Kansas has 105 counties in which sheriffs are elected to serve a term of four years. These sheriffs are responsible for maintaining peace in their counties by suppressing all insurrections, unlawful assemblies, riots and affrays. They are also responsible for executing and serving all the orders, precepts and writs issued by a lawful authority.

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If you are passionate about serving your community, then you have come to the right place. This guide will help you understand how to become a sheriff in Kansas. Working in the capacity of a sheriff will enable you to play your role in preserving peace in your community.

How to Become a Sheriff in Kansas

In order to be eligible to apply, the applicants have to meet the following requirements:

  • Should be a legal US citizen and a qualified voter of the country
  • Possess high school education or equivalent
  • Should have a clean criminal record and should have never been convicted of a felony
  • Should be physically and mentally fit
  • Should be capable of effective law enforcement

How Long Does It Take to Become a Sheriff in Kansas?

The process is made up of the following stages:

Step 1: Serve as a Police Officer

Since the sheriff position is a senior leadership role, it demands certain work experience. Therefore, candidates can work as a police officer for some years before applying for the sheriff’s position.

Step 2: Acquire Relevant Education

It is advised that the candidates obtain a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in a relevant field such as Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Intelligence or Public Safety Administration. This will help the candidates improve their career prospects and make them more desirable for the sheriff’s position.

Step 3: Pass the Exams, Interviews and Screening

The candidate would be required to pass the written and physical exams. This would be followed by interviews, drug screening, medical exam and a background investigation.

Step 4: Submit the Documents and Run the Campaign

The candidates would have to file the documents with the respective counties. After that has been done, the candidates can begin preparing for their election campaign. They can assemble their teams to help them in the campaigning stage. Those candidates who secure the highest votes are then sworn in as sheriffs.

Salary of Sheriffs in Kansas

As per the data reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in Kansas was $71,070 in May 2018.