LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RECRUIT- 42005147

Requisition No: 843047 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RECRUIT- 42005147

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005147 

Salary:  $54,075.06 

Posting Closing Date: 12/22/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RECRUIT

(ACADEMY SPONSORSHIP)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

The headquarters for this position is negotiable between
Suwannee, Hamilton, and Nassau Counties

***Selected applicants will attend the Fall 2025
Law Enforcement Academy***

Agricultural Law Enforcement Officer Duties:

The incumbent in this position is responsible for law enforcement activities as specified in Section 570.65, Florida Statutes.  These acts include, but are not limited to, criminal violations involving:  domesticated animals, livestock, poultry, aquaculture products, farms and farm equipment, livery tack, citrus and citrus products, trespass, littering, forests, theft of forest products, protection of consumers, all criminal laws and civil traffic laws committed on property owned, managed, or occupied by the department, any emergency situation in which the life, limb, or property of any person is placed in danger and any crime incidental to or related thereof.   Each law enforcement officer shall meet the qualifications of law enforcement officers established by Chapter 943, Florida Statutes.  Each officer is subject to and has the same arrest, jurisdiction and other authority provided for state law enforcement officers in Chapter 901, Florida Statutes.  Each officer also has the same right and authority to carry arms as do the sheriffs of this state.

Minimum Qualifications:

• United States Citizen.
• High School graduate or GED.
• Must be 18 years of age to apply and 19 years of age by date of hire.
• Valid driver license with no more than four moving traffic violations within the past three years.
• Have not been convicted of driving a vehicle or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance within the past five years.
• Have not refused to submit to a breath/blood/urine test within the last five years.
• Have not been convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement.
• Have not been dishonorably discharged from any of the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
• Good moral character.

One of the following is required:

• One (1) year of law enforcement experience (sworn or non-sworn) or
• Two (2) years of work experience or
• Two (2) years of active and continuous military service can substitute for the required work experience; College education can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for the required sworn law enforcement experience.

Other Requirements:

Unless you meet one of the exemptions listed below, all applicants must take and pass the Florida Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test (LEBAT) prior to being granted an interview. Passing LEBAT scores must be provided no later than December 29, 2024, and

1. May be attached to the candidate profile prior to submission of application,
2. Faxed to Carol Richards at (850) 617-7069 or
3. E-mailed to carol.richards@fdacs.gov

It is the applicant’s responsibility to send the LEBAT scores by the deadline date.  If you wish to confirm, you may send an email to carol.richards@fdacs.gov.

For more information on the LEBAT, please visit https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Officer-Requirements/Basic-Abilities-Test.aspx

LEBAT exemptions:

Effective July 1, 2022, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that allows exemptions for taking the LEBAT.  You are exempt from taking the LEBAT if either of the two options below apply:

• You are a veteran with an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions and can provide proof via a DD-214.
• You hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and can provide proof via a copy of the degree, or transcripts indicating the degree was conferred.

Proof of one of the above listed exemptions must be provided no later than December 29, 2024, and

1. May be attached to the candidate profile prior to submission of application,
2. Faxed to Carol Richards at (850) 617-7069 or
3. E-mailed to carol.richards@fdacs.gov

It is the applicant’s responsibility to send proof by the deadline date.  If you wish to confirm receipt, you may send an email to carol.richards@fdacs.gov.

* FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF A PASSING LEBAT SCORE OR EXEMPTION DOCUMENTATION
BY DECEMBER 29, 2024, WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS *

Selection Process – The OALE selection process takes approximately three to four months to complete.  Steps to complete the selection process include, but are not limited to:

• A completed State of Florida Employment Application.
• A passing score on the LEBAT or proof of exemption from the LEBAT.
• A completed Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement Supplemental Employment Application for Law Enforcement Officer Recruits.
• Oral Review Board.
• Background Investigation.
• Fingerprint Processing.
• Psychological Evaluation.
• Medical Evaluation.
• Drug Screening.

Salary - $54,075.06

Duty Stations and Assignments - Duty stations are assigned based upon position availability, agency needs, and candidate location.  These areas include, but are not limited to, Interstate 10 in Suwannee County; Interstate 75 in Hamilton County and Interstate 95 in Nassau County.

Contact - Carol Richards at (850) 274-7068 or AgLaw.Recruitment@FDACS.gov with any questions or concerns.

Notes - If possible, please submit your application from a desktop or laptop computer.   Devices such as cellular phones and tablets have been known to cause errors when submitting an application.  Please be sure to review each answer as they cannot be changed once your application is submitted.

Information regarding the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) may be found on the following website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Agricultural-Law-Enforcement

Persons selected are generally hired at the starting salary identified in the advertisement and salary increases are granted based upon appropriations as determined by the Florida Legislature.

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The Following Special Benefits for this Position Include

Uniforms and Dry-cleaning Allowance - All required uniforms, equipment and weapons are provided at no cost; Uniform maintenance allowance is $500 annually.

Education and Training Incentive Payments - Sworn employees are eligible to receive up to $130 monthly for the completion of career development courses and/or an associate or bachelor’s degree.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck.  The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

Special Notes:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.