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.
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.

February is Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Teen DV is unique from domestic violence in many ways.
Unhealthy relationships can often lead to abusive relationships. What a teen tolerates, sets the stage for what they will tolerate as an adult.
When dating violence occurs in teens, it can become a public safety issue as that abuse occurs often in public spaces. Know the signs and talk to your teen about unhealthy relationships.
To learn more about Teen Dating Violence, contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for a presentation for your community group by emailing crimeprevention@kernsheriff.org or calling (661)391-7559.

Last week 23 new Detentions Deputies from the STC Detentions Academy 24-06 received their badges. We love to see the new faces, ready to get to work and keep our community safe.
Have you ever thought of a career at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office?
Apply at Kcsojobs.org
Come out to the Regional Training Center tomorrow at 8:00 AM to take the test for Detentions Deputy or Deputy Sheriff. Registration is first come, first served.
Talk to HR professionals and background investigators about the hiring process.
THE FUTURE OF KCSO IS YOU!
#careers #loveyourjob #graduation #academy #careergoals #kcsojobs

Here’s another KCSO Baker2Vegas runner helping you get ready for KCEBA’s Annual Honor Run!
🏃🏽🏃♂️🏃🏻♀️💨 3/8/25 is 36 days away! Make sure you follow for running tips and information about the Honor Run. All proceeds benefit families of fallen deputies. Sign up at runsignup.com or use the link in our bio

TAFT ARREST- On January 29, 2025, Taft Substation deputies with the assistance of Kern County Auto Theft Task Force and the Taft Police Department served a search warrant in the 300 block of Woodrow Street in Taft. During the search warrant, a stolen vehicle and a stolen air compressor were recovered. JUAN ESPINOZA-PONCE (25) was arrested for PC 496- Possession of Stolen Property, PC 460(B)- Burglary & VC 10851(a)- Grand Theft Auto, PC 496D- Possession of Stolen Vehicle, and misdemeanor warrant.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661)861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at (661)322-4040.

THE FUTURE OF KCSO IS YOU!
📍WHERE:
REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER
962 NORRIS ROAD
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308
🗓️DATES:
2/1/25
4/12/25
6/7/25
8/2/25
10/4/25
12/6/25
⏰Events begin at 8:30 a.m.
💻Testing will be held at 10:00 a.m.
❓Q&A sessions with current Deputies
Testing and application assistance on-site
Incentives still available such as $15,000 sign on bonus upon appointment to Deputy Sheriff or Detentions Deputy for new hires, $25,000 sign on bonus for Laterals upon appointment to Deputy Sheriff.
Relocation bonuses of $5,000 for those who qualify and housing stipends for qualified Deputies with proof of housing withing 30 miles of their assigned substation.
Come to one of these events to learn more!
Connect with experienced professionals in law enforcement.
Explore career advancement and development opportunities!
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newcomer to law enforcement, this event is your chance to take the next step.
Apply at KCSOjobs.org
#careergoals #careers #loveyourjob #kcsojobs #nowhiring

UPDATE: Service has been restored.
The township of Randsburg is currently without 911 services for LANDLINES ONLY. Currently 118 residents are without service, and Frontier Communications has an unknown ETA to resolve the outage.

During Medicolegal Death Investigators Week, Kern County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our dedicated coroner employees. Your expertise plays a vital role in a necessary and, often times, forgotten aspect of law enforcement. We appreciate all that you do, often behind the scenes, to make our community safer and more informed. Your work does not go unnoticed! #MedicolegalDeathInvestigatorsWeek #ThankYou #CoronerTeam #Gratitude #loveyourjob

RURAL CRIMES INVESTIGATION UNIT ARREST FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF COPPER WIRE AND DRUGS- Over the course of several months, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office has seen a continued increase of copper wire thefts in the farmlands and oilfields around Kern County. These types of thefts have caused several thousand dollars’ worth of damage and repairs.
On January 23, 2025, Detectives from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit, along with Taft Substation Deputies, conducted follow-up on several copper wire thefts. Investigators went to the 900 block of North Lincoln Street, in Taft, and contacted Steve Havens (53). Havens is on active probation for theft related charges. While conducting the investigation, detectives located a basement area that contained a large amount of copper wire.
Through the investigation, detectives obtained probable cause to arrest Havens. He was booked at the Kern County Inmate Reception Center for violation of PC 496A(A)- Illegal possession of copper wire, Health and Safety Code 11395(B)1)- Possession of drugs with 2 priors, Health and Safety Code 11377(A)- Possession of a controlled substance.
Anyone with information regarding these investigations is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.

RURAL CRIMES INVESTIGATION UNIT ARREST TWO FOR COPPER WIRE THEFT- On January 23, 2025, Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Taft Substation were dispatched to the area of Highway 166 and Old River Road regarding a copper wire theft that had just occurred in an orchard. A brown Chevrolet Blazer was seen leaving the orchard with copper wire hanging out of the window. Occupants of the vehicle began throwing tools and other items at a witness as they fled the area. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop near the 99 Freeway and Houghton Road. The occupants of the vehicle, Andrew Smith (27), and Jimmie Beck (54), both from Tupman, were arrested.
Due to the amount of copper wire thefts across Kern County, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigations Unit conducted follow-up on the investigation. Investigators were able to obtain evidence showing Smith was involved in several other copper wire thefts within the last couple months.
Smith and Beck were arrested and booked at the Kern County Inmate Reception Center for Penal Code 212.5- Robbery, Penal Code 487J- Theft of copper wire, Penal Code 182(A)(1)- Conspiracy, and Penal Code 466- Possession of burglary tools.
Anyone with information regarding these investigations is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.
