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The
Kern County
Sheriff’s Office

A great career awaits you!

We’re looking for leaders who want to join our winning team in providing the finest law enforcement services to the people of Kern County, California.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office

A Great Career Awaits You

We’re looking for leaders who want to join our winning team in providing the finest law enforcement services to the people of Kern County, California.

INSIDE KCSOCONTACT A RECRUITER

Our Badge is a Symbol of Public Trust and Professionalism

Every member of our team has earned the right to wear our badge. Many people want to wear it, but only a few have earned it.

If you are a mature, motivated, ethically sound individual who wants to join a team of like-minded people, then a career with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office might be the place for you.

Take a look throughout our website, ask questions of our recruiters, and get an in-depth look of our office and team members by following us on social media. Then you’ll know if KCSO is where you need to be.

You Have Options With KCSO

From Deputy Sheriff to mechanics, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office has employment opportunities that need to be fulfilled by great people.

Attend one of our Career Hiring Events

We have exciting employment opportunities waiting to be filled by exceptional individuals like you. Join us at one of our hiring events and embark on a fulfilling career with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

See and Hear For Yourself…

Watch what we do and hear why our team members are proud to call KCSO their home.

Donny Youngblood

Sheriff | Coroner | Public Administrator

Like our unique red patch, our Sheriff’s Office is uniquely different than others.  You can become a Deputy Sheriff, Detentions Deputy, or any one of our numerous civilian classifications.  We also offer a transition program to allow you to move between classifications.  Our over 8000 sq. miles has 13 substations where we want you to live and serve our communities.  In fact, we will pay you an extra $2000 a month to live in select substation response areas.  We have substations from mountains, to lakes, to the high desert. If aviation is for you, we train our own pilots to fly our 8 different aircraft.  We offer great promotional opportunities that allow us to help you be the best you can be.  We love our organization and invite you to explore our website to see if it’s a fit for you.  We live in a county where our residents greatly appreciate us and we them.  Take a look at us, we really want you to become a part of our community and family.  If you have questions, call any of us and we will answer.  From the Sheriff down, we await your call!!

Donny Youngblood
Sheriff, Kern County Sheriff’s Office

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood

Great Benefits & Incentives

Take a look at what we offer and you’ll see we’re competitive, if not better, than other employers!

Recruitment & Retention Bonus*

Lateral Bonus*

Relocation Bonus*

Monthly Housing Allowance*

%

Shift Differential Pay

%

POST Certificate Pay*

*Certain conditions apply. Read further details in the job details on this website or the Kern County Jobs Website.

Inside KCSO

Get to know our agency, leadership, and the testing process to make sure it’s a good fit for both you and us.

Follow @KernSheriff on Instagram

Get a first-hand look at your future career with Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

On December 30, 2024, at approximately 2:15 pm, Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the Kern River Valley substation along with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Park Rangers were dispatched to Lake Isabella for an overturned vessel with the occupants in distress in the water. Deputies along with Park Rangers arrived in the Camp 9 area and located an adult male and adult female in distress and in the water near a small, capsized vessel.
 
Deputies and Park Rangers were able to successfully assist the male and the female out of the water where they received medical treatment. The vessel was later towed to shore and recovered from the water.
 
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of some safety tips regarding water safety.

 

Make sure your vessel is equipped with proper life vests.

 

If you fall into a body of water, roll onto your back and lift up your feet to float.
 

Additionally, there are a few dangers associated with wearing waders.

 

If your waders fill with water, the weight can make it difficult to move and increase the risk of drowning.

Here are some tips to stay safe while wearing waders:

• Wear a wading belt around your waist.
• Wear a personal flotation device (PFD) for extra buoyancy and support.
• Practice the buddy system so someone can help in an emergency.
• Avoid wearing waders in deep water areas.
 
For more safety tips Visit California state parks, Boating and waterways safety page
https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28711
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office would like to warn the public about a phone scam targeting individuals in Kern County.

