New Job State Transport Deputy In Vermont

How to Apply

To Apply for this job: Applicants must send a brief cover letter, resume (including starting/ending months and years) and list of 3 work-related references (including name, title, organization and daytime phone) to Caledonia County Sheriff James Hemond at [email protected] and [email protected]. Please indicate where you heard about the position. This position is open until filled.

Class Definition

Certified law enforcement officers whose primary responsibility is transportation of prisoners, juveniles, and persons in mental health crisis, who are in the custody of the State of Vermont or the State designee, for court appearances or to court-ordered treatment facilities. State Transport Deputies schedule transports in coordination with the courts, State’s Attorneys, Corrections, and other law enforcement personnel to provide safe and timely transports. Work is performed under the supervision of the County Sheriff. Work assignments are determined and assigned by the Sheriff.

Examples of Work

The transportation of individuals is normally between a secure detention or correctional facility, courts, treatment facilities in Vermont, and occasionally out-of-state. Transport Deputies accompany individuals from pick up through return to the facility or court-ordered location. Requests for transports come to the Sheriff’s office from the courts or State social service agencies. Requests for transport may be received with sufficient notice but can be received on the same day the transport is needed due to emergencies and/or time-sensitive court proceedings. For the protection of the public, courts, prisoners, and the State Transport Deputies, most transports are conducted with two deputies, although a solo transport is sometimes necessary. Transport Deputies do not transport men and women together, nor juveniles with adults. State Transport Deputies interact with individuals from both government and private sector during their workday. The State Transport Deputies ensure the safety of persons in their custody in the courtroom. State Transport Deputies are responsible for ensuring that detained prisoners, mental health persons, and juveniles arrive at court on time for their scheduled court hearings. As such, the Transport Deputies are critical to the efficient functioning of Vermont’s court system. They must maintain confidentiality of information regarding the person in custody, including, but not limited to, criminal or civil case issues, medical information, etc. A Transport Deputy performs the job within strict standards imposed by State and Departmental policy and procedures, rules of criminal and civil procedure, US and Vermont constitutions. On occasion, a transport situation may be confrontational when dealing with suspected violators and criminals. State Transport Deputies must be able to detect a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a transport, holding cell, or courtroom; detect the presence of unlawful contraband in a transport vehicle or on a person.

State Transport Deputies are responsible for immediate control of Department property valued in tens of thousands of dollars.

Other Duties as Assigned

State Transport Deputies may be assigned as a Field Training Officer (FTO) for new personnel that may be assigned transport work. State Transport Deputies may be serving as the “lead”/senior person on a transport if they are working with a newly hired State Transport Deputy or a Per Diem Deputy. In those situations, they are likely making the decisions relating to the transport security and handling the individual being transported; and includes their assessment of the level of security that may be needed in the courtroom (such as requesting additional staffing, etc.).

State Transport Deputies may also conduct transportation for extraditions that have been approved by the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs. These extraditions require out of state travel, and sometimes several days on the road or travel by air.

State Transport Deputies are responsible for criminal process paperwork coming to the department for delivery; and for receipt, handling, and disposition of all Governor’s warrants delivered to the department.

Deputies may be assigned to special teams such as high-risk jury trial security or judiciary threat response team.

State Transport Deputies must present a professional appearance and attitude as law enforcement officers.

State Transport Deputies must effectively communicate both verbally, and in writing.

When there are no scheduled transports, and none expected for the day, a State Transport Deputy may perform general law enforcement duties that have been approved by the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, provided that those duties do not conflict with their State Transport work, or result in any situation whereby the Transport Deputy’s time is being charged to another State or federal agency/dept, or private contract, at the same time it is being charged to the Department of SAS. Any question or dispute regarding general law enforcement assignments or other non-transport work assignments shall be reviewed and decided by the SAS Executive Director. Some of these duties may include assisting the State Judiciary, AHS/DCF/DMH/DOC; assisting with community safety patrols, local traffic enforcement, community/school resource and education, crime prevention, assisting local or state law enforcement as part of mutual aid and support.

Environmental Factors

The State Transport Deputy is a certified law enforcement officer in Vermont, and has the responsibilities and pressures associated with a law enforcement position. A State Transport Deputy may have to deal with the following situations calmly and professionally: physically restrain or subdue person(s); handle persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs; administer first aid; use of deadly force; deal with critical or life threatening situations and/or, incidents where actions may be subject to public or legal scrutiny and publicity; driving in bad weather conditions. Dealing with persons who may be angry, verbally or physically abusive, intoxicated or in mental health crisis, which results in the need for de-escalation tactics. On occasion, these situations may wind up with a physical intervention/altercation, resulting in a Transport Deputy being seriously injured or worse. Exposure to the threat of illness due to exposure to blood, airborne pathogens and viruses, due to close proximity to individuals being transported in a closed vehicle. Roadside dangers involved in transporting persons, and increased risk of motor vehicle accidents based upon driving thousands of miles each year. Deputies wear specialized equipment while on duty, including soft body armor with trauma plate, gun belt with gun and ammunition, handcuffs, keys, OC spray, baton, portable radio, and a flashlight. Lift and carry prisoners, mental heath persons, or juveniles who are unable or unwilling to move themselves.

State Transport Deputes must follow State of Vermont personnel policies and procedures, Department of SAS policies and procedures, as well as those of the Sheriff’s office, provided that the Sheriff’s office policies are not inconsistent with the State and Department of SAS policies and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to attain Vermont full time law enforcement officer certification requirements.
• Awareness of laws and regulations pertaining to the custody and transportation of prisoners.
• Knowledge of prisoner restraint devices and their appropriate use.
• Ability to correctly complete required documentation of prisoner transports and associated billing paperwork.
• Ability to assess potentially aggressive behavior and change in demeanor based on non-verbal and verbal language.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws and regulations relating to assigned duties.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a marked police vehicle safely under normal and stressful conditions.
• Considerable working knowledge of court proceedings and potential outcomes.
• Working knowledge of law enforcement agencies and their roles throughout the state.
• Considerable working knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of law enforcement.
• Ability to restrain aggressive persons in order to prevent injury to the person, self, and others.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions with minimal supervision.

Required Training

• Use of Force
• Hazardous material incident first responder
• Operate police radar/L.I.D.A.R for speed enforcement
• Use OC spray, have knowledge of its physiological effects and be able to decontaminate targeted persons.
• First aid, bloodborne pathogens
• National Incident Command System certification

Minimum Requirements

Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience: Two years of experience in law enforcement.

Level 3, Vermont Law Enforcement Certification at Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCRC).

An applicant may be considered who is not Level 3 certified if: (1) they are eligible to obtain a waiver from the VCJTC or (2) they meet the entry standards for full-time training program as established by VCJTC. At the discretion of the Sheriff and approval of the SAS Executive Director, an applicant who does not possess Level 3 certification may be considered but will be a “State Transport Deputy Trainee” at the lower paygrade level (PG20) and must attain Level 3 certification within 24 months or be subject to separation from service.

At the sole discretion of the Sheriff and approval of the SAS Executive Director, a trainee who does not attain Level 3 certification within the specified timeframe may receive a waiver if the employee has attained at least Level 2 certification; however, the employee will not be eligible for the State Transport Deputy title or paygrade unless or until such time as Level 3 certification is attained.

Valid Vermont Motor Vehicle license.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State’s employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.