Become a Deputy Sheriff General Requirements An applicant must be a citizen of the United States. An applicant must have reached the age of eighteen (18) years. An applicant must be a high school graduate or have obtained a General Equivalency Diploma (“GED”). An applicant must meet the State of Rhode Island qualification requirements to carry weapons used in the performance of duty. An applicant must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle opera-tor’s license. An applicant must possess visual acuity of 20/20 or better with correction (glasses or contact lenses). An applicant must possess normal ocular color and depth perception as determined by a Division physician. An applicant must possess normal hearing ability, as determined by a Division physician, without the use of mechanical or electronic aids. An applicant shall not have any tattoos or body art which are visible while wearing the Division’s uniform, to include but not be limited to, head; face; neck above the v-neck t-shirt line; inside of eyelid, mouth or ears; wrists; hands; or fingers. Any such applicants having the above-referenced tattoos or body art will be denied the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. The use of a flesh colored sleeve will be acceptable to conceal any tattoos that are visible from the upper arm to the wrist bone. Regardless of the above, those individuals possessing any tattoos or body art considered offensive will be precluded from participating in the recruitment process. Examples of offensive tattoos/body art may include, but will not be limited to, indecent tattoos; sexist tattoos; or racist tattoos.
