Description​

This is a series specification that describes two Agent classes used to perform investigative work performed by Agents at the entry/training to journey, and full journey levels throughout the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Agents have full peace officer powers pursuant to Penal Code Section 830.2 to investigate alleged violations of alcoholic beverage related laws and rules and any provisions of law throughout the State. Agents perform the full range of peace officer duties and responsibilities in the accomplishment of their assignments and provide technical assistance and training to local and State law enforcement.

Agents of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control focus on criminal activity in and around locations where alcoholic beverages are sold, served, or consumed. Agents conduct both undercover and high-profile criminal investigations involving violations of all Federal and State laws and local municipal codes. Agents regularly conduct or participate in the most difficult and sensitive enforcement investigations involving vice, gambling, human trafficking, narcotics, receiving stolen property, or similar activities normally associated with organized crime and commercial bribery. Agents conduct long-term criminal and administrative investigations and adapt to unforeseen circumstances by responding to misdemeanor and felony crimes in progress. Agents work independently but are also called upon to assist and train allied law enforcement. While affecting arrests, Agents are oftentimes required to use reasonable force to overcome resistance from suspects. Agents often work in high crime areas during late night hours, weekends, and holidays. Agents write, secure, and serve arrest and search warrants. Agents investigate complaints received from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, the public, governmental agencies, law enforcement, and public officials. Agents locate and interview suspects and witnesses and analyze and evaluate their testimony; collect and preserve evidence; examine a variety of records; gather, assemble, preserve, and report facts, statements, or affidavits and other evidence for use in legal actions; appear as witnesses, and arrange for the appearance of other witnesses, to present testimony in criminal court or administrative hearings; serve legal papers; interpret and explain the provisions of the laws, rules, and regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, and Vehicle Code; maintain liaison with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; prepare detailed and comprehensive arrest and investigative reports; and may develop program investigation expertise. Agents are designated second responders by the State of California for deployment to areas or situations of a dangerous or catastrophic nature; and perform other related duties.

Agent Trainee, Alcoh​​olic Beverage Control

The Agent Trainee is an entry/training level class. Under close supervision, the incumbent learns investigative techniques and procedures, including application of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws, rules, and regulations, by assisting Agents in conducting routine investigations of criminal and/or administrative violations committed on or about alcoholic beverage control licensed premises by licensees, their employees, and/or members of the general public. Responsibilities include assisting in locating and interviewing witnesses and persons suspected of violations; and collecting and preserving evidence to support administrative action and/or prosecution.

Agent, Alcoholic Beverage Con​​​trol

The Agent, is a deep class with two alternate ranges. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, conducting independent investigations of criminal and/or administrative violations committed on or about alcoholic beverage control licensed premises by licensees, their employees, and/or members of the general public; and interpreting and explaining the provisions of the laws, rules, and regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, and Vehicle Code.

Agents at entry/training to journey level conduct independent investigations of criminal and/or administrative violations committed on or about alcoholic beverage control licensed premises by licensees, their employees, and/or members of the general public; locate and interview witnesses and persons suspected of violations; collect and preserve evidence to support administrative action and/or prosecution; determine type of case and develop investigation plan; prepare clear, concise, and accurate documents and reports detailing investigation activities and findings; maintain accurate master investigation case files; develop field operation plans, and safely executing them; perform undercover assignments and surveillance operations; conduct undercover and high-profile criminal investigations; and write, secure, and serve arrest and search warrants; provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies and others; make physical arrests; maintain liaison with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; and testify in criminal court and/or administrative hearings.

Agents at full journey level conduct or participate in the most difficult and sensitive investigations. In addition to all of the above, investigations include, but are not limited to, vice, gambling, human trafficking, narcotics, receiving stolen property, or similar activities normally associated with organized and street-level crime; act as lead in long-term criminal and administrative investigations; and coordinates and directs resources and the activities of lower-level agents and allied law enforcement representatives. Incumbents exercise wide discretion and independence of action while consulting, training, and maintaining liaison with allied law enforcement personnel; and develop program and investigative policies for Department-wide use.

Training Requirements: Under provisions of Penal Code Section 832, after appointment incumbents must successfully complete a California Peace Officers Standards and Training approved academy, or possess a California Peace Officers Standards and Training Basic Certificate or equivalent, as well as successful completion of the Department's Field Training Officer Program.

