Sheriff's Animal Services Officer I

sjgov•Stockton, CA

About The Position

Introduction This recruitment is being conducted to fill 1 vacancy in the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and to establish an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies. Please note the following Special Requirements: Must be immunized against rabies upon employment and maintain immunity for duration of employment. Must successfully complete a regular course in powers of arrest and use of firearms (PC 832) approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training prior to completion of probation. Must demonstrate proficiency in use of firearms, tranquilizing equipment, euthanasia equipment, and complete an internal training program prior to completion of probation. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline. NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail. Animal Services Officer 0126 TYPICAL DUTIES Drives a dispatched vehicle equipped with a Mobile Dispatched Computer (MDC) to patrol assigned areas and enforce animal services ordinances and laws; responds to calls and investigates and evaluates complaints concerning vicious, diseased, trapped, injured, abused, or stray animals. Locates, apprehends and impounds stray, sick, abandoned, diseased and dangerous dogs, small animals, poultry, livestock and large animals; investigates cases of livestock depredation and captures or destroys marauding wildlife. Learns to use specialized equipment and techniques to handle down, injured, or sick large animals. Develops and maintains positive relations with the public to resolve issues, gain compliance, and build trust; explains and enforces state and local laws and ordinances relating to the care, treatment, quarantine or impounding of animals; issues warning notices and citations for violations of laws and ordinances regulating licensing and control of dogs. Operates a shotgun, dart projector, syringe pole, trap, net, taser or other issued equipment to capture or destroy animals for humane reasons; performs animal euthanasia by injection or gunshot for humane reasons; locates and removes dead animals of all sizes when owner is not known. Ensures that dogs have been properly licensed and vaccinated by checking license tags and owner’s verification; issues licenses and deposits funds; conducts residential canvasses for unlicensed dogs and does follow up work on delinquent licenses. Investigates cases of animal bites or possible rabies exposure; quarantines animals; transports potentially infected dead animals to lab for examination; enforces rabies control measures. Learns skills needed to investigate animal-related crimes, including interviewing victims, witnesses, and subjects; collecting and booking of evidence; writing and executing warrants; utilizing specialized investigative techniques; may make arrests related to violation of certain animal laws; preparing criminal cases for desired prosecution. Works with other agencies, such as the Department of Fish and Game, Highway Patrol, and other local law enforcement agencies, enforcing state and local animal control laws and regulations. May testify at hearings and in trials; may represent the Sheriff’s Department at educational venues and public/private events. Prepares various forms as a record of daily activities; prepares detailed written reports of activities and investigations; cleans and inspects equipment; may perform support office functions as needed. Attends and completes related trainings as required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS KNOWLEDGE Principles and practices of humane apprehension and care of animals; principles and practices of customer service and public relations; physical and behavioral characteristics of common breeds of domestic animals; safe work practices. ABILITY Interpret and apply laws and regulations; learn and apply applicable laws and ordinances; evaluate and establish priorities; learn specialized techniques and equipment used to capture and dispose of a variety of animals; learn crime scene preservation and evidence handling techniques; maintain records and prepare reports; learn investigative principles and techniques; follow oral and written procedures and directions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, even in difficult situations; communicate effectively with others; write clearly and legibly. PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS Mobility - frequent walking on uneven terrain, regular standing, running, chasing, bending and squatting; sitting for long periods; occasional pushing, pulling, climbing; Dexterity - sufficient to operate firearms; handle individual papers; write and take notes; Lifting/Pushing/Pulling - frequently lifting of 25-75 pounds; occasional lifting of more than 75 pounds; Visual Requirements - ability to read files and documents and use computer screens; constant good overall vision and reading/close-up work; frequent color perception and use of eye/hand coordination; occasional use of depth perception and peripheral vision; occasional aiming firearm; Hearing/Talking - frequent hearing of normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone and radio, talking in person; Emotional/Psychological - frequent public contact and decision making, Special Requirements - Requires ability to drive county vehicles including specialized trucks; requires working on call, weekends, nights, and/or occasional overtime; Environmental - regular exposure to varied weather conditions.

