Tentative Classification Standards issued by the Division of Classification & Compensation are shared with the operating agencies of State government for their consideration and comment. Accordingly, this document that you are viewing is subject to change and will be issued in final form at the completion of the review period.

TENTATIVE                                                                                  

 

 

Occ. Code 1633110

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 1, GRADE 17             1633110

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 2, GRADE 19             1633220

 

New York State Department of Civil Service

 

Classification Standard

 

 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

 

Environmental Conservation Investigators 1 and 2 are police officers (Criminal Procedures Law, Section 1.20) who conduct investigations of offenses against environmental conservation laws. Positions in this series are classified in special centralized task forces to conduct investigations of criminal violations of the hazardous and toxic waste provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law.  Incumbents typically supervise other positions in the initial and subsequent stages of criminal investigations. Environmental Conservation Investigators are classified only at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Law Enforcement (DLE), Bureau of Environmental Conservation Investigation (BECI).

 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 1: reporting to an Environmental Conservation Investigator 2, or other higher ranking police officer, the Environmental Conservation Investigator 1 performs thorough investigations of violations of environmental conservation laws in the areas of generation, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste; positions in this class may supervise subordinate police officer positions in the conduct of initial investigations of a criminal nature.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 2: reporting to a Chief Environmental Conservation Police Officer, or other higher ranking police officer, functions as a field supervisor for all regional police activities of BECI; supervises Environmental Conservation Investigators 1 and Environmental Conservation Police Officers, and manages the most complex and sensitive cases; may be required to assume the duties and responsibilities of a Chief Environmental Conservation Police Officer (CECPO) in their absence.

 

RELATED CLASSES

 

Environmental Conservation Police Officers enforce provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law in order to protect, preserve and improve the quality of the States natural environment, using various indicators of environmental quality in order to detect violations of the laws they enforce.

 

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 1

Investigates and gathers evidentiary material related to criminal offenses in generating, transporting, storing and disposing of hazardous/toxic wastes.

 

·       Supervises Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECPO) and other technical personnel in the initial investigatory phases of such crimes in such areas of sample taking, crowd control, interviewing witnesses and communicating with other agencies.

 

·       Works undercover to gather necessary evidence in hazardous and toxic waste cases.

 

·       Drafts search warrant applications and executes search warrants.

 

·       Operates a variety of surveillance equipment, such as audiovisual recording equipment, microphones, and other audiovisual devices.

 

·       Assists the work of scientists and technicians in hazardous waste detection and analysis.

 

·       Reviews investigative reports of subordinate personnel.

 

Testifies in courts and before grand juries.

 

Prepares reports of activities.

 

Documents the results of investigations.

 

Trains ECPOs in the principles and practices of investigating hazardous waste violations.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 2

 

In addition to performing the duties listed above, incumbents supervise the day-to-day investigative activities of assigned subordinates.

 

·       As directed, assigns investigative projects to subordinates, and provides guidance on methodologies, tactics and limitations.

 

·       Monitors the progress of investigations, ensuring that progress is made and information is acted upon on a timely manner.

 

·       As directed, redirects the thrust of investigations, and recommends solutions to problems.

 

·       Recommends the termination of futile investigations.

 

          Assists the CECPO in progressing complex and sensitive investigations:

 

·       Develops innovative strategies to advance novel investigations.

 

·       Gathers and analyzes data from a variety of sources; and develops sources of information, which may assist in resolving investigative problems.

 

·       Assembles evidence pertaining to special cases, and coordinates work with other agency divisions.

 

Works with regional and technical staff in the development of training programs for subordinate investigators, including training in the identification of hazardous waste, and the preparation and protection of evidence.

 

Meets with various local groups, enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices to supplement their understanding of the role of BECI, and to enhance the flow of information concerning criminal offenses of the hazardous waste laws and other major environmental conservation crimes.

 

Assumes the duties of the CECPO in his/her absence, as required.

 

 

 RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

 

Positions in this class have frequent verbal contact with a variety of individuals. Incumbents must interview witnesses; deal with individuals who may be abrasive, argumentative and/or frightened, and exercise firmness and restraint as the situations indicate; be cognizant of and observe the legal rights of both witnesses and defendants by applying legally acceptable investigatory practices; cultivate rapport with other law enforcement agencies, other agency divisions, prosecutors and courts; and build professional recognition of their individual and collective ability to gather evidence, to ensure credibility and the confidence of both the public and the judiciary.

 

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

 

Positions in this series may be required to operate cars, boats, snowmobiles, and a variety of surveillance equipment. Incumbents regularly carry firearms and are periodically required to demonstrate their ability in the use of these firearms.

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

 

Incumbents may be required to work long and irregular hours on surveillance and evidence gathering research, sometimes in physically dangerous environments. They must act upon confidential information at any hour of the day or night. The course of their duties may place them near challenging conditions and toxic materials.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 1

 

Promotion: one year of service as an Environmental Conservation Police Officer or Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 2.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INVESTIGATOR 2

 

Promotion: one year of service as an Environmental Conservation Investigator 1, or Supervising Environmental Conservation Police Officer.

 

Date:  6/17

 

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.