Minimum Qualifications

Must meet the peace officer selection standards developed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training per Penal Code section 13510(a) and in accordance with existing law. Applicants may be admitted to the examination without meeting the POST peace officer selection standards, but must meet the POST peace officer selection standards prior to appointment; and

Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug screening test prior to appointment; and

Firearm Conviction Disqualification: Anyone who is restricted for employment-related purposes from accessing, possessing, carrying, receiving, or having under their control a firearm or ammunition under all applicable State or Federal laws is ineligible for appointment to any position in peace officer classifications; and

Firearms Requirement: Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in the amended Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 are disqualified from appointment to peace officer classifications; and

Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade [U.S. high school diploma, high school equivalency (GED), or California High School Proficiency Exam]; and

Agent Traine​​e, Alcoholic Beverage Control

Either ​​​I

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college (60 semester units) with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, administration of justice, or police science. (Students who have completed at least 30 semester units will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of completion of the required 60 semester units before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or ​​II

Experience: Two years of active duty military service while in the United States Armed Forces performing law enforcement and/or directly associated security functions with an honorable discharge for said service.

Or II​​I

​Experience: Graduation from a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy or equivalent.

Age​​nt, Alcoholic Beverage Control

Eithe​​​r I​

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing duties of an Agent Trainee, Alcoholic Beverage Control, or at a comparable level performing investigative duties. (Applicants who are within six months of satisfying the experience requirement for this pattern will be admitted into the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of experience in the class before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II​

​Experience: Two years of experience as a peace officer (as defined in the California Penal Code Section 830 et. seq. or equivalent Federal or out-of-State law enforcement) performing patrol or investigative work.

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O​r III

​Experience: Three years of active-duty military service in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge for said service. Applicants who are within six months of satisfying the experience requirement for this pattern will be admitted into the examination, but they must be honorably discharged before they can be considered eligible for appointment. Academic education from an accredited college/university may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

The above patterns may be combined on a proportional basis to meet the total experience requirements.

Knowledge and Abilities

Agent T​rai​​nee, Alcoholic ​​​Beverage Control

​Knowledg of: Investigation techniques and procedures; rules of evidence and court procedures; laws of arrest, search and seizure; legal rights of citizens; service of legal process; and knowledge of the Alcoholic Beverage Control and related statutes and regulations.

Ability to: Interpret and apply laws and regulations to specific situations; gather and analyze facts and evidence; reason logically, draw valid conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations; communicate effectively; prepare written documents and accurate detailed investigation reports clearly and concisely; follow written and oral instructions; participate effectively in investigations and interviews; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Federal, State, local law enforcement agencies, and others.

Agent,​ Alcoholic Beverage Control

​Knowledge of: All of the above, and investigation techniques and procedures; interviewing techniques, rules of evidence and court procedures; laws of arrest, search and seizure; legal rights of citizens; service of legal process; communication and active listening skills; behaviors indicative of potential hostility; techniques for effective interaction with diverse communities; how to approach problems with cultural awareness and sensitivity; cultural differences and similarities; implicit and explicit biases; community engagement and strategies and the benefits of effective community engagement; reporting obligations when biased behavior or misconduct is observed; characteristics protected under the Racial and Identity Profiling Act; knowledge of the Alcoholic Beverage Control and related statutes and regulations; duties of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; and provisions of the laws, rules, or regulations enforced or administered.

Ability to: All of the above, and interpret and apply laws and regulations to specific situations; gather and analyze facts and evidence; reason logically, draw valid conclusions, analyze situations accurately, think and act quickly in emergencies, and take an immediate and effective course of action; develop, organize, prioritize, and manage multiple case investigations, work plans, and other assignments or tasks; make appropriate recommendations; communicate effectively; prepare written documents and accurate detailed investigation reports clearly and concisely; follow written and oral instructions; participate effectively in investigations and interviews; be open-minded, flexible, and willing to learn and understand other cultures; seek clarifying questions to get a better understanding of the issue(s); maintain neutrality; identify effective ways to communicate and/or provide support; work cooperatively with various cultural backgrounds and others in the community; defuse, negotiate, and resolve conflicts; recognize and respect diversity through words and actions; have social and cultural perceptiveness; effectively investigate allegations of misconduct pursuant to departmental policy; treat all people with respect and in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner; review and evaluate the work of others; provide guidance and constructive feedback; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Federal, State, local law enforcement agencies, and others.

Skill to: Perform investigatory work; and plan, organize, and direct investigations.

Special Personal Characteristics

​Aptitude for investigation work; be flexible; willingness as a learner to do routine or detailed work in order to learn the practical application of investigative principles; willingness to travel throughout the state of California; willingness to work away from home for extended periods of time; willingness to work long, irregular, and unusual hours as required; willingness to work weekends, evenings, nights, and holidays as required; willingness to associate with criminally-inclined persons; keenness of observation; good memory for names, faces, places, and incidents; tact; reliability; emotional stability and maturity; satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen; demonstrated capacity for development as evidenced by work history, academic attainment, participation in school, or other activities or by well-defined occupational or vocational interests; 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.

All employees shall have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.

Class History