LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - 42005187

State of Florida • Yulee, FL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement is seeking a Law Enforcement Officer Recuit (Academy Sponsorship). The incumbent in this position is responsible for law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes, including 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. 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. 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

• 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 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.
• One (1) year of law enforcement experience or Two (2) years of work experience or Two (2) years of active and continuous military service can substitute for the required work experience. College education can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for the work experience.
• Must take and pass the Florida Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test (L.E. BAT) prior to being granted an interview, unless exempt.
• Passing L.E. BAT scores must be provided no later than June 12, 2026.
• Proof of L.E. BAT exemption (honorable discharge veteran or associate degree or higher) must be provided no later than June 12, 2026.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Conduct law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes, including 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.
• Meet the qualifications of law enforcement officers established by Chapter 943, Florida Statutes.
• Exercise arrest, jurisdiction, and other authority provided for state law enforcement officers in Chapter 901, Florida Statutes.
• Carry arms with the same right and authority as sheriffs of this state.
• Engage in criminal law enforcement, prevention, and suppression of crimes relating to agriculture, citrus, livestock, and other related matters.
• Manage and operate Agricultural Inspection Stations and utilize roving patrols.
• Pursue and apprehend vehicles failing to stop for agricultural inspection.
• Inspect agricultural and horticultural products to determine compliance with laws and regulations.
• Record and report data to supervisors and various divisions and agencies.
• Inform immediate supervisor, or next available supervisor, of all matters relevant to law enforcement activities and their status and disposition.
• Submit concise detailed reports on activities for use by supervisors, state attorneys, courts, and the public.
• Inspect citrus, avocado, lime, and tomato shipments and accompanying documents to verify conformance with applicable Federal-State Marketing Orders.
• Verify vegetable shipments against manifests and record vehicle contents.
• Record and report outgoing watermelon and flower shipments.
• Check data for compliance with registration requirements.
• Record and report meat products.
• Record dairy products and reroute incoming shipments of milk and cream to testing labs.
• Inspect intra and interstate shipments of livestock and accompanying documents to enforce compliance with applicable health requirements and quarantines.
• Collect and report data on all livestock shipments.
• Check feed, seed, fertilizer, and treated fence post shipments for compliance with state law.
• Check hay and harvesting equipment from quarantined areas for fumigation certification.
• Check nursery shipments, Christmas trees, sod, etc., for required inspection certificates.
• Contact and consult with supervisors in determining the disposition of a given violation, which may involve further investigation, arrests, or turning over to another law enforcement agency.
• Give pursuit and make arrests when a vehicle subject to inspection passes an inspection station.
• Take over and conclude cases when an inspector on the officer's shift encounters a violation requiring further investigation or arrest.
• Patrol lesser traveled roads.
• Testify in court in support of cases developed from arrests.
• Prepare, maintain, and submit daily correspondence, records, etc., in the routine operation of the agricultural inspection station.
• Be responsible for the daily cleanliness of buildings, grounds, and equipment.
• Participate with various federal, state, and local governmental agencies on numerous projects.
• Utilize all modern law enforcement techniques including 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 suspected criminal activity or geographical area.
• Be well informed regarding the names and positions of all key members of local law enforcement agencies and other persons with similar responsibilities.
• Obey all court orders and subpoenas.
• Be thoroughly familiar with the case file, evidence, and other relevant matters pertaining to an incident.
• Represent the department and present testimony and evidence in a professional manner.
• Attend meetings, seminars, and schools conducted by law enforcement agencies to further professional training.
• Keep 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 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