygraph examination and a psychological screening prior to appointment?

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• Yes (all positions)

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11) What, if any, health insurance coverage is available (all positions)?

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• All positions are covered by the Excellus Healthy Blue Program.

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12) How much vacation time will I have (all positions)?

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• On the first anniversary of your date of hire, you will earn 15.5 days of annual leave that may be used for vacations, personal business and sick days.  You may borrow five days of annual leave against your first year’s entitlement after you have completed six months of employment.  Your annual allocation of 15.5 days increases to 20.5 days per year after five years of service.  One additional day is earned at 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 years, and five days are added after 30 years.

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13) What retirement benefits will I have?

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• (County Police Officer) Membership in the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) provides a retirement pension of half of a County Police Officer’s final average salary at 20 years.  County Police Officers who continue to work beyond 20 years, up to a maximum of 35 years of service, will earn 1/60th of their final average salary for each additional year of service.  Membership includes a pre- and post-retirement death benefit.  Employees are required to contribute 3% of their salary.  Vesting occurs after five years of service, but employees may withdraw their contributions, plus interest, if they leave prior to ten years of service.

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14) Are there any additional retirement savings plans to which I may contribute?

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• In addition to NYS retirement system membership, employees may defer earnings pretax up to the IRS limit into the county’s 457 plan with The Hartford to save for retirement.

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15) What, if any, additional benefits are there?

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• Employees may set aside money, pretax; to pay for unreimbursed medical and dental expenses and/or child/adult day care.  Ontario County also provides $500 in a medical spending account annually upon successful completion of a physical agility test (CPO and CO).
• County Police Officers and Corrections Officers are covered for both on-the-job and off-the-job disability.
• County Police Officers are eligible for a 2% savings match plan for post-retirement health care costs
• Tuition Reimbursement (all)
• CSEA Member Benefits (all)
• Shift Differential (all)
• Direct Deposit (all)
• Longevity Pay (all)
• Employee Assistance Program (all)
• Advanced Education Stipends (all)
• Credit Union Memberships (all)
• SCUBA, ERT / SERT Incentives (all)
• Family Medical Leave (all)
• Jury Duty Leave (all)
• Bereavement Leave (all)
• 12 paid holidays per year (all)

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