Detective Sergeant Jobs
Detective Sergeant jobs are open across municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, and state law enforcement agencies, at every level from newly promoted sergeant to senior lead investigator, with specializations in homicide, financial crimes, and narcotics. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Detective Sergeant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 20+ Detective Sergeant jobs
Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:
- Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discount
Reduced Tuition Rates
Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
401(k)
Pet Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Training
Flexible Spending Account
The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Overview:- We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
- Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.
- Supervise inmates during mealtime.
- Routinely inspect all security equipment (doors, gates, fences, lighting systems, etc.)
- Ensure all reports written by officers during shift are submitted as required.
- Oversee necessary on-the-job and safety training for officers.
- Supervise perimeter inspection (detecting safety hazards, testing alarm systems, etc.)
- Investigate and report all instances of inmate disturbances.
- Help inmates who have been injured, ill, or traumatized with prompt and appropriate assistance.
- Work with inmates workers, provide training, and inspect their work.
- Participate in decisions regarding performance ratings, disciplinary actions, and job assignments.
- Conduct regular physical inspections of the facility to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- High school diploma or equivalent certification required.
- Must have worked an Arizona Department of Corrections post within the last 2 years (COTA Certified)
- Must meet the requirements of being a Correctional Officer.
- One (1) year of experience working in a correctional setting required.
- Must be flexible, intellectually alert, able to command the respect and confidence of detainees/inmates and staff, possess a working knowledge of correctional laws, applicable court orders and possess a high tolerance to mental stress.
- Must have a proven work history with sound abilities to write communications, documents, policy, court room defenses, contract negotiations, and other required written correspondence.
- Must be able to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
- Ability to coordinate staffing requirements for security supervisors and officers.
- Must have completed an approved training program resulting in a certificate of satisfactory completion. Ability to obtain certification for training such as CPR, First Aid and firearms.
- Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 60 lbs.
- Bend, stoop, reach above shoulder level.
- Drive automatic equipment vehicles.
- Climb, sit, and work in extreme temperatures.
Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:
- Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discount
Reduced Tuition Rates
Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
401(k)
Pet Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Training
Flexible Spending Account
The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Overview:- We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
- Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.
- Supervise inmates during mealtime.
- Routinely inspect all security equipment (doors, gates, fences, lighting systems, etc.)
- Ensure all reports written by officers during shift are submitted as required.
- Oversee necessary on-the-job and safety training for officers.
- Supervise perimeter inspection (detecting safety hazards, testing alarm systems, etc.)
- Investigate and report all instances of inmate disturbances.
- Help inmates who have been injured, ill, or traumatized with prompt and appropriate assistance.
- Work with inmates workers, provide training, and inspect their work.
- Participate in decisions regarding performance ratings, disciplinary actions, and job assignments.
- Conduct regular physical inspections of the facility to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- High school diploma or equivalent certification required.
- Must have worked an Arizona Department of Corrections post within the last 2 years (COTA Certified)
- Must meet the requirements of being a Correctional Officer.
- One (1) year of experience working in a correctional setting required.
- Must be flexible, intellectually alert, able to command the respect and confidence of detainees/inmates and staff, possess a working knowledge of correctional laws, applicable court orders and possess a high tolerance to mental stress.
- Must have a proven work history with sound abilities to write communications, documents, policy, court room defenses, contract negotiations, and other required written correspondence.
- Must be able to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
- Ability to coordinate staffing requirements for security supervisors and officers.
- Must have completed an approved training program resulting in a certificate of satisfactory completion. Ability to obtain certification for training such as CPR, First Aid and firearms.
- Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 60 lbs.
- Bend, stoop, reach above shoulder level.
- Drive automatic equipment vehicles.
- Climb, sit, and work in extreme temperatures.
See All 20 Detective Sergeant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Detective Sergeant JobsDetective Sergeant Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Heartland ABA11
- Dollar General2
- Greystar1
- Walden Security1
- Chenega Corporation1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in detective sergeant jobs.
- Minimum five to seven years of sworn law enforcement experience with detective-level assignments
- Current or eligible peace officer certification in the hiring state
- Demonstrated supervisory or lead-investigator experience managing active caseloads
- Proficiency with case management software and law enforcement database systems
- Completion of an accredited law enforcement leadership or sergeant promotional course
- Valid driver's license and ability to pass a thorough background investigation
Tips for Your Detective Sergeant Job Search
Tailor your resume to investigative rank
Highlight cases you led rather than assisted, your direct reports, and any unit you supervised. Hiring boards for detective sergeant roles want evidence of command-level judgment, not just investigative participation. Specific outcomes carry more weight than task lists.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists detective sergeant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing. Getting your application in early matters when departments close postings after a set applicant count.
Front-load your specialized unit experience
If you've worked homicide, narcotics, sex crimes, or financial crimes, name the unit explicitly in your first summary paragraph. Hiring agencies filter heavily by specialty, and generic law-enforcement language buries the experience they're actually screening for.
Target agencies actively promoting from within
Many detective sergeant postings are open to internal and external candidates simultaneously. Research whether the agency has a recent pattern of lateral hires. External applicants who acknowledge that institutional knowledge gap and explain how they'd close it stand out in cover materials.
Prepare for the oral board with case-command scenarios
Oral board panels for detective sergeant positions typically present a scenario requiring you to allocate investigative resources, manage witness credibility conflicts, or handle media exposure. Rehearse structured answers that name your decision criteria and show how you'd brief up the chain.
Negotiate the rank-entry step, not just base pay
Many agencies place lateral detective sergeants at a lower step within the sergeant pay grade than their actual experience warrants. At the offer stage, present your years at detective rank and any commendations to request a higher entry step before accepting.
Detective Sergeant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most detective sergeants?
Heartland ABA, Dollar General, and Greystar are hiring the most detective sergeants right now, with openings concentrated in Iowa, Texas, and Indiana, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be highest in departments undergoing leadership transitions or unit expansions.
How do you become a detective sergeant?
Start by completing your agency's promotional process, which typically requires passing a written exam, an oral board, and a supervisor review of your performance record. Accumulate detective-level case experience beforehand, and pursue any leadership coursework your agency recommends. Some agencies also accept lateral candidates who already hold sergeant rank from another department.
Can you get hired as a detective sergeant with limited supervisory experience?
Yes, but you'll need to compensate with deep investigative specialization and evidence of informal leadership. Emphasize times you mentored junior detectives, coordinated multi-agency task forces, or led investigative teams without a formal supervisor title. Smaller agencies and those facing staffing shortages are more likely to consider candidates who haven't yet held a formal sergeant rank.
What does the detective sergeant interview process look like?
Most agencies use a multi-stage process that begins with a written or promotional exam, followed by a structured oral board with a panel of senior command staff. Finalists typically go through a background investigation, polygraph, and psychological evaluation before a conditional offer is made. Some departments also require a command-scenario exercise where you demonstrate real-time supervisory decision-making.
Where can I find and apply to detective sergeant jobs?
You can find and apply to detective sergeant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from departments and agencies across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your rank, specialty, and location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 20 Detective Sergeant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Detective Sergeant Jobs