Requirements

Must be immunized against rabies upon employment and maintain immunity for duration of employment.
Must successfully complete a regular course in powers of arrest and use of firearms (PC 832) approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training prior to completion of probation.
Must demonstrate proficiency in use of firearms, tranquilizing equipment, euthanasia equipment, and complete an internal training program prior to completion of probation.
Principles and practices of humane apprehension and care of animals; principles and practices of customer service and public relations; physical and behavioral characteristics of common breeds of domestic animals; safe work practices.
Interpret and apply laws and regulations; learn and apply applicable laws and ordinances; evaluate and establish priorities; learn specialized techniques and equipment used to capture and dispose of a variety of animals; learn crime scene preservation and evidence handling techniques; maintain records and prepare reports; learn investigative principles and techniques; follow oral and written procedures and directions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, even in difficult situations; communicate effectively with others; write clearly and legibly.
Requires ability to drive county vehicles including specialized trucks; requires working on call, weekends, nights, and/or occasional overtime

Responsibilities

Drives a dispatched vehicle equipped with a Mobile Dispatched Computer (MDC) to patrol assigned areas and enforce animal services ordinances and laws; responds to calls and investigates and evaluates complaints concerning vicious, diseased, trapped, injured, abused, or stray animals.
Locates, apprehends and impounds stray, sick, abandoned, diseased and dangerous dogs, small animals, poultry, livestock and large animals; investigates cases of livestock depredation and captures or destroys marauding wildlife.
Learns to use specialized equipment and techniques to handle down, injured, or sick large animals.
Develops and maintains positive relations with the public to resolve issues, gain compliance, and build trust; explains and enforces state and local laws and ordinances relating to the care, treatment, quarantine or impounding of animals; issues warning notices and citations for violations of laws and ordinances regulating licensing and control of dogs.
Operates a shotgun, dart projector, syringe pole, trap, net, taser or other issued equipment to capture or destroy animals for humane reasons; performs animal euthanasia by injection or gunshot for humane reasons; locates and removes dead animals of all sizes when owner is not known.
Ensures that dogs have been properly licensed and vaccinated by checking license tags and owner’s verification; issues licenses and deposits funds; conducts residential canvasses for unlicensed dogs and does follow up work on delinquent licenses.
Investigates cases of animal bites or possible rabies exposure; quarantines animals; transports potentially infected dead animals to lab for examination; enforces rabies control measures.
Learns skills needed to investigate animal-related crimes, including interviewing victims, witnesses, and subjects; collecting and booking of evidence; writing and executing warrants; utilizing specialized investigative techniques; may make arrests related to violation of certain animal laws; preparing criminal cases for desired prosecution.
Works with other agencies, such as the Department of Fish and Game, Highway Patrol, and other local law enforcement agencies, enforcing state and local animal control laws and regulations.
May testify at hearings and in trials; may represent the Sheriff’s Department at educational venues and public/private events.
Prepares various forms as a record of daily activities; prepares detailed written reports of activities and investigations; cleans and inspects equipment; may perform support office functions as needed.
Attends and completes related trainings as required.

Benefits

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021 .
Health Insurance : San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.
Dental Insurance : The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
Vision Insurance : The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits.
Life Insurance : The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000 3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000 5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000 10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000 Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
125 Flexible Benefits Plan : This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).
Retirement Plan : Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.
Deferred Compensation : The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $18,000 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $24,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.
Vacation : Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.
Holidays : Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. Please see the appopriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.
Sick Leave : 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.
Sick leave incentive : An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.
Bereavement Leave : 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.
Merit Salary Increase : New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
Job Sharing : Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.
Educational Reimbursement Program : Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.
Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.
School Activities : Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.