The basic eligibility requirements for Merit Deputies are:

1. Must be a United States Citizen.
2. Must be at least 21 years old.
3. Must possess a valid drivers license.
4. Must be a graduate of an accredited High School or possess a GED.
5. Must not have any felony or serious misdemeanor convictions. Certain misdemeanor convictions may be waived.
   
6. Must pass a thorough background check.
7. Must reside within 25 miles of Franklin, IN within 1 year of start date.

The application will require the following:

1. Copy of your birth certificate.
2. High School diploma & college transcripts.
3. Military DD214 (if applicable).
4. Recent photograph.

Merit Deputies must reside within 25 miles of Franklin, Indiana within one year of hiring.

IC 36-8-10-10.4: County police force; preference for employment

Sec. 10.4. (a) Subject to subsection (c), the board shall give a preference for employment according to the following priority:
(1) A war veteran who has been honorably discharged from the United States armed forces.
(2) A person whose mother or father was a:
(A) firefighter of a unit;
(B) municipal police officer; or
(C) county police officer;
who died in the line of duty (as defined in IC 5-10-10-2).

(b) Subject to subsection (c), the board may give a preference for employment to any of the following:
(1) A member of another department laid off under section 11.1 of this chapter.
(2) A police officer laid off by a city under IC 36-8-4-11.

(c) A person described in subsection (a) or (b) may not receive a preference for employment unless the person:
(1) applies; and
(2) meets all employment requirements prescribed:
(A) by law, including physical and age requirements; and
(B) by the department.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Each applicant and employee will be limited by his/her own abilities and qualifications, and the department will endeavor to select, hire, and maintain in its employ only the best-qualified persons available for any particular position.

Q: Do I need any prior experience to apply or be considered?

A: You do not need any prior experience to apply or be considered. All full-time Indiana law enforcement officers are required to attend the Tier I Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. If you have a current certification, you will not need to attend again. See the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy website for more information: https://www.in.gov/ilea/about-the-academy/basic-training-tier-i/

Q: What are the age requirements for the merit positions?

A: The minimum age is 21 at the time of appointment to a position. 20-year olds may apply but will not be hired prior to reaching 21 years of age. There is NO MAXIMUM age as the Sheriff’s Office pension is not part of the 1977 Police & Fire Pension program.

Q: Am I required to have any certain level of education?

A: You are required to have a diploma from an accredited high school, or a GED. You are not required to have any college or military experience, but those will carry weight when ranking candidates.

Q: I already have years of service through a pension program. Will my years of service count?

A: Sheriff’s Department pensions are separate than those from the 1977 Police & Fire Pension program and IN-PRS pension systems. Those years of service do NOT count towards the pension we offer.

Q: What is the Sheriff’s Office pension program?

A:  The Sheriff’s Office offers a pension program that is very similar to the 1977 Police & Fire Pension program; however, it is NOT a part of that program. Our pension program consists of the following:

• Vested at 10 years of continuous service.
• Your pension salary amount for the formula below is calculated based on the average of your top 5 years annual salary.
• All years of service up to 20 are calculated at 2.5% x service years. At 20 years of service, the pension amount would be 50%.
• All years of service beyond 20 years are calculated at 2%, up to a maximum of 32 years. At 32 years, maximum pension amount would be 74%.
• You may begin collecting pension at age 55, or participate in the early option at 52 years of age.
• A DROP program is available – must exit DROP at age 55.
• Formula for retirement:
  ○ < 20 years = 2.5% x NumYears
  ○ > 20 years = 2% x NumYearsUnder20 + 2% x NumYearsOver20
  ○ 32 years = 74% max.  (20 x 2.5) + (12 x 2) = 74 using above formula

Q: Do you offer lateral hires? What benefit do I have from coming from another department?

A: Since we participate in our own pension program, there is not a true “lateral” hiring process; however, currently certified ILEA Tier I candidates in good standing will not have to take the physical agility test or written test and will automatically PASS those steps.

Q: Do I have to meet ILEA entrance or exit standards for the physical agility test?

A: You must meet ILEA EXIT STANDARDS for our physical agility test. Even though the academy has lower standards for entrance, we require candidates to be able to pass the standards required for graduation. Those are:

• 1.5 mile run in 16 minutes, 28 seconds or better.
• 300 meter run in 71 seconds or better.
• 25 or more push-ups.
• 29 or more sit-ups in one minute.
• 16″ standing vertical jump.

Q: What’s on the written test? Do I need to know laws or have knowledge of law enforcement?

A: The written test is general knowledge including observation skills, high school level spelling and grammar, logic and reasoning, and basic math. You do not need to have job-specific knowledge to pass the written test. You must achieve a score of at least 70%, and the results are PASS/FAIL.

Q: Can I apply if I have a criminal arrest or conviction?

A: You may not apply if you have ever been convicted of a felony or a domestic violence conviction. Some minor misdemeanors will not automatically disqualify you, but they must not be a crime against a person, and 3 years must have passed since the conviction.