New York State of Opportunity

Environmental Conservation Investigator 1

Written Test To Be Held
June 01, 2019
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
April 17, 2019

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
26-670 Environmental Conservation Investigator 1 $68,147 G-17 $35

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

?Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,520 annual downstate adjustment. In addition, appointees who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental location pay in the following amounts: the counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess - $1,266; the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $1,900; and Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,217.*

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 1, 2019, you must have:

Either 1: a bachelor's or higher-level degree; AND two years of experience as a Police Officer (as defined in Criminal Procedure Law, section 1.20 or Federal Law Enforcement Officers as defined in Criminal Procedure Law Section 2.15) which must have been in an investigator?s title conducting field investigations;*

Or 2: an associate's degree; AND four years of experience as a Police Officer (as defined in Criminal Procedure Law, section 1.20 or Federal Law Enforcement Officers as defined in Criminal Procedure Law Section 2.15) two years of which must have been in an investigator?s title conducting field investigations.*

*Field Investigation is gathering and securing information and evidence from a variety of sources, away from your official work station, through independent, non-structured activities including the preparation and submission of detailed narrative reports, in support of legal activities which could lead to prosecution. Experience in positions such as Police Detective, State Insurance Investigator, Federal Investigator, and investigative position in the Armed Forces, or in full time field investigation positions involving trial preparation are examples of what might be considered as meeting the experience requirement.

Examples of experience that will not qualify as field investigation include but are not limited to: auditing, inspections, police patrolling, guarding or watching, credit checking, and positions in tax collecting.

If appointed, you will be required to satisfactorily complete a formal residential training program or a Police Officer Refresher Course dependent upon New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Police Officer certification. The basic training emphasizes police skills as well as the technical aspects of environmental law enforcement. The training is conducted using the Department of Environmental Conservation?s Division of Law Enforcement?s own personnel as instructors and supplemented by other instructors where appropriate.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2019, you can be admitted to the written test, but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2019 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes

  1. Tattoos: You must comply with the Department of Environmental Conservation?s, Division of Law Enforcement policy which requires all members to present a neat and professional appearance at all times. Tattoos shall not be visible while a member is in uniform. The uniform consists of a short sleeve shirt open at the front of the neck and, in the warmer months, shorts. Presence of a visible tattoo may bar appointment. Members with tattoos on their arms who desire to wear a short sleeve shirt when authorized, may utilize matching flesh colored sleeves to conceal any tattoos on their arms. Such sleeves will be provided at the member?s expense and will cover all visible tattoos from the wrist to the shirt sleeve worn. For additional information regarding this policy, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement at (518) 402-8829.
  2. Environmental Conservation Investigators are police officers under State law. At appointment, you must be a resident of New York State and at least 21 years old.
  3. You must be legally eligible to carry firearms. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may bar appointment.
  4. Physical Skills and Abilities Testing: If you are considered for appointment, your physical skills and abilities will be evaluated through tests of strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, and swimming. These physical skills and abilities tests will be conducted by the Department of Environmental Conservation. To obtain a statement of the requirement of these tests, write to the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233.
  5. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include but are not limited to: uncorrected distant visual acuity not less than 20/40 using both eyes together; corrected or uncorrected distant visual acuity better than or equal to 20/30 in each eye. You must also have satisfactory color vision perception, peripheral vision, speech and hearing. Your Cardiopulmonary, Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Systems will also be evaluated. To obtain a complete statement of the physical and medical standards write to the Medical Review Unit, NYS Department of Civil Service, 55 Mohawk Street, Suite 201, Cohoes, NY 12047. A medical examination will also be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position.
  6. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug-screening test and are responsible for the clinical lab fee. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification. Based on contractual agreement, this position is subject to random drug testing.
  7. Fingerprints and Fees: Fingerprinting is required prior to appointment. You will be required to pay the processing fee.
  8. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that may include a thorough character investigation, which may include a polygraph. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment and a misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.
  9. New York State Residency and United States Citizenship: Although not required for taking the test, you must be a citizen of the United States at the time of appointment. If appointed, you must maintain New York State residency pursuant to the Public Officers Law.
  10. A promotion examination is also being held for these positions. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
  11. Although a promotion examination is being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
  12. Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position.
  13. Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the New York State Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2KXM
  14. You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Some positions require a commercial driver?s license (CDL).

The Positions

These positions exist in the Department of Environmental Conservation statewide.

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Duties

As an Environmental Conservation Investigator 1, you would be a sworn Police Officer with the Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation. You would conduct long-term investigations into the criminal and civil violations of the Environmental Conservation Law and the Penal Law when it applies to violations involving the environment and/or natural resources. Assigned duties often require you to work at sites contaminated with hazardous substances and other hazards. You would conduct lengthy, covert and detailed investigations; execute search warrants; write complex reports; make arrests; testify in court and administrative hearings; and deal with other matters concerned with investigations. You would also be required to prepare all necessary reports and legal documents associated with the duties of this position.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

  1. DEC Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations' techniques - These questions test for knowledge of investigative techniques in areas such as interviewing, surveillance, gathering and preserving evidence, and testifying in court.
  2. EnCon Law, Title 6 NYCRR, Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, and other relevant law - These questions test for knowledge of the laws in effect on January 1, 2019 that Environmental Conservation Officers and Environmental Conservation Investigators may encounter in the course of their day-to-day work-related activities.
  3. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
  4. Preparing written material in a police setting - These questions test for the ability to prepare the types of reports that police personnel write. Some questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately. They consist of restatements of information given in note form. You must choose the best version from each set of four choices. Other questions test for the ability to organize paragraphs. They consist of paragraphs with their sentences out of order. For each of the paragraphs you must choose, from four suggestions, the best order of the sentences.
  5. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

TEST GUIDE: A Guide to the Written Test for the Police Supervisors and Investigators Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC1 KXM-klr
Issued: 03/15/19
?Revised Material: 4/4/19

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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