Environmental Enforcement Officer - Public Works - J14410 - 52000

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SUMMARY: Reporting to the Director of Public Works and using the authority of the Texas Litter Abatement Act and the Texas Health and Safety Code, this law enforcement officer conducts patrols and surveillance of sites throughout Nueces County to reduce and prevent illegal dumping. Investigates sites, prepares citations, apprehends offenders, and presents cases for prosecution.

The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the supervisor. Must pass Law Enforcement Exam with 60 or better.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Works closely with units of the Department of Public Works, with other county departments, and other entities to control illegal dumping in the county.

Patrols areas where illegal dumping is known to occur.

Responds to citizen complaints of illegal dumping.

Conducts surveillance of dumpsites and of known or suspected illegal dumpers.

Conducts surveillance of illegal storm water discharge connections.

Develops identifying trace evidence from illegal dumpsites.

Prepares initial offense reports and conducts follow-up investigations.

Prepares and presents misdemeanor and felony cases for prosecution and testify in court.

Prepares and presents reports on activities.

Apprehends offenders and issues citations as necessary.

Participates in state level investigative/prosecutorial training.

As requested, speaks to public gatherings concerning litter and illegal dumping.

May speak at schools and other groups in order to educate children about litter and illegal dumping.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associate's degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year college in Criminal Justice and one year of experience in law enforcement; or high school graduate (GED) and three years of experience in law enforcement; or equivalent combination of education and experience which satisfies the knowledge, skills and abilities of this position.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ration and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions and percentages.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Certification as a peace officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Must have valid Texas Driver's License.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to move on foot over uneven surfaces and piles of debris.

Ability to move items of debris in the course of searching through piles of debris for identifiers.

Ability to load and unload equipment in and out of vehicles.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to operate optical instruments for observation and to operate still and video cameras.

Ability to examine trace evidence that is often faded, stained or discolored.

Ability to operate a computer, using standard word processing and spreadsheet software applications.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and officials and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and is exposed to the elements. Employee frequently works in close proximity to disease vectors and hazardous materials and in waste piles. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The noise level is affected by nature, the variety of materials illegally dumped and the industrial nature of many dumpsites.

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