Lexington County Sheriff Accepting Applications for Reserve Deputies

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is accepting applications from residents for its reserve deputy training class.

Classes will be held every Wednesday starting Oct. 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. and every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for four months.

All prospective reserve deputies must attend a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Lexington County James R. Metts Law Enforcement Complex, 521 Gibson Road, Lexington.

Under South Carolina law, to become a reserve law enforcement officer you must:

• Be age 21 or older
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Pass a background investigation, polygraph exam, drug screening test and physical examination

In order to be sworn in as a law enforcement officer, reserve deputies must complete 202 hours of training, according to the sheriff’s department.

State law requires a reserve law enforcement officer to provide at least 60 hours of service every three months and complete at least four hours of training monthly, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said in a release.

During their first year of service, reserve deputies must complete field training and patrol with a full-time, sworn officer, Metts said.

Citizens who want to become a reserve deputy can apply by calling the sheriff’s department at 803-785-8230. 

Applications for a reserve deputy position are available at the James R. Metts Law Enforcement Complex.  You can also download an application for a deputy position online at the sheriff’s department web site.