Sheriffs seeking new applicants

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs has launched a recruitment drive, seeking people who are interested in becoming state sheriffs.

“We are hoping to attract a large pool of top-quality candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve,” said Chief Sheriff David DeCesare. The Division of Sheriffs is an equal opportunity employer, and women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Division of Sheriffs is primarily responsible for judicial security within the courthouse and beyond, including transporting prisoners and inmates to and from courts and/ or state facilities, including hospitals, prisons, jails and cell blocks, Chief DeCesare said. Sheriffs also perform extraditions, execute civil and criminal writs of process and summons witnesses to appear in court.

The division will be accepting applications through April 15 for candidates for the next academy, he said. Interested applicants must apply through the state recruitment website at www.apply.ri.gov.

The recruitment and selection process will include written examinations; physical agility testing; an oral board interview; background investigation; psychological evaluation; medical/physical examination; and participation in the Division of Sheriffs’ Recruit Training Academy.

The Sheriffs ’Academy is a six-week program held in Cranston that is designed to challenge each recruit for the demands of training objectives and expected job performance, Chief DeCesare said. “The academy provides us the opportunity to determine if candidates have the intelligence, emotional stability and physical stamina to meet the demands of training objectives and expected job performance.”