SkillBridge Internship

SkillBridge Opportunity With Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is excited to offer a SkillBridge opportunity that will allow service members the knowledge and experience necessary to determine if a career in law enforcement is right for them. Upon completion of the program, participants will be encouraged to apply for a position with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office as either a Deputy Sheriff or Cadet. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has created a training plan that encompasses many aspects of the responsibilities and expectations a position in law enforcement entails, to include patrol, investigations, civil process, courthouse and airport security, booking, and communications. The goal of this internship is to provide the DoD SkillBridge Intern with the tools necessary to make an informed decision for a civilian career path. Service members who complete the internship will be better equipped to step into a position as a Deputy Sheriff or employed as a Cadet entering the academy to later be added to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff ranks.

Background Investigation Waiver (Required) : Please click here for the Background Waiver.

Duties

Patrol duties involve : patrolling assigned zones, taking calls for service, enforcing traffic and pedestrian laws, helping citizens, engaging with the community, writing reports, following up with witnesses and victims, making arrests, transporting prisoners to the booking facility. Civil process duties involve : taking calls for service, serving criminal summons, reviewing warrants, capias, and court orders, service of process. Airport duties involve : providing safety and security to the citizens and visitors within and around the airport, assist the Department of Homeland Security with security matters, engage with the public, provide a good first impression to visitors of law enforcement in the area. While shadowing investigators, one will get to experience different aspects of investigations : responding to crime scenes, collecting and processing evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, attending autopsies, research and corroboration with other investigators and agencies, remotely observing criminal polygraphs. Courthouse deputies include : courtroom inspections, escorting the Judge, protecting the Judge and Jury, escorting prisoners to and from court proceedings, take people into custody, book and transport prisoners, monitor video surveillance. Dispatcher responsibilities include : call taking, dispatch of law enforcement units, relay and instruction of emergency medical services, dispatch of fire rescue.

Qualifications

• Service members may participate within 180 days of being discharged or released from active duty and service members must have served 180 continuous days on active duty.
• Approval authority rests with the first field grade commander authorized to impose non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ in the service member's chain of command.
• Such commanders may approve or disapprove participation by a service member based upon unit mission requirements.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.