Law Enforcement Special Agent

Duties

Major Work Duties

• Independently conducts, resolves, and closes investigations and other inquires in accordance with training, legal standards, and OSBI policy by compiling, analyzing, and evaluating all information obtained through legal channels and OSBI interview and interrogation practices; properly preparing and presenting cases for prosecutorial review and court; demonstrating the ability to conduct and manage several investigations simultaneously by serving as case agent and coordinating the activities of others involved in the investigation.
• Collects and preserves and/or supervises the collection and preservation of evidence in accordance with legal standards and OSBI policy, while demonstrating the ability to properly photograph and sketch crime scenes and properly document, collect, mark, preserve, transport, and submit evidence.
• Writes investigative reports, prosecutorial reports, intelligence reports, and other memoranda, correspondence, and special reports that provide a detailed, organized account of investigative activity. These reports shall be written in the OSBI Investigative Case Management System in compliance with the OSBI Report Writing Manual and ICMS procedures.
• Court Room Testimony: if required to testify, the agent will provide accurate and clear testimony in court in accordance with OSBI practices and training. The agent shall arrive at court on time, wear proper court attire, and may provide witness critique forms to the judges and attorneys for each testimony provided.
• Successfully meets all training requirements mandated by the State of Oklahoma, including (but not limited to) qualifying with all issued and approved firearms in accordance with OSBI policy; successful completion of CLEET mandated continuing education training each calendar year; and successful completion of any training courses(s) assigned; provides training to other OSBI employees and outside agencies.

Typical Functions

• Investigates violations of criminal law including major crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, larceny, fraud, forgery, embezzlement, auto theft, oil field theft, computer crimes, threats against public officials, and any other assigned criminal investigation; conducts