Health Enforcement Officer

This is a standard health enforcement assignment. The employee undergoes a lengthy training period in matters pertaining to applying and enforcing sanitation rules and regulations of the Department of Health, as a Peace Officers through training from the Police Academy. This class of workers are essential employees for the Department of Health during emergencies and disasters and are required to perform police duties when called upon by the Virgin Islands Police Department as well.

Work is performed in accordance with the program and procedures prescribed by the Director of Environmental Health. Work is reviewed by the Field Supervisor, Environmental Health, and at times by the Assistant Director. Police Academy Training is required, some judgment is exercised in the performance of duties and work is assigned for its training value in preparing the employee for more responsible and complex assignments.

• Performs inspections covering specialized programs assigned such as Food Protection, Vector or General Sanitation.
• Inspects cisterns, water reservoirs, privies and open bodies of water to determine that they are not existing or potential breeding areas for mosquitoes and flies.
• Inspects public eating and handling establishment, for maintenance of proper standards of food storage, refrigeration and handling, and determines that utensils equipment and supplies are properly sterilized and protected from flies, insects, roaches and other disease carrying insects.
• Inspects barns and premises for cleanliness of animals, equipment and personal cleanliness of employees.
• Performs reports of citation, assesses penalty fees and collection.
• Receives complaints of unsanitary conditions on businesses or premises and makes investigations to determine the nature of such problems and means of remedying them, once directed by supervisor.
• Notifies property owners or occupants of the premises in unsanitary conditions and indicates methods of correction.
• Issues citation and penalty fees to violators.
• Performs police enforcement duties when called upon, which may involve raids, drug busts and surveillances.
• Reports as directed for duty in crowd control, election duty, parades, emergency disaster and other special events.
• Locates delinquent debtors at residence or at work and performs arrest when required.
• Inspects weekly chemical inventory and storage room for cleanliness and organization.
• Retrieves chemical from storage for field assignments.
• Performs other related work as required.

High School Diploma or its equivalency.

Applicant must successfully pass Police Training Exam (peace officer status) conducted by the Virgin Islands Police Department.

• Knowledge of the principles of public health sanitation and of the methods and techniques of making inspections.
• Knowledge of the Virgin Islands Food Code, Rules and Regulations.
• Knowledge of the methods of prevention and control of communicable diseases transmitted through food, drink and insects.
• Knowledge of police practices, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of insect control.
• Knowledge of Virgin Islands Code and applicable rules and regulations as they pertain to Police Officer Status and the Department of Health Sanitation purview.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with persons whose property is subject to inspection or businesses which conduct the preparation and sale of food and beverages.
• Ability to interpret and apply with firmness and impartiality sanitation laws rules and regulations.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports of inspections.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to walk moderately long distances in difficult terrain.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Skill in the use of firearms.

Work is performed under the direction of the Field Supervisor, Environmental Health. Assignments are reviewed for compliance to standards; however, upon attainment of proficiency in field the employee is expected to use good judgement in carrying out assignments. Supervision is also received from Virgin Islands Police Department designated staff.

Guidelines include environmental laws, rules and regulations, Virgin Islands Code as it relates to environmental health, law enforcement, and departmental rules and regulations.

This is standard enforcement work in the Environmental Health field. The employee is trained in the areas of police tactics, practices and procedures and recognition of unsanitary conditions and unsanitary surrounding. The employee is taught how to inspect and provide recommendations for better sanitary areas and citations for non-compliance of rules and regulations.

The purpose of this position is primarily to perform inspection of businesses, property owners and the environment, to enforce sanitary conditions and issue…