LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - 42005855

State of Florida • Yulee, FL

1d • $60,000

About The Position

The incumbent in this position is responsible for law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes. These acts include, but are not limited to, criminal violations involving: domesticated animals, livestock, poultry, aquaculture products, farms and farm equipment, livery tack, citrus and citrus products, trespass, littering, forests, theft of forest products, protection of consumers, all criminal laws and civil traffic laws committed on property owned, managed, or occupied by the department, any emergency situation in which the life, limb, or property of any person is placed in danger and any crime incidental to or related thereof. Each law enforcement officer shall meet the qualifications of law enforcement officers established by Chapter 943, Florida Statutes. Each officer is subject to and has the same arrest, jurisdiction and other authority provided for state law enforcement officers in Chapter 901, Florida Statutes. Each officer also has the same right and authority to carry arms as do the sheriffs of this state.

The criminal law enforcement, prevention and suppression of crimes relating to agriculture, citrus, livestock and other related matters is a unique and highly technical and specialized field of criminal law enforcement requiring independent professional judgment.

One of the primary missions of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to prevent the introduction into the state of plant and animal pests and diseases which may have a devastating affect on Florida agriculture.

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement manages and operates the Agricultural Inspection Stations, 24 hours a day, year-round, as well as utilizing roving patrols.

Specified vehicles are required to stop for agricultural inspection at inspection stations and roving inspection points with those failing to stop being pursued and apprehended. Roving patrol vehicles cover lesser used roads. Agricultural and horticultural products are inspected to determine compliance with various laws and regulations. Data is recorded and reported to supervisors and various divisions and agencies both within and outside the department.

Each officer is responsible for ensuring that their immediate supervisor, and in the event their immediate supervisor is unavailable, or circumstances dictate, the next available supervisor in the Chain of Command, is informed of all matters relevant to law enforcement activities being conducted and the status and disposition of their activities. Each officer is responsible for submitting in a timely manner concise detailed reports on activities for use by supervisors, state attorneys, courts and ultimate review by the public.

Citrus, avocado, lime and tomato shipments and accompanying documents are inspected to verify conformance with applicable Federal-State Marketing Orders. Vegetable shipments are verified against manifests and vehicles contents are recorded and reported. Outgoing watermelon and flower shipments are recorded and reported. Data are recorded and checked for compliance with registration requirements. Meat products are recorded and reported. Dairy products are recorded and incoming shipments of milk and cream are rerouted to testing labs. Intra and interstate shipments of livestock and accompanying documents are inspected and verified to enforce compliance with applicable health requirements and quarantines; data are collected and reported on all livestock shipments. Feed, seed, fertilizer and treated fence post shipments are checked for compliance with state law and recorded and reported. Hay and harvesting equipment from quarantined areas are checked for fumigation certification. Nursery shipments, Christmas trees, sod, etc. are checked for required inspection certificates and recorded and reported. In the performance of duties, the officer frequently contacts and consults with supervisors in determining the disposition of a given violation. Such disposition may involve further investigation, arrests, or turning over to another law enforcement agency. When a vehicle subject to inspection passes an inspection station, the officer gives pursuit and may make an arrest. When an inspector on the officer's shift encounters a violation which appears to require further investigation or arrest, the officer may take over and conclude the case. At times the officer may patrol lesser traveled roads. The officer testifies in court in support of cases which were developed from his/her arrests.

In the routine operation of the agricultural inspection station, the officer prepares, maintains and submits daily correspondence, records, etc., and is responsible for daily cleanliness of buildings, grounds, and equipment.

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement also participates with various federal, state and local governmental agencies on numerous projects which either increases the efficiency of the agricultural programs or generates additional revenues of the State without increasing costs to the citizens of Florida. Officers will participate in programs as required.

The Law Enforcement Officer is authorized to use all modern law enforcement techniques including, but not limited to: arrests, search and seizure, planned and organized crime scene searches, sketching of diagrams, photography, processing of latent fingerprints, use of laboratory aids, and the collection and preservation of evidence.

Often the officer is involved with the other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with the investigation of crime. It is incumbent that the officer develop and maintain a close and harmonious relationship with all law enforcement and related agencies having jurisdiction over the suspected criminal activity or geographical area wherein the suspected criminal activity occurred.
The officer should be well informed regarding the names and positions of all key members of local law enforcement agencies, as well as other persons with similar responsibilities.

