Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established April 9, 1991

Scope

This series specification describes four Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, classes used by the Department of Consumer Affairs. These classes are used for positions that conduct and supervise complex and sensitive administrative, civil and criminal investigations related to alleged violations against the vocational or professional licensees of the Department of Consumer Affairs, as well as criminal unlicensed activity. Investigators of the Department of Consumer Affairs perform the full range of peace officer duties and responsibilities in the accomplishment of their assignments. Investigators of the Department of Consumer Affairs may be assigned to provide technical assistance and training to local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies, pharmacists, medical/dental societies, hospital medical staff, technical and professional associations, as well as board and bureau members.

Definition of Series

Investigators of the Department of Consumer Affairs conduct or supervise independent and diverse administrative, civil and criminal investigations against the vocational and professional licensees of the boards and bureaus within the Department of Consumer Affairs; detect or verify suspected violations of provisions of the Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Business and Professions Code, California Penal Code, Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and other related codes; locate and interview suspects and witnesses and analyze and evaluate their testimony; examine a variety of records to secure or verify information concerning suspected violations and violators; contact and interview individuals and representatives of business and governmental organizations; gather, assemble, preserve and report facts, statements or affidavits and other evidence for use in legal actions; make felony arrests; investigate complaints; conduct undercover and surveillance operations; investigate the financial and moral character of applicants for licenses; develop and utilize confidential informants; issue misdemeanor citations; investigate suspected misuse of license privileges; monitor probationary licensees; appear as a witness and arrange for the appearance of witnesses to present testimony in criminal, administrative or civil actions; serve legal papers; interpret and explain the laws, rules and regulations of the boards and bureaus; cooperate, train and maintain liaison with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; participate in community forums; prepare correspondence, reports of investigations, affidavits and recommend action to be taken; prepare and serve search warrants, subpoenas, subpoena duces tecum, temporary restraining orders, civil injunctions, and asset forfeiture documents; conduct drug audits; issue administrative fines and citations; may develop program investigation policies and procedures which specifically require investigative or law enforcement expertise; act as technical advisors; and perform other related work.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Complexity and variety of investigations, independence of action and decision making, and degree of supervision exercised and received.

Definition of Levels

Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs

This is the entry, training, and full journey level in the series. Under close supervision, incumbents receive on-the-job training from either a supervisor or an advanced journey level investigator to learn the full range of difficult and complex investigative work. As a full journey level investigator, incumbents will work with a high degree of independence on complex and sensitive cases.

Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs

This is the advanced journey level in the series. Under minimal supervision, incumbents independently conduct the most sensitive, complex and diverse criminal and administrative investigations; may act in a lead capacity to direct or review the work of lower-level investigators; may perform program or policy development and interpretation duties which specifically require investigatory or law enforcement expertise; may be involved as a member of a multi-agency investigation or assignment; and may have independent responsibility to oversee an entire investigative operation or project.

Supervising Investigator I, Department of Consumer Affairs

This is the working supervisory level in the series. Incumbents plan, organize and direct a staff of investigators assigned to a geographical area in a region; provide assistance to high-level staff in the development of policies and procedures; may be assigned to headquarters to assist a superior in planning, developing and directing a major investigative program; may be assigned Internal Affairs, Special Investigation and background investigative duties; may act as liaison with related law enforcement and allied agencies; may perform other administrative duties; and prepare reports and correspondence.

Supervising Investigator II, Department of Consumer Affairs

This is the full supervisory level in the series. Incumbents plan, organize, and direct the investigation program in an assigned geographic region of the State; assign priorities and develop specific work plans for all program components in their region; review work progress and workload requirements; assist in the development and implementation of administrative policies and procedures. Incumbents may assist the Chief in planning, developing and directing a statewide investigative program/operations; act in the absence of the Chief; and may act as liaison with related law enforcement and allied agencies.

Job Characteristics

All Levels:

All levels in the Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, class series will be required to satisfactorily complete a basic investigative training course as prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) prior to the completion of their probationary period. In addition, the Supervising Investigator classes will be required to complete the supervisory course as prescribed by POST. These courses must also be completed prior to the completion of the probationary period of the respective class. Failure to do so will be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress and cause for rejection during the probationary period.

Minimum Qualifications

Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs

Either I

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement or criminology or a minor in criminal justice, law enforcement or criminology with evidence that the following courses or their equivalent have been completed: introduction to criminal justice; introduction to criminal law; basic investigation, evidence, criminal procedure; and philosophy of law. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must provide evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Two years of experience as a peace officer performing preliminary investigative work as part of the regular law enforcement activity; and

Education: Equivalent to two years of college with a major in criminal justice, police science, law enforcement or criminology.

