I am pleased to announce a new and innovative initiative, the Law Enforcement Associate Program. This program provides a structured, two-year approach for motivated individuals seeking a career in law enforcement who may not yet meet civil service requirements due to age, educational level, or other mandatory criteria. The program uniquely allows qualified members of the community as young as 19 years old—with at least six months of work experience—to begin a meaningful pathway toward becoming a full-time Deputy Sheriff. Associates will receive a competitive salary, medical and retirement benefits, and experience that will establish a strong foundation for a rewarding career in law enforcement.
Across the country, police recruitment is at a historic low. Agencies nationwide are struggling to attract applicants, and even fewer candidates make it through the process to become eligible for hire. Academy classes are shrinking, and the traditional recruitment practices are not producing enough qualified candidates. The Law Enforcement Associate Program is our answer to that situation by creating and launching an innovative recruitment and workforce development initiative, the first of its kind in Orange County.
The Law Enforcement Associate Program provides my agency’s members with time to evaluate, train, and prepare the associates for success. Assignments within the program involve apprenticeship-level work designed to familiarize the associate with the operations of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. They will earn paid experience, exposure to all divisions, professional development, physical fitness preparation, and ultimately a clear pathway to a career as a Deputy Sheriff.
After completing 24 months as a Law Enforcement Associate, associates will have the exclusive opportunity to take the Deputy Sheriff promotional exam, one of the program’s many unique benefits. Once associates successfully pass the promotional exam and the mandatory physical fitness test, they will be placed on the preferential list to become a Deputy Sheriff.
This program is not just about filling vacancies; it’s about shaping the future of the Sheriff’s Office for the communities we proudly serve.
For more information or to contact my office, please visit www.orangecountygov.com and click on the Sheriff’s Office links or contact us at OCNYSheriff@orangecountygov.com.
