Law Enforcement Officer - 42005887

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Working Title:

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER -

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

The headquarters for this position is located in Jackson County, however, this position may patrol the following, but not limited to, additional counties:
Calhoun, Bay, Holmes and Washington.

The incumbent in this position is responsible for law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes. These acts include, but are not limited to, 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.

Each law enforcement officer shall meet the qualifications of law enforcement officers established by Chapter 943, Florida Statutes. Each officer is subject to and has the same arrest, jurisdiction and other authority provided for state law enforcement officers in Chapter 901, Florida Statutes. Each officer also has the same right and authority to carry arms as do the sheriffs of this state.

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.

One of the primary missions of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to prevent the introduction into the state of plant and animal pests and diseases which may have a devastating affect on Florida agriculture.

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…