Sheriff Investigator - VFS (Veterans & Family Services)

Rockingham County is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with federal and state statutes regarding discrimination in employment.

• Paid Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• Onsite wellness/medical clinic
• Onsite fitness center
• Retirement
• Flexible Spending
• Paid Vacation, Sick & Holidays
• Bereavement
• Community Service Leave
• Weekends Off (varies by position)
• Flexible Work Schedules & Telework Options (varies by position)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401-K & 457 Plans

General Definition of Work

Performs difficult protective service work investigating criminal activity, interviewing and/or interrogating victims, witnesses and/or suspects, gathering and securing evidence, testifying in court, preparing reports, maintaining files and records, and related work as apparent or assigned. This position will be housed at the Veterans and Family Services building, working primarily with Foster Care and Child Protective Services. Work is performed under the direction of social service leadership, in conjunction and partnership with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department. This position may require work to be done after 5pm or before 8am depending on the needs of the agency.  

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

Investigates criminal activity in area of assignment by interviewing victims and witnesses and interrogating suspects; performs various duties related to area of assignment including reviewing medical and/or child abuse or neglect reports which may include domestic violence. Additional assistance with adult protective services reports may be needed.  Conducts initial and follow-up investigations on assigned cases and documents appropriately the findings and relevant information. Investigates crime scenes; documents crime scene by means of sketching, photography and making notes. Collects and preserves evidence; works with legal counsel in preparation for prosecution; participates in pre-trial meetings with supervisor, victims and attorney; testifies in court. Prepares reports on facts gathered in investigations; processes and photographs crime scene; takes fingerprints. Communicates and exchanges information with other law enforcement agencies. Works closely with staff in Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services and the Family Justice Center, concerning child medical evaluations, forensics, etc.  Must be willing to work collaboratively with community partners and have compassion for this type of work. Secures and assists in executing search warrants; serves warrants, summons and subpoenas on suspects and defendants; makes arrests. Develops and maintains liaison with informants. Provides onsite security awareness. Assists the Sheriff’s office with calls for service and investigations as needed.  

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of law enforcement methods, practices and procedures; thorough knowledge of law enforcement investigative principles and techniques of identification; thorough knowledge of evidence and laws of search and seizure; thorough knowledge of County and Department policies and procedures; thorough knowledge of the geography of the County and location of important buildings; thorough knowledge in reading and interpreting architectural drawings, search and seizure manuals, and North Carolina Crimes Manual; thorough knowledge in preparing detailed reports and other types of correspondence; thorough knowledge in the use of standard office equipment and associated software (e.g. NC AWARE, RMS, and LEADS On-Line); skill in the use of firearms and the operation of a motor vehicle; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; ability to deal courteously, firmly and tactfully with the public; ability to analyze situations and adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances; ability to make arithmetic computations; ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages; ability to understand and apply governmental accounting practices in maintenance of financial records; ability to communicate effectively oral and written form; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, victims, witnesses, suspects, attorneys and the general public.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and repetitive motions, frequently requires walking and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires standing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather) and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment, frequently requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles and occasionally requires working in high, precarious places, working with explosives, exposure to vibration and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Education and Experience

High school diploma or GED and considerable experience in law enforcement, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements

Possession of NC BLET certification upon hire.

Complete Basic Crime Scene and Interview & Interrogations training within two years of hire.

Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

Salary : $46,071