CLAY COUNTY – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is looking for good people to fill positions – a lot of people.

There are several law enforcements positions and civilian support staff positions available, including accounting controller, crossing guards, deputy sheriffs, public service aides, custodians and more for qualified applicants.

Deputy Ben Wase works in recruiting with the CCSO.

“We currently have the need for qualified people at the sheriff’s office,” he said. “We have job postings all the time for law enforcement positions and corrections positions as well as civilian positions.”

Having the available positions filled ensures adequate manning for the county on the law enforcement front.

CCSO generally has little difficulty in filling them. St. John’s and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office provide a constant stream of quality applicants to the department.

The civilian opportunities are hired on a monthly basis.

“If it’s a position like a nurse or a finance specialist, those may be more difficult to fill because of the specialized education,” said Wase. “A lot of the other positions are just kind of open civilian positions that anybody can apply for. Some of it may be that applicants may not realize that they are actually qualified to fill those positions… in reality, most of the training they receive, they will receive from the sheriff’s office.”

Wase also works performing background checks on applicants and says that the department gets many qualified applicants.

“Sometimes it’s kind of hard to pick because we get so many qualified applicants that are applying,” he said. “So, it can be hard position to pick the right one, because there are so many good applicants.”

Wase also stressed the variety of different jobs available within the sheriff’s office. When most people think of the organization, they are focused on the law enforcement side of the house and don’t realize how many other people and jobs it takes behind the scenes.

Know the sheriff’s office is a family environment is important to Wase.

“This is a family agency,” he said. “We are such a tight-knit family. We strive to continue that so anyone who seeks employment with the sheriff’s office will become a part of the CCSO family and team. And we want them to feel a part of that. That’s why we’ve been able to keep these applicants coming through the way we have because they all want to be a part of something bigger than themselves and become a part of this family and this team.

CCSO Sheriff Michelle Cook voiced similar feelings.

“Local kids have a vested interest already built in,” said Cook. “They’ve grown up here, they’ve gone to school here, they’ve gone to church here. Their families are here. My job is to offer them a great place to work in an honorable profession while serving their own community.”