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 YouWe’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.
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
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.
This Valentine’s Day, we’re spreading love and gratitude to the community we proudly serve. From all of us at Kern County Sheriff’s Office, thank you for your continued support and trust. Together, we make this community stronger—one partnership at a time. Happy Valentine’s Day from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office 💌
⭐️UPDATE: Phone lines have been restored.
📵Phone outage affecting Non-emergency lines.
☎️9-1-1 is STILL FUNCTIONING
EAST KERN GANG ARRESTS- On February 12, 2025, Deputies assigned to the East Area Section and the Gang Suppression Unit executed a search warrant related to a theft investigation in the 9000 block of 60th Street West, Mojave. During the investigation, deputies seized approximately 44 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded firearm, and gang indicia associated with the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. At the conclusion of the investigation, Robert Klein (56) was arrested for the following charges: felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition, possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of a controlled substance while armed, participation in a criminal street gang, and resisting arrest. James Rogers (50) was arrested for possession of stolen property, felon in possession of ammunition, and participation in a criminal street gang. Klein and Rogers were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Justice Facility.
Today is Safer Internet Day! 🚨 Be cautious when navigating the web—interacting with strangers and clicking on unknown links can lead to serious risks. Stay safe by verifying sources and thinking twice before sharing personal info online. This message is for ALL AGES! #SaferInternetDay #StaySafeOnline #ThinkBeforeYouClick #strangerdanger
Everyone was happy after the girls scouts paid a visit to our Regional Training Center! The Academy staff stocked up on their cookies and the girls scouts chipped away at their goal! Thanks for the visit! 🍪
GANG SUPPRESSION INVESTIGATION-
On February 1, 2025, deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Gang Suppression Unit executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Woodrow Avenue involving the sales of fentanyl. At the residence, deputies located a loaded firearm, bear mace, approximately 57 grams of fentanyl, 106 grams of methamphetamine, and indicia for the sales of narcotics. Michael Meloche, age 41, was arrested and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Justice Facility for the following charges: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a controlled substance for sales, and maintaining a residence for the purpose of the sales of narcotics. Several days later, Meloche was released from custody.
Deputies continued their investigation into Meloche. On February 8, 2025, deputies executed two search warrants: one in the 6500 block of Mohawk Street and the other in the 800 block of Woodrow Avenue. At the conclusion of the investigation, deputies seized four firearms, miscellaneous ammunition, and approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine. Meloche was arrested and booked for the following charges: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a controlled substance for sales, and maintaining a residence for the purpose of the sales of a controlled substance.
GANG SUPPRESSION ARRESTS- On February 6, 2025, deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Gang Suppression Unit responded to 2701 Ming Avenue (Valley Plaza Mall), in an attempt to locate Stephen Christy (28), who had an active felony warrant for his arrest. Deputies were able to locate and apprehend Christy, who was in the company of Roberto Horta (36), in the parking lot of the Valley Plaza Mall. During a search of Christy, deputies located a loaded .357 Caliber revolver. Deputies further searched Horta and Christy’s vehicle and located a loaded 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun; as well as, live rounds of shotgun ammunition.
Christy and Horta were arrested and booked into the Lerdo Jail on the following charges: Felon in possession of a firearm; Felon in possession of ammunition; Carrying a concealed firearm on a person; Gang member in possession of a firearm; Participation in a criminal street gang; Conspiring to commit a felony on behalf of a criminal street gang; Carrying a concealed firearm inside a vehicle; Carrying a loaded handgun in public; Carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle with a prior felony.
Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Unit arrest one for citrus theft:
Over the last few months, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office has seen a rise in citrus thefts across the county. In January, Kern County Rural Crime Detectives obtained evidence that a black, older model Chevrolet pickup was possibly involved in several of the thefts.
On February 6, 2025, at approximately 1230 hours, Rural Crime Detectives were alerted a black, older model Chevrolet pickup was in a citrus grove near General Beale Road and Russell Street. With assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lamont Substation Deputies, the vehicle was stopped near Buena Vista Boulevard and South Edison Road for expired registration and having another false plate attached. During the investigation, it was revealed the bed of the pickup was filled with oranges. The driver of the pickup, identified as ALFREDO SALVADOR ACOSTA (58) from Lamont, was ultimately arrested.
ACOSTA was booked at the Kern County Jail for violation of Penal Code 487(B)(1)- Grand Theft of fruit, and Penal Code 666.1- Two or more convictions of prior thefts. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.
Park Rangers Arrest for Vandalism at Hart Park-
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED
On February 6, 2025, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Kern County Sheriff’s Office Park Rangers responded to Hart Park after receiving multiple reports of a subject attempting to steal the American flag from the park’s entrance.
Upon arrival, Park Rangers discovered a vehicle stuck in the muddy grass next to the flagpole. Park Rangers determined that 24-year-old Crystal Aguilar had cut the chain securing the flagpole, removed the American flag, and thrown it into the mud before raising the national flag of Mexico in its place.
When Park Rangers attempted to detain Aguilar, she physically resisted and made multiple verbal threats against them. Aguilar was taken into custody and booked on charges of PC 69- threatening a peace officer, PC 594- vandalism, PC 148- resisting arrest, VC 21113(a)- trespassing in a vehicle, and violation of county ordinance for possession of marijuana in a park.
Our K-9 unit received a donation of $1052 from Broken Arrow for our K9, Turbo! We appreciate the community’s willingness to give to our programs that operate with the help of donations and grants. Turbo’s vest was completely paid for and the benevolent community of Kern County kept going. These funds go to all of the extras it takes to house and provide for a working dog. A lot of it would come out of the pockets of our deputies if it weren’t for generous contributions like these.
#loveyourjob #lovekerncounty #k9 #k9unit
Public safety officers get a 20% discount when you use code PS20OFF at checkout! Sign up at runsignup.com or use the link in our bio. Don’t procrastinate on signing up! We sold out last year! Secure your spot TODAY! #honorrun2025 #aruntoremember #lawenforcement #5k #10k #1k 🏃🏻♀️🏃♂️🏃🏽💨
28,000 fentanyl laced pills seized -
On February 2, 2025, at approximately 2:40 p.m., a Kern County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a Mazda SUV for vehicle code violations near the intersection of Washington Street and Feliz Drive. The investigation resulted in the seizure of a large amount of fentanyl and the arrest of two adults.
During the traffic enforcement investigation, the driver, Guadalupe Paz, (age 33) of Bakersfield, and passenger Jose Machado, (age 22) of Bakersfield were contacted along with three (3) juvenile children. A California Highway Patrol Officer/K-9 unit arrived and assisted the patrol deputy during the investigation. A search of the vehicle resulted in over 28,000 suspected fentanyl laced (M-30) pills being located/seized from within the passenger compartment.
Due to the large amount of narcotics located, detectives from the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (KC-HIDTA) Task Force were called out and assumed the investigation.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Lupe Paz and Jose Machado were both arrested and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Lerdo Justice Facility for the following charges: possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, transportation of a controlled substance, child endangerment and conspiracy to commit a crime.
