Environmental Conservation Investigator 1

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.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 1, 2019, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as follows:

For No. 38-399: as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 1,* Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 2,* or Environmental Conservation Police Officer.

For No. 38-400: as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer (service as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 1 or 2 does not meet this requirement) or Environmental Conservation Investigator 1.

For No. 38-401: as an Environmental Conservation Investigator 1, Supervising Environmental Conservation Police Officer, or as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer (service as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 1 or 2 does not meet this requirement).

*If you pass the examination for Environmental Conservation Investigator 1 (Exam No. 38-399) you will be restricted from appointment from the eligible list until you have one year of service as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before March 1, 2019, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Back To Top

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:	For Examination Numbers
	38-399	38-400	38-401
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.	X		X
2. EnCon Law, Title 6 NYCRR, Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, and other relevant laws - 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.	X	X	X
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.	X		X
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.	X	X	X
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.	X	X	X
6. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.		X	X
7. DEC Division of Law Enforcement methods and practices -These questions test for knowledge of Environmental Conservation law enforcement and cover areas such as law enforcement techniques, hearing procedures, rules of evidence, documents and policies and consent orders.		X

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits to your final passing score

CREDIT FOR SENIORITY:

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Back To Top

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 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.

As a Supervising Environmental Conservation Police Officer, you would directly supervise the day to day activities of subordinate officers as assigned by the Regional Chief Environmental Conservation Police Officer. You would oversee investigations appropriate for assignments to officers, coordinate enforcement details with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, assist with work planning, schedule overtime, and prepare correspondence in response to complaints from citizens in order to inform the public of relevant laws and departmental policies. You would also review and approve all subordinate staff required investigative and case reports, search warrant applications, site safety plans, etc. and perform appropriate supervisory duties while working at contaminated sites.

As an Environmental Conservation Investigator 2, within the Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI), you would directly supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate investigators as assigned by the Regional Chief Environmental Conservation Police Officer and/or the BECI Chief Environmental Conservation Police Officer or Major Environmental Conservation. This would involve directing their work in progressively complex and sensitive cases; identifying and/or assigning training activities, reviewing and approving reports, documents, and site safety plans, etc. You would also perform appropriate supervisory and investigative duties while working at contaminated sites, and assist in developing and maintaining contacts with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.

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.

Back To Top

How To Apply

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.

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.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

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: 03/15/2019

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.

Back To Top