SERGEANT - STATE INVESTIGATOR, LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Definition

Under supervision within the Division of Criminal Justice, supervises compliance, enforcement, and related investigative activities involving criminal and civil violations of state statutes; is authorized to exercise all powers and rights of police officers, constables, and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters, and is empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Exercises all powers and rights of police officers, constables, and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters, and functions as a law enforcement officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and prosecution of offenders against the law.
• Participates in, assigns and reviews investigations of criminal complaints or specialized investigations to detect alleged noncompliance with or violations of New Jersey state statutes.
• Supervises and reviews work of assigned investigative personnel, and recommends next action to be taken by the Deputy Attorney General in charge of the case or the superior officer within the Department of Law and Public Safety directing the investigation.
• Acts as first line supervisor of Detectives.
• Provides assignments and instructions to assigned employees.
• With approval of superior officer, assigns staff to cases based on an evaluation of all available data, volume of work, priorities, and the knowledge and experience of each member of the unit.
• May conduct the more difficult or sensitive investigations.
• Organizes assigned investigation or enforcement activities, analyzes personnel, and advises them on policies, procedures, laws, regulations, precedents, accounting principles, investigative, and auditing techniques, and develops work schedules and procedures.
• Conducts evaluations and recommends appropriate redeployment of personnel to meet changing investigative priorities, deadlines, assignments, attainment of investigative objectives, and to improve operating efficiency.
• May assist in developing and implementing new procedures designed to improve investigative functions.
• During investigations, provides guidance and directions to staff, observes their activities in order to gauge performance, insures proper execution of duties and promotes cooperation with others.
• Participates in complex, major phases of investigations, and directs the course of an investigation when warranted by circumstances.
• Supervises the preparation of investigative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Reviews reports submitted by staff to evaluate the conduct and progress of each case and recommends methods of resolving problems encountered before submitting case to superior.
• Coordinates training of State Investigators in various specialized areas involved with compliance and enforcement activities of civil and criminal investigations of state statutes; and keeps staff informed of developments in investigations, new or revised procedures, legislation, applicable court decisions, and new investigative techniques.
• Maintains liaison and working relationships with federal, state, and local enforcement officials on matters of mutual interest, and advises superiors of possible impact of other enforcement actions.
• Recommends the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of State Investigators.
• May respond to crime scenes and assume complete charge of all activities, in the absence of an officer of a superior rank.
• Directs detectives to locate, gather, and preserve evidence and to detain persons for questioning.
• Testifies before Grand Juries, Courts of Law, and other judicial bodies.
• Maintains and supervises the keeping of files and records involved with investigative activities.
• May assist in the preparation of the annual plan for staffing to include justification for additional personnel and nonpersonnel budget requests.
• Will be required 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.

