Community Enforcement Officer

Animal Control Officer

The purpose of the class is to enforce County ordinances governing the care and keeping of domestic animals and livestock in an effort to maintain public safety and welfare; litter and nuisance ordinances; to provide technical interpretation of regulations to the citizens as needed; to prepare and maintain all required documentation, and to perform related work as required. This class works according to some procedures but decides how or when to do things;

work is reviewed regularly by supervisor. This post is being extended. Previous qualified candidates need not reapply to receive consideration. If selected, applicant is required to submit before official offer: A 10-year driver's record is required to operate a county vehicle. Selectee will be required to submit a copy of credit-report - a requirement to attend the Law Enforcement Academy.

Duties include patrolling County areas to identify violations of animal, nuisance, and zoning ordinances; investigating complaints of dogs, cats or other animals creating nuisances; inspecting/re-inspecting residential, public, industrial, and commercial properties for code compliance and property maintenance and taking appropriate action; receiving and investigating reports of animal abuse or ordinance violations including disposal of trash and debris, abandoned vehicles and vermin infestation;

filing charges as appropriate; preparing cases for prosecution; and providing court testimony as necessary. Other duties include researching County records to determine property ownership and responsibility; preparing inspection reports; preparing and issuing notices of corrective and/or citations; maintaining a variety of logs and records related to inspection and enforcement activities; responding to calls regarding stray, vicious and/or diseased animals; responding to calls regarding animal bites;

reporting animal bites to DHEC; performing preliminary investigations; receiving and investigating complaints regarding stray and aggressive animals; controlling the volatile situation by interpreting animal behaviors and reactions; explaining, interpreting, and providing guidance regarding applicable codes and compliance requirements to staff and the public; following up on each case to verify corrections have been made to comply with codes/ordinances; conducting re-inspections as needed;

assisting law enforcement personnel in situations involving animals as requested; requesting assistance from Sheriff's Office in the case of unruly or hostile citizens; assisting in the euthanasia of animals as necessary; maintaining assigned vehicles and County issued equipment; checking zoning regulations applicable to a particular property; performing general clerical work as required, including preparing reports, entering, and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, attending meetings, etc.;

educating public on proper animal care; attending training, seminars, meetings, etc., to enhance job knowledge and skills and maintain certifications; performing emergency duties before, during, and/or after an emergency event as assigned; and performing other related job duties as assigned.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or GED and at least two (2) years of related work experience. Additional requirements include a valid state driver's license, the ability to obtain euthanasia certification within one year of hire date, and the ability to obtain Class III Basic Law Enforcement Certification through the SCCJA within one year of hire date. This is a full-time position;

typical work hours and days are Monday through Friday, 3:00pm to 11:00pm. Schedule may vary slightly based upon caseload. Must work 40 hours each week to maintain full-time status. Employees must be available to work shifts, weekends and holidays during emergencies or as requested. This is a safety sensitive position and employees holding this position have the responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

This position is subject to random drug testing. Equal Opportunity Employer.