CONSERVATION POLICE OFFICER 2

Code: 32082 State Competitive Range: K21 (FY 2027) Work week NE: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $82,514.35 - $131,464.03/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under general supervision of a Conservation Police Officer 3, or other supervisory official, as a sworn law enforcement officer, in the Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection, supervises a group of Conservation Police Officer 1's; enforces all laws of the State of New Jersey and Federal Government enacted for the protection and management of fish and wildlife resources and other related environmental enforcement activities to protect the natural resources and the health of the public within the State in accordance with Titles 23, 39, 50, 58, 2C-Code of Criminal Justice and the Administrative Code N.J.A.C. 7:25 et. seq.; executes all processes issued for the violation of these laws, serves subpoenas issued for the examination, investigation or trial of all offenses against these laws, conducts environmental inspections and investigations and collects field information to determine compliance with the appropriate environmental laws and regulations; exercises all the powers and duties conferred by law while conducting regular duties; educates and informs the public regarding the rules, laws, procedures and management practices regarding the recreational and commercial uses of fish, game and wildlife to ensure the protection of the environment; provides security services for the waters, land, flora and fauna under the guidelines for Homeland Security; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Supervises in designated areas for fish and wildlife enforcement activities.
• Provides instruction to assigned Conservation Police Officer 1's in the apprehension and prosecution of violators of the state's fish, game, and wildlife laws.
• Supervises environmental inspections and investigations and collects field information for determining compliance with the appropriate environmental laws and regulations.
• Conducts and supervises the conduct of field inspections and investigations, and patrols designated areas of the state by various means which may include a motor vehicle, boat, or All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), foot, etc.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Gathers data and samples following accepted scientific protocols to provide input to division biologists in the development of fish and wildlife management and research programs.
• Assigns and supervises the patrol activities of assigned areas.
• Provides information to various citizen groups interested in fish and wildlife resources.
• Recommends an appropriate area for the stocking of fish and game within an assigned sub-region.
• Works with program management providing law enforcement consultation for natural resources, interpretation and education programs.
• Patrols and supervises patrol of waterways, oceans, bays, rivers, lakes and streams on both state and private land.
• Performs and supervises background investigations of applicants applying for licensing and permits for the purchase, sale, and housing of non-game and endangered species of birds and animals, including exotic and potentially dangerous species.
• Has discretionary authority to close licensed agent accounts and seize records and files based upon the review of delinquent accounts or suspect license agents, submits a report of findings.
• Conducts and supervises initial and follow-up reviews of stream improvement and land use projects with private land owners for the benefit of the hunting and fishing public and the protection of threatened and endangered species from unlawful land use practices.
• Provides instruction to subordinate officers regarding the proper care, use, and maintenance of all assigned equipment; conducts periodic inspection of equipment.
• Supervises and evaluates the field testing of new equipment and provides recommendations.
• Notifies or assists federal, state, and local public health officials to investigate and respond to cases of diseases in wildlife, particularly where there is a potential danger to public health.
• Supervises the investigation of all hunter-related accidents and recommends legal action when findings indicate negligence; serves as expert witness for the state.
• Coordinates assistance to the Forest Fire Service in the detection and suppression of forest fires and the investigation in cases of suspected arson.
• Reviews lesson plans and instructional sessions conducted by subordinate officers at law enforcement training academies and outside agencies concerning N.J.S.A. Title 23 and other related environmental laws and regulations; may provide training to municipal police officers and other law enforcement personnel in responding to potentially dangerous wildlife situations.
• Supervises in emergency situations, crash injury management, and in triaging victims until properly relieved by authorized emergency medical personnel.
• Conducts investigations of potential wrong doing, maintains notes, completes required reports; collects, protects and preserves ballistic and biological evidence and ensures the chain of evidence is unbroken; prepares affidavits and search warrants for investigations involving illegal removal and/or possession of regulated fish and wildlife species and other environmental violations; completes reports for prosecution actions; follows-up on enforcement actions to ensure compliance.
• Investigates reports of water pollution, site, dump site, etc. and predetermines the types of hazardous and non- hazardous pollution and the testing parameters required, collects and preserves samples, conducts on-scene tests; conducts joint task force pollution operations with other law enforcement and environmental agencies to protect critical areas of the environment.
• Assists in air and sea patrols with federal agencies to ensure compliance with laws and regulations concerning foreign and domestic commercial fishing activities.
• Organizes, and coordinates, dockside investigations of commercial fishing vessels and/or is assigned to ships to observe commercial harvests to ensure compliance with the Federal Conservation Management Act permit requirements and catch limitations.
• Conducts investigations, inspections and audits of individuals involved in the harvest and sale of shellfish to ensure compliance with Title 50 and 58 laws for a safe product, integrity of shellfish industry and to protect the public health.
• Participates in efforts for the protection and/or removal of stranded marine mammals and endangered species.
• Upon being deputized or certified, serves as a Deputy Game Warden of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or as a Deputy Special Agent for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
• Responds to nuisance wildlife complaints concerning potentially dangerous species; responds to and investigates all Wildlife Violators Hotline tips and reports the determination if enforcement actions are necessary.
• Conducts covert investigations in the Special Investigative Unit; conducts joint operations with other law enforcement and environmental agencies, and assists the Special Investigative Unit with warrant services and the issuance of summonses.
• Prepares reports and correspondence for assigned field investigations involving fish, game, and wildlife resources, containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Properly cares for, utilizes, and maintains assigned equipment.
• Maintains records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in one of the Biological Sciences, Biology, Biostatistics, Microbiology, Natural Science, Zoology, Marine Science, Wildlife Biology, Marine Biology, Animal Science, Botany, Physics, Wildlife Science/Conservation, Fisheries Science, Wildlife Management, Conservation Law Enforcement, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science. The Bachelor's degree must include or be supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hour credits in any combination of the following areas: Fisheries Science, Wildlife Science, Ecology, Natural Resource Management or Biological Sciences.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in law enforcement, environmental enforcement activities, wildlife science, fisheries science, or environmental science.

<b>SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:</b>

<b>AGE:</b>

Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.

<b>CITIZENSHIP:</b>

United States citizenship.

<b>TRAINING:</b>

Appointees must have satisfactorily completed the police training course administered by the New Jersey State Police or other accredited police training academy certified by the Police Training Commission (PTC). Such training includes successful attainment of a level of proficiency in the use of firearms.

NOTE: Appointees to this position must successfully qualify semi-annually in the use of firearms.

<b>MEDICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM:</b>

Candidates certified from the eligible list for this title will be required to undergo medical and psychological examinations administered by the appointing authority.

<b>RESIDENCY:</b>

Appointees will be required to establish residence in a specific geographic area of the state within ninety (90) days of appointment.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of natural resources, and fish and wildlife management, and the techniques of gathering information on these resources, their environment and requirements, and the resource users.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of fish and wildlife management and the recreational and commercial use of these resources.
• Knowledge of interview techniques and investigative methods.
• Knowledge of law enforcement methods.
• Knowledge of the principles of fisheries and wildlife science and their relationship to the development and enforcement of laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the techniques used to identify water and soil pollution.
• Knowledge of the procedures used to prepare affidavits and search warrants.
• Knowledge of citizens' rights concerning arrest, prosecution, search and seizure, and confiscation of evidence.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in covert investigations.
• Knowledge of the methods used to detect and apprehend law violators.
• Ability to collect samples from water and soil.
• Ability to conduct investigations, prepare cases for court and follow through to disposition.
• Ability to instruct volunteers and the public about hunter safety according to established Fish and Game laws and regulations.
• Ability to work outdoors for extensive periods of time under varying climatic conditions and in all types of terrain.
• Ability to operate outboard motorboats and other small craft, including canoes on inland and coastal waterways.
• Ability to read and interpret, laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to handle firearms safely and correctly, and to instruct others on the safe, lawful, and proper use of firearms.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the program.
• Ability to confer with supervisors, Deputy Attorneys General, county and municipal prosecutors to prepare cases for hearings and/or trials.
• Ability to understand the laws and/or regulations associated with Title 23, Title 39, Title 50 and Title 58.
• Ability to understand the procedures to prepare cases for court and final case disposition.
• Ability to work joint investigations and patrols with federal, other state, county and municipal authorities.
• Ability to instruct subordinate officers in proper wildlife law enforcement procedures and methods.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to conduct training programs in conjunction with assigned duties and responsibilities, this may include, but not be limited to schools, police departments and/or various community groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively to educate and inform the public on the biological principles associated with the rules, laws, procedures and management practices pertaining to the use of fish, game, wildlife and natural resources.
• Ability to act quickly and decisively during emergency situations.
• Ability to prepare correspondence and reports.
• Ability to maintain all issued equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Education, Parks and Recreation or Criminal Justice supplemented by thirty (30) semester hour credits in any combination of the subject areas indicated above will be considered acceptable.

Appointees may be required to possess a motorboat operator's license issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and a Boating Safety Certificate from a program approved by the New Jersey State Police.