At this time, we continue to receive reports that residents are receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be Sheriff's Office personnel, specifically using the name Sergeant Youngblood, asking for payment regarding a warrant, urgent legal matter, missing a grand jury duty subpoena, not showing up for court as an expert witness, contempt of court, failure to appear, etc. The caller is asking for electronic payment to avoid jailtime. Payment is usually gift cards, bitcoin, or some other form of electronic payment. They are threatening arrest if payment is not received.

There are also reports that once the victim has paid that they must come into the Sheriff’s Office for a service such as signature comparison or to receive documents.

The callback number that appears is the Sheriff’s Office number. These scam callers use "spoofing" apps to make it appear that they are calling from the Sheriff's Office.

This is a scam. Kern County Sheriff’s Office DOES NOT ASK FOR MONEY, banking or payment information over the phone or accept payment for fees, tickets, or fines. IF THERE IS A WARRANT OUT FOR YOUR ARREST, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A CALL.

When you take a phone call you suspect to be a scam; you can ask the caller for their name, employee identification number, callback number, and a reference number for the matter they are calling about. This information can be used to contact the organization directly to determine the validity of the request.

Community members are reporting that the caller is not "letting" them hang up. This urgency is a red flag. Hang up the phone immediately if you suspect it is a scam call. If there is a warrant for your arrest, you will not receive a phone call.

If you receive suspicious telephone calls that you believe to be a scam, you are urged to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office at (661) 861-3110, or your local law enforcement agency to report the incident.
Thanks to Starbucks for remembering that it’s Law Enforcement Appreciation day! Also, thanks to Sonitrol for the cookies and granola bars!

Our community’s support is one of favorite parts of working in Kern County! 

We appreciate everyone here at the Sheriff’s Office for the hard work and how every role contributes to the daily functions of a law enforcement agency. Thanks to every bureau and division here at KCSO for all you do!

#lawenforcementappreciationday #loveyourjob#communitysupport
On December 28, 2024, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Park Rangers conducted a traffic stop at Heritage Park for a vehicle code violation. During the investigation, officers discovered a loaded firearm, suspected narcotics, and narcotic paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by 32-year-old Jose Cancino and 32-year-old Miriam Ventura Gonzalez.

Cancino was determined to be a prohibited person and was arrested for several felony offenses. These charges included possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Gonzalez was cited at the scene for misdemeanor narcotics violations and released.
Merry Christmas Eve from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff’s Activities League 🎄🎁 Saturday morning our deputies, detentions deputies and park rangers took 45 children shopping for our Annual Shop with a Cop. The smiles on the children’s faces and the smiles on our deputies’ faces say it all! Enjoy your holiday with loved ones! From the KCSO family to yours.
Gang Suppression Arrests for Weapons and Narcotics 

On December 20, 2024, deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Gang Suppression Unit conducted a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Oswell St. and County Club Dr.  When deputies initiated the traffic stop, the driver, later identified as an active gang member, David Arvisu (43 years old), opened his driver door and discarded a Glock style ghost handgun and a magazine.

Arvisu continued driving and pulled over at Oswell St. and Bernard St. and was subsequently taken into custody along with an additional female, Elisa Magana (29 years old). Approximately 11 grams of methamphetamine and one gram of Fentanyl were located inside of their vehicle.  Arvisu and Magana were arrested and transported to the Lerdo Jail Facility where they were booked for multiple drug, gang and weapon charges.
Gang Suppression Arrests

On December 21, 2024, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Gang Suppression Unit conducted a parole search at a residence in the 5000 block of Mayfair Court.  Deputies contacted Guillermo Soto and Michael Soto at the residence.

During the parole search, deputies located approximately 2.5 pounds of marijuana, one ounce of Fentanyl, indications of drug sales, as well as ammunition. Both Guillermo Soto (26 years old) and Michael Soto (29 years old) were arrested for the following charges: conspiracy, sales of narcotics, felon in possession of ammunition and participation in a criminal street gang.  They were booked into the Lerdo Jail Facility.
Get ready for KCEBA’s annual Honor Run! 🏃🏽🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♂️💨 
Proceeds benefit families of fallen law enforcement. 5k and 10k and kids run too! Last year we filled up quick so get your registration in NOW! Runsignup.com search “honor run 2025”