Fresno County recruiting for jail guards and dispatchers. Soccer moms encouraged, too

With about 80 vacancies needing to be filled for correctional officers and a few dispatchers, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has come up with a new, more relatable, recruiting approach.

of videos showing uniformed officers opening and closing jail doors or talking to burly looking inmates in orange jump suits, the new video features instead two women chatting at a Starbucks with a couple trendy Stanley cups on the table.

As the two women talk, they complain about their boring jobs and the need for something more challenging.

“I like my job, but I don’t love it,” one woman says. “I think I am ready for a career.”

The other woman, wearing aviator sunglasses and a T-shirt that says “Rock and Roll,” responds: “My husband told me if you are going to keep up with your Pilates you need to make a little bit more money.”

The women laugh and agree to visit an upcoming recruitment event hosted by the sheriff’s office.

The event will be held 8-11 am Saturday, Aug. 10 at the West Annex Jail, 2208 Merced St.

The department is looking for entry-level correctional officers and communications dispatchers. No experience is required and training is provided.

Starting pay for dispatchers is $51,740 and $52,286 for correctional officers.

The West Annex jail expansion is expected to open in October.

Tony Botti, Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesperson, said the recruitment team wanted something more informal and relaxed to get people interested.

And if you think the two women resemble “soccer moms” that’s OK, Botti said.

“We are looking for all types of people, soccer moms included,” he said. “We have tons of soccer moms who work here, who at the end of the day, gather their kids and take them to soccer and swim practice.”

Botti added that the 2-minute and 20-second video was unscripted and featured current employees. One is a correctional officer sergeant and the other is a dispatcher supervisor.

One of the reasons for the number of vacancies is due to retirements, people realizing being correctional officers isn’t for them and a legal mandate requiring more correctional officers per inmate population.

Botti said correctional officers are also sometimes lured away by other agencies with higher salaries, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Botti admits the job can be challenging but there is also plenty of opportunity to earn overtime pay. He also says the county has increased the correctional officer’s salary over the past several years to be more competitive.

“We are still not there, but getting better,” he said.

For more information you can email the Sheriff’s office at: [email protected].