ALL APPLICANTS must complete the following two documents:

1. An Applicant Statement and Authorization to Release Information form. 
2. A Background Investigation Authorization form, which requires a list of your past seven years of residences. Be prepared to list your previous addresses prior to the exam.

Both forms will need to be completed in front of a Notary Public who witnesses your signature and attaches his/her notary seal to it at the time of signing.

For those required to take the computerized basic assessment test, a Notary Public will be on hand at the exams to notarize the Applicant Statement and Authorization to Release Information and the Background Investigation Authorization forms. These two forms must be completed for each separate date that you test. Taking two exams in one day requires only one of each form to be submitted.

Applicants with Disabilities may complete a Reasonable Accommodation Request For Examination form, which must be received by the Board before a deadline in order for the request to be considered for the next exam. This form is available on the website and in the LEPB office and may be mailed to the LEPB’s Post Office Box or hand-delivered to the LEPB office.

Applicants that complete the computerized test and pass with a 70% or above – or those candidates receiving an exemption from the Shelby County LEPB – will have their applications forwarded to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

A background check will then be performed on these applicants; including a criminal history, driving history, and credit history. You may download a fillable and printable PDF copy of the background authorization form by clicking here.  This form will require notarization of your signature.  Those taking the computerized test will have the opportunity to complete this form at the test facility.

The Sheriff’s Office will then contact eligible applicants for initial interviews that pass the background check, depending on position availability.

Any application that passes the background check is valid for 1 year from the computerized testing date, and you may be called in for an interview at any time during that 1 year period. Applications with prior law enforcement experience, military experience, and college education may be given preference for the first interviews.

If an applicant for the positions of Deputy Sheriff or Jail Deputy is moved forward after the initial screening, they will be given a physical fitness test. Applicants for a Support Services position will not have to complete a physical fitness test. 

Deputy Sheriff applicants must complete the APOSTC agility course and the following requirements: 22 push-ups in one minute, 25 sit-ups in one minute, and a 1.5 mile run in 15 minutes and 28 seconds.

Jail Deputy applicants must complete an agility course created by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.   This Jail Deputy test will include the following: Applicant will run 50 yards then step over a 27 inch hurdle before ducking under a 42 inch hurdle.  The applicant will complete this step twice.   The applicant will then cross a 10 foot balance beam.  The applicant will then complete another 50 yard sprint to a dummy simulating a downed person.  The applicant will then drag the dummy 10 feet.  This agility course is to be completed within 90 seconds.  

An initial interview will be scheduled following the completion of the physical fitness requirements.    

Once an applicant completes the initial interview, they may be scheduled for a polygraph examination. The polygrapher will question the applicant about answers on the initial application and interview, as well as criminal history, driving history, and credit history.

Applicants that successfully pass the polygraph examination may be scheduled for a psychological examination. This examination will test an applicant’s mental fitness and capacity for the field of law enforcement.

Applicants that successfully pass the psychological examination may be scheduled for a final interview with Sheriff Samaniego. After this interview, the Sheriff may offer the applicant a conditional job offer. This offer is conditional upon a doctor’s physical and drug screening, which is scheduled after the conditional offer is made.

All applicants will complete an in-house training program depending upon their assignment. Deputy Sheriff applicants who are not APOSTC certified will be enrolled in an upcoming Police Academy, which lasts 14 weeks.  There is a lateral academy that last 3 weeks for qualifying out-of-state candidates.