Or III

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to those of an Investigator Assistant. (Applicants who have completed six months of service in the class of Investigator Assistant will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of experience in the class before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, Range C.

Or II

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience as a peace officer involved in full-time civil or criminal investigative work; and

Education: Equivalent to two years of college with a major in criminal justice, police science, law enforcement or criminology.

Supervising Investigator I, Department of Consumer Affairs

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, Range C.

Or III

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience as a peace officer involved in civil or criminal investigative work, including or supplemented by at least one year of supervisory experience in an investigative assignment. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least two years performing duties of a class at a level not less than that of Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, Range C.); and

Education: Equivalent to two years of college with a major in criminal justice, police science, law enforcement or criminology.

Supervising Investigator II, Department of Consumer Affairs

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Supervising Investigator I, Department of Consumer Affairs.

Or II

Three years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs.

Or III

Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience as a peace officer involved in civil or criminal investigative work, including or supplemented by at least two years of supervisory experience in an investigative assignment. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least three years performing duties of a class at a level not less than that of Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs.); and

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college with a major in criminal justice, police science, law enforcement or criminology.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Administrative and criminal investigative techniques; interview and interrogation processes and procedures; provisions of the Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Business and Professions Code, California Penal Code, Controlled Substances Act, and other related codes; administrative and criminal procedures; methods used in securing and preserving of evidence; general training techniques and methods as applied to peace officer training; laws of arrest; search and seizure.

Ability to: Develop techniques, methods and skills required in the conducting of administrative and criminal investigations; apply laws and rules of evidence to specific situations; gather and analyze facts and evidence and present such evidence as required; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; participate actively in surveillance investigations; interview and interrogate; effectively control informants, paid operatives and confidential informants; appear as an expert witness; use and maintain firearms; serve subpoenas, write and execute search warrants and subpoena duces tecum; prepare accurate investigation reports; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Senior Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs

Knowledge of: All of the above, and program policies and procedures.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan and conduct independently the most sensitive and complex investigations; effectively make use of computerized data and discern patterns of fraud; apply laws and rules of evidence to specific situations; effectively develop and control confidential informants and paid operatives; provide technical advice and assistance to, and conduct training for, appropriate law enforcement and allied health agencies; speak effectively before groups; coordinate multi-agency investigations; function in a lead capacity; provide field training; and act as evidence custodian.

Supervising Investigator I, Department of Consumer Affairs

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of supervision; advanced training techniques and methods as applied to peace officer training; the Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives, a supervisor's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan and conduct the most difficult, complex and sensitive administrative and criminal investigations; effectively supervise the work of a team of investigators and other administrative personnel; conduct and conclude background and internal affairs investigations; independently direct a special project or assignment in a given geographical area or region; and effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Supervising Investigator II, Department of Consumer Affairs

Knowledge of: All of the above, and techniques and methods used in administering specialized investigative and enforcement programs, in implementing training programs and in exchanging information with multi-jurisdictional agencies; current management theories and methods of evaluation, organization and functions of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and other local, State and Federal agencies.

Ability to: All of the above, and administer and manage a law enforcement program; plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and direct the investigative efforts of multiple field offices in a given geographical area; implement training programs; assist in the formulation of the program's policies; assist in administering specialized investigator training programs statewide; address boards and bureaus, general public and allied agencies regarding the Department's mission and purpose; utilize effective and contemporary methods of sound fiscal and personnel management; research, recommend and implement alternative organizational improvements.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to work in various locations throughout the State and at odd and irregular hours; keenness of observation; good memory for names, faces, places, and incidents; tact; willingness to associate with criminally inclined persons and environments; satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen; ability to work under stress and adverse conditions; and possession of a valid California driver's license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Special Physical Characteristics

All Levels:

Possession and maintenance of sufficient strength, endurance and agility necessary to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation; hearing, vision and color vision sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Citizenship Requirement

All Levels:

Existing law provides that peace officers be either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. citizenship at least one year prior to the final file date for this examination. The one-year requirement does not apply to permanent resident aliens who have applied for peace officer classes prior to their 19th birthday.

Minimum Age

All Levels:

Must meet minimum age requirement to be appointed as a California peace officer per the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and in accordance with existing law.

Felony Disqualifications

All Levels:

Existing law provides that persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers. Such persons are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class. In addition, use of "hard drugs" (e.g., heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogenics) at any time as an adult constitutes basis for disqualification from peace officer examinations.

Background Investigation and Psychological Screening

All Levels:

Pursuant to Government Code Sections 1031(a) and 8880.38 all persons successful in examinations for this class will be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.

Government Code Section 1031(f) and POST Regulation 1002(a) (7) requires psychological screening of applicants for peace officer classifications.

Class History