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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.

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 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏽💨
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.
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
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.
❄️☃️Stay safe this winter: Be prepared and drive carefully! Always call 911 for emergencies.🤳
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 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.