As a result of arrests, the officer will be called upon to testify and present evidence in a court of law. The officer will obey all court orders and subpoenas. The officer will be thoroughly familiar with the case file, evidence and other relevant matters pertaining to the incident. The officer will represent the department and present such testimony and evidence in a professional manner.

Attending meetings, seminars and schools conducted by law enforcement agencies and to otherwise further professional training, keeping informed of recent court decisions, legislation and new law enforcement techniques is critical to this position.

Each officer is responsible for submitting in a timely manner periodic reports of activities, expense vouchers, vehicle costs and maintenance reports, time and leave requests, authorizations to travel, professional educational credits and other related documents and reports as required.

Each officer will perform other related tasks.

Requirements

• Knowledge of law enforcement and investigative principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of security and safety principles.
• Skills in writing reports, preparing and presenting training materials, coordinating activities with other law enforcement agencies.
• Skills in planning, organizing, and directing the local law enforcement program.
• Skills in the operation of assigned equipment such as: firearms, surveillance equipment, radios, and handcuffs.
• Ability to interview suspects and witnesses and to gather and submit physical evidence.
• United States Citizen.
• High School graduate or GED.
• Must be 18 years of age to apply and 19 years of age by date of hire.
• Valid driver license with no more than four moving traffic violations within the past three years.
• Have not been convicted of driving a vehicle or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance within the past five years.
• Have not refused to submit to a breath/blood/urine test within the last five years.
• Have not used cannabis illegally within the last two years.
• Have not used any illegal controlled substance, other than cannabis, within the last five years.
• Have not been convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement.
• Have not been dishonorably discharged from any of the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
• Good moral character.
• Must possess active Florida law enforcement certificate in compliance with Florida Statute 943 or have passed the State Officer Certification Exam (SOCE) prior to date of hire.
• One (1) year of law enforcement experience (sworn or non-sworn)
• Two (2) years of work experience
• Two (2) years of active and continuous military service can substitute for the required work experience but will not substitute for the law enforcement certification; College education can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for the required sworn law enforcement experience but will not substitute for the law enforcement certification.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes.
• Criminal law enforcement, prevention and suppression of crimes relating to agriculture, citrus, livestock and other related matters.
• Prevent the introduction into the state of plant and animal pests and diseases.
• Manage and operate the Agricultural Inspection Stations, 24 hours a day, year-round, as well as utilizing roving patrols.
• Inspect agricultural and horticultural products to determine compliance with various laws and regulations.
• Record and report data to supervisors and various divisions and agencies both within and outside the department.
• Inform supervisors of all matters relevant to law enforcement activities being conducted and the status and disposition of their activities.
• Submit concise detailed reports on activities for use by supervisors, state attorneys, courts and ultimate review by the public.
• Inspect shipments and accompanying documents to verify conformance with applicable Federal-State Marketing Orders.
• Enforce compliance with applicable health requirements and quarantines.
• Check for compliance with state law and record and report shipments.
• Testify in court in support of cases which were developed from his/her arrests.
• Prepare, maintains and submits daily correspondence, records, etc., and is responsible for daily cleanliness of buildings, grounds, and equipment.
• Participate with various federal, state and local governmental agencies on numerous projects.
• Use all modern law enforcement techniques including, but not limited to: arrests, search and seizure, planned and organized crime scene searches, sketching of diagrams, photography, processing of latent fingerprints, use of laboratory aids, and the collection and preservation of evidence.
• Develop and maintain a close and harmonious relationship with all law enforcement and related agencies having jurisdiction over the suspected criminal activity or geographical area wherein the suspected criminal activity occurred.
• Obey all court orders and subpoenas.
• Attend meetings, seminars and schools conducted by law enforcement agencies and to otherwise further professional training, keeping informed of recent court decisions, legislation and new law enforcement techniques.
• Submit periodic reports of activities, expense vouchers, vehicle costs and maintenance reports, time and leave requests, authorizations to travel, professional educational credits and other related documents and reports as required.
• Perform other related tasks.

Benefits

• Uniforms and Dry-cleaning Allowance - All required uniforms, equipment and weapons are provided at no cost; Uniform maintenance allowance is $500 annually.
• Education and Training Incentive Payments - Sworn employees are eligible to receive up to $130 monthly for the completion of career development courses and/or an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED