AGRICULTURAL POLICE OFFICER 1 - UNDERFILL

State of Nevada (NV); Elko (NV); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Animal Industry, seeks 1 Agricultural Police Officer (1) with potential underfill to Police Officer 2. Position may be stationed in Elko or nearby areas; requires a current Category 1 POST certificate and state-level agricultural law enforcement duties.

Responsibilities include livestock inspections, investigations, and enforcing animal health and quarantine regulations; also, brand inspection, record-keeping, and collaboration with other

Qualifications

• Must possess a current Category 1 Nevada POST certificate.
• Bachelor's degree or two years of related professional experience in agriculture, wildlife, or criminal law enforcement.
• Experience enforcing and investigating violations of agriculture, wildlife or criminal laws preferred.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, regulate, and monitor agricultural products and livestock within the State.
• Conduct investigations and law enforcement duties for livestock, animal health, and related incidents.
• Escort vehicles with non-compliant products to the State border or for inspection.
• Investigate suspected violations, collect evidence, and testify in court when required.
• Operate brand inspection and animal health records systems; collect fees as needed.
• Oversee livestock auctions for compliance with state rules.

Skills

POST certification

Education

Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, conservation, criminal justice, wildlife management, or closely related field

High school diploma or equivalent with 2 years relevant experience

Job description

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Animal Industry is seeking to fill 1 vacant Agricultural Police Officer1 position, underfill to an Agricultural Police officer 2. This position may be stationed out of Elko, or immediate surrounding areas of this location in Nevada based upon review and approval of the agency. The Incumbent must possess a current Category 1 Nevada POST certificate.

Duties include, but are not limited to Conducting livestock inspections, performing investigations and law enforcement duties for all livestock, stray/feral horses or animal related events or incidents to include animal health inspection requirements, theft of livestock and animal cruelty. Additional responsibilities consist of monitoring animals entering the state from other states and international locations; conducting traffic stops of commercial/private agricultural vehicles on roadways and performing inspections at highway check sites.

Agricultural Police Officers are sworn peace officers of the Department of Agriculture. Incumbents ensure compliance with all State agricultural laws and regulations in the protection of public health, safety, property, and commerce. Incumbents are trained Category I peace officers in accordance with requirements established by the Nevada Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in agriculture, biology, conservation, criminal justice, wildlife management, or closely related field; OR graduation from high school or equivalent education and two years of professional experience enforcing and investigating suspected violations of agriculture, wildlife or criminal laws and receiving and responding to citizen complaints; OR graduation from high school or equivalent education and two years of experience in any of the following: animal/agriculture industry; working with and/or caring for large livestock on a ranch/farm or similar setting; agronomy; checking/reviewing health records of animals on a ranch/farm or similar setting; and/or issuing brand inspection certifications; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Duties

• Inspect, regulate, and monitor agricultural products and livestock located within the State, entering the State, and traveling within the State through stopping commercial and private vehicles transporting agricultural commodities or livestock; inspect plant materials for the presence of agricultural pests and for compliance with plant quarantine regulations; and ensure compliance with animal health laws, quarantines and brand inspection regulations.
• Determine violations of plant/pest regulations and issue citations as appropriate; perform preliminary identification of insects and identify diseased or contaminated plant material; collect, tag, secure, and deliver specimens to specialists for further identification; intercept, seize, and dispose of condemned plants and agricultural products; and perform inspections and ensure compliance of commercial feed rules and regulations.
• Escort vehicles carrying non-compliant agricultural products, commodities, plants or livestock to the State border for return to point of origin, or escort vehicles carrying commodities to a specific destination for inspection or enforcement of animal/plant quarantine hold orders.
• Investigate suspected violations of law in the performance of statutorily recognized authority; receive, respond, and investigate citizen complaints regarding possible crimes; observe and interview witnesses, suspects, and informants; serve warrants and subpoenas; document, collect and preserve physical evidence; perform necropsy procedures on animal remains; track violators and livestock; take photographs and impressions of tracks and/or footprints; document information for reference and intelligence files; coordinate efforts with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors; prepare investigative reports and testify in court; ensure compliance with federal and State animal health and disease traceability requirements.
• Respond to requests for the proposed sale, change of ownership, slaughter, or movement of livestock across brand inspection district boundaries or out of state; visually inspect and process livestock utilizing specialized handling equipment to observe and identify scars, marks, tattoos, brands, gender, or other identifying characteristics; record information on transportation documents or other regulatory forms.
• Verify conformance and accuracy of animal Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and corresponding health records; operate electronic brands program software and computer systems; issue brand inspection clearance certificates; calculate and collect fees according to established rates and procedures.
• Initiate, participate, and/or cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in response to emergency situations; assist federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in investigating agricultural or livestock related crimes or other types of criminal activity as required. Oversee and monitor livestock auctions for conformance with federal and State rules and regulations pertaining to animal ownership, identification, entry requirements, and disease traceability.
• Participate in training such as the use of firearms, specialized defensive weapons, defensive tactics, specialized equipment operation, and communication equipment; may provide training to include developing lesson plans and curriculum, coordinating facilities and equipment, and certifying competencies in areas such as the use of firearms, specialized defensive weapons, specialized equipment operation, and communication equipment to maintain established training standards.

Under close supervision, incumbents receive training in performing the duties described in the series concept. This is the trainee level in the series and incumbents progress to the next level in the series upon meeting minimum qualifications, satisfactory performance, and with the recommendation of the appointing authority.

General knowledge of: principles of criminal justice, public safety laws, and/or agriculture/livestock management, agronomy, livestock physiology and identification, and characteristics which differentiate between species, gender, age, and legal identification.

Ability to: gather, analyze, and evaluate information, problems and objectives to reach logical, rational, and correct conclusions; think clearly, quickly, and logically to adopt an effective course of action for different situations; understand and follow oral and written instructions/directions; write clear, accurate, and concise reports, business correspondence, and recommendations; read and understand policies and regulations; prioritize workload and meet deadlines; effectively utilize computers and other electronic equipment to include database, spreadsheet and word processing software programs; and establish and maintain effective interpersonal and working relationships with others.