SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is in campaign mode to convince qualified men and women to apply for the department’s open positions.
"We're out there. We're going to schools. We're going to malls, convenience stores. You'll see us out there with our new vehicle. We're driving around trying to get the word out. We're trying to get more people to apply with us," Deputy John Rivera said.
The Sheriff’s Office currently has 28 openings on the law enforcement side, but its real need is at the Bexar County Detention Center, where there are 93 vacancies.
"One thing that you have to understand is that in Bexar County, there’s about 26,000 warrants that are outstanding right now. And with the increase of our fugitive apprehension unit being able to catch those fugitives, (it) increases the population. The increase of the population of the jail also increases the demand of the deputy," said Marin Mata, Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
The demand on the deputy leads to overtime for those who work in the jail. It's a mandatory 16-hour shift that Sheriff Javier Salazar hopes to eliminate once positions are filled.
"We do understand that the inmates deserve high-quality set standard of (a) deputy. He needs to be able to come to this job feeling refreshed and perform his duties," Mata said.
Anyone interested in applying needs a high school diploma or GED. They must also pass a written exam and physical test.
"As long as you can pass the pushups, the run time and the sit-ups, there is no age limit for that. That’s the thing that sets us apart from the rest of the other agencies," Mata said.
To view the vacancies at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, click here.