Located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, and rich in history and natural beauty, Cowlitz County is home of the Monticello Convention of 1852, where the Washington Territory was born. With a balanced blend of rural and urban environments, most residents of Cowlitz County live about an hour from Mt. St. Helens, the Pacific Coast, and Portland OR, providing a unique quality of life. Long known as a world‐class center for manufacturing, predominantly in the forest products industry. For many years to come, the region will continue to combine natural resources, many transportation alternatives, and a community atmosphere to produce an economic environment.

Our community includes thriving export‐import activities, healthcare services, retail sales, senior living communities, a mix of public and private schools, a community college with four‐year degree extension programs, tourism, outdoor recreation, plus a wide variety of public, private and voluntary organizations.

Cowlitz County is home to approximately 108,950 residents, roughly 56 percent of whom live in the incorporated cities of Castle Rock, Kelso, Longview, Kalama, and Woodland. The remaining 44 percent live in rural, unincorporated communities such as Ryderwood, Toutle, Yale, Silver Lake, Lexington, Ariel and Cougar. These unincorporated areas of the County cover approximately 1,166 square miles, and are where the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office actively patrol and respond to calls for service.

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is a general authority law enforcement agency. The Sheriff's Office is made up of five bureaus; Administration, Patrol, Crime Reduction Team, Detectives, and Administrative Services.

In addition to Patrol, several full time and part time opportunities are available.  These positions include: K-9, SWAT, Detective, Drone Operator, Boat Operator, Civil, Search and Rescue and multiple instructor specialties (Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Vehicle Operations, Field Trainer, etc.).

All commissioned personnel are assigned take home vehicles. Shifts start when you check on the radio. Commissioned personnel work four 10 ½ hour days and is rotational for days off. Patrol shifts routinely rotate from nights to days and days off, which allows for weekends off approximately every four weeks, for a period of approximately four weeks. This schedule averages approximately 2,050 hours worked per year, as opposed to the traditional 2,080 annual hours.

The eligibility list is a continuous listing and maintained as scores are received from PST, with oral board interviews conducted on an as-needed basis. Vacancies are filled by Civil Service "rule of five", with the top five candidates forwarded to the appointing authority for background investigation and selection as vacancies occur.

Lateral Applicants:  Please contact the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office directly.

Number of Current Vacancies: 0

Starting salary $6,599.00/mo. with annual step increases to $7,998.00/mo.

Additional longevity increases at 10 years (2%), 15 years (3%), and 20 years (4%).

Educational incentive: 1.75% for  AA/AS and 3.5% additional for a BA/BS.

Additional compensation available for certain specialty positions.

Salary based on an average of 2,050 hours worked per year.

Benefit package includes medical and dental plans, vacation, sick leave, and retirement (State LEOFF II plan).