AGRICULTURE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - 03302023-44523

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ADMINISTRATION AND GRANTS DIVISION, MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree and one year of full-time experience as a commissioned law enforcement officer.

OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree and three years of full-time experience as a commissioned law enforcement officer.

OR

Graduation from a standard high school or GED equivalent and five years of full-time experience as a commissioned law enforcement officer.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Applicants for this class must:
1. Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons;
2. Must not be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under any state or federal law;
3. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
4. Be a citizen of the United States;
5. Have a good moral character;
6. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
7. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
8. Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
9. Have no conviction for a felony under state or federal law;
10. Have no discharge other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces;
11. Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
12. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
13. Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment;
14. Upon appointment, have or be ready, willing, able to complete POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification by the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy at the time of application.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary: Under general supervision, performs enforcement and investigative work of considerable difficulty related to forestry, animal health, and agriculture business activity; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the working level class in the Agriculture Enf Officer sub-series. An employee in this class conducts enforcement functions and criminal investigations related to forestry, animal health, and agricultural business activities. This class differs from Agriculture Enf Officer Supervisor in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for supervising incumbents in this class.

1. Conducts criminal investigations of considerable difficulty related to forestry such as wildland fire investigations, timber theft, state forest vandalism; animal health such as livestock running at large, livestock theft, livestock welfare, improper transportations of livestock; and agricultural businesses such as unlicensed operations, equipment theft, and general public safety functions.

2. Establishes priority of response and managing workflow based on degree of reported danger to life or property.

3. Interviews or interrogates individuals from the public to obtain information related to suspected criminal activity.

4. Uses appropriate industry methods to determine probable cause of fire (e.g., accidental, natural, arson, and undermined).

5. Secures scenes of criminal investigations and gathers information such as fingerprints, debris, weather data, and other physical evidence such as samples, records, photos, and documentation and maintains chain of custody for all evidence collected.

6. Surveils individuals in person or by recording through use of concealed cameras or other devices. Monitors electronic transmissions or transactions of suspected persons.

7. Documents observation and obtains search and arrest warrants from appropriate officials as necessary to prosecute criminal activity.

8. Accesses law enforcement databases, conducts research, and communicates with other law enforcement agencies such as to initiate criminal investigations or to comply with state reporting requirements.

9. Prepares reports to maintain necessary documentation of investigative processes.

10. Communicates with District Attorney’s office regarding case prosecutions and offers testimony in judicial proceedings related to unit investigations.

11. Assists Agriculture Enforcement Officers in other regions of the state as needed and directed by appointing authority.

12. Educates the general public and other governmental agencies on issues related to agricultural crime and safety, through use of materials or presentation approved by the Agriculture Enforcement Officer Supervisor.

Competencies:

Knowledge:

Skills:

Abilities:

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.