LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RECRUIT- 42005872

Law Enforcement Officer Recruit

Law Enforcement Officer Recruit (Academy Sponsorship) Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement

The headquarters for this position is located in Jackson County, however, this position may patrol the following, but not limited to, additional counties: Calhoun, Bay, Holmes, and Washington.

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.

The criminal law enforcement, prevention and suppression of crimes relating to agriculture, citrus, livestock and other related matters is a unique and highly technical and specialized field of criminal law enforcement requiring independent professional judgment.

One of the primary missions of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to prevent the introduction into the state of plant and animal pests and diseases which may have a devastating affect on Florida agriculture. The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement manages and operates the Agricultural Inspection Stations, 24 hours a day, year-round, as well as utilizing roving patrols.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of law enforcement and investigative principles and techniques. Knowledge of security and safety principles. Skills in writing reports, preparing and presenting training materials, coordinating activities with other law enforcement agencies. Skills in planning, organizing, and directing the local law enforcement program. Skills in the operation of assigned equipment such as: firearms, surveillance equipment, radios, and handcuffs. Ability to interview suspects and witnesses and to gather and submit physical evidence.

Additional Requirements:

Occasional travel required.

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 used cannabis illegally within the last two years. Have not used any illegal controlled substance, other than cannabis, 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.

Other Requirements:

Unless you meet one of the exemptions listed below, all applicants must take and pass the Florida Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test (L.E. BAT) prior to being granted an interview. Passing L.E. BAT scores must be provided no later than April 27, 2026, and May be attached to the candidate profile prior to submission of application, Faxed to Carol Richards at (850) 617-7069 or E-mailed to carol.richards@fdacs.gov PLEASE SUBMIT THE POSITION # WITH YOUR EMAIL. It is the applicant's responsibility to send the L.E. BAT scores by the deadline date. If you wish to confirm, you may send an email WITH THE POSITION # to carol.richards@fdacs.gov . For more information on the L.E. BAT, please visit https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Officer-Requirements/Basic-Abilities-Test.aspx L.E. BAT exemptions: Effective July 1, 2022, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that allows exemptions for taking the L.E. BAT. You are exempt from taking the L.E. BAT 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 April 27, 2026, and May be attached to the candidate profile prior to submission of application, Faxed to Carol Richards at (850) 617-7069 or E-mailed to carol.richards@fdacs.gov WITH THE POSITION # It is the applicant's responsibility to send proof by the deadline date. If you wish to confirm receipt, you may send an email WITH THE POSITION # to carol.richards@fdacs.gov . * FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF A PASSING L.E. BAT SCORE OR EXEMPTION DOCUMENTATION BY APRIL 27, 2026, 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 L.E. BAT or proof of exemption from the L.E. BAT. 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 - $60,000.20 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, Highway 231 and Interstate 10 in Jackson County and surrounding counties.

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. To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate's use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

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.

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: 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 (1-866-663-47