Experience

Five (5) years of investigatory experience as a sworn law enforcement officer conducting investigations, collecting evidence, and/or preparing investigative reports related to criminal and/or civil matters involving acts of criminal and/or civil misconduct.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of investigative techniques for law enforcement investigations including the continuous revision and alteration of methods, principles, and procedures as may be required by law.
• Knowledge of management principles and of supervisory techniques.
• Knowledge of law enforcement operations and procedures on local, state, national, and international levels.
• Knowledge of principles of communications to achieve the results desired.
• Knowledge of civil rights of individuals under investigation.
• Knowledge of surveillance methods and procedures.
• Knowledge of the types of surveillance devices, photographic, and video equipment utilized during the course of an investigation.
• Knowledge of the types of documents required for criminal litigation cases and the detailed preparation thereof.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of performing covert investigations.
• Knowledge of techniques of investigative reporting and preparation of detailed investigative reports.
• Knowledge of procedures for conducting background checks.
• Knowledge of procedures governing rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of principles of needs assessment.
• Knowledge of principles of human resource planning.
• Knowledge of training principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of employee performance evaluation procedures.
• Knowledge of electronic communications equipment and data base software utilized during the course of an investigation.
• Ability to exercise all powers and rights of police officers, constables, and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters and to function as a law enforcement officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and prosecution of offenders against the law.
• Ability to implement training programs, principles, policies, and procedures for investigative and regulatory responsibilities.
• Ability to determine the scope, timing and direction of investigations.
• Ability to resolve problems in the administration or implementation of assigned investigations.
• Ability to testify as a state witness before State Grand Juries, Federal Court, other courts of law, or other judicial or hearing forums.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and apply policies, procedures, and regulations of the Department of Law and Public Safety to work schedules, investigative activities, and personnel problems encountered.
• Ability to organize and supervise all phases of investigative activities.
• Ability to supervise and perform varied investigative and other work involved in repairing cases from a legal viewpoint for trial purposes.
• Ability to analyze the complaint or allegation of a crime and to identify the issues involved and the types of evidence that will be needed in each case.
• Ability to work under adverse conditions and to deal with violent and armed criminals.
• Ability to gather facts through such methods as interview, observation, interrogation, contacting informants, and analyzing records to establish facts or obtain evidence.
• Ability to verify information obtained to establish accuracy and authenticity of facts of evidence.
• Ability to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and personnel and government agencies.
• Ability to recognize the need for prompt reporting of critical information to other offices and agencies.
• Ability to deal with people politely and helpfully beyond the giving and receiving of instructions.
• Ability to present findings in clear, logical, impartial and properly documented reports.
• Ability to give assignments and instructions to subordinates and supervise the performance of their duties.
• Ability to review and analyze existing investigative procedures and principles, evaluate their effectiveness accordingly, and recommend changes to improve efficiency.
• Ability to coordinate training necessary to improve job performance of employees assigned to investigative activities.
• Ability to oversee the preparation and execution of affidavits and search warrants as required by law.
• Ability to supervise the use of informants by staff assigned to perform investigative activities.
• Ability to prepare complex correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Ability to prepare clear and accurate reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations of investigative activities.
• Ability to prepare statistical reports.
• Knowledge of the methods and procedures involved in preparing legal proof for trial purposes.
• Knowledge of decisions and precedent cases involving the admissibility of evidence, search and seizure and arrest authority.
• Knowledge of those activities that constitute a crime.
• Knowledge of the kind of evidence needed to establish that a crime has been committed.
• Knowledge of the methods and patterns of criminal operations.
• Knowledge of the sources of information concerning crimes, and the methods of obtaining evidence concerning criminal activities.
• Knowledge of the investigative authority and responsibility among various law enforcement agencies.
• Knowledge of Title 2C statues; including the New Jersey Court Rules and the New Jersey Rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of DCJ Standard Operating Procedures; Attorney General Directives and Guidelines.
• Knowledge of the civil rights of individuals under investigation.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures for conducting investigations.
• Ability to exercise sound direction of discretion to subordinates when powers of arrest are utilized.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files on all matters germane to Division activities, including criminals and crimes.
• Ability to qualify with firearms on a semiannual basis.
• Ability 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 as long as 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 particular 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.

Experience as a police officer performing criminal follow-up investigations (not preliminary investigations) may be substituted for the above experience on a year-for- year basis.

Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.

A Master's degree or certification as a Certified Public Accountant may be substituted for one (1) year of the indicated experience.

Applicants accepting employment are required to adhere to the employment restriction that they not pursue outside gainful employment during their tenure with the Division of Criminal Justice unless approved by the Attorney General.

<b>AGE:</b>

Not less than 18 years of age

<b>CITIZENSHIP:</b>

Must be a citizen of the United States.

<b>MEDICAL EXAMINATION:</b>

As a prerequisite for appointment, appointees may be required to pass a thorough medical and psychiatric examination to be administered by the appointing authority. Any psychological, medical or physical condition or defect which would prevent efficient performance of the duties of the position, cause the appointee to be a hazard to himself/herself or others, or become aggravated as a result of performance of these duties, will be cause for rejection.

<b>SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:</b>

Applicants must have successfully completed the police training commission course administered by the Police Training Commission. This training includes successful attainment of a required level of proficiency in the use of firearms.

Appointees to this position shall qualify semi-annually in the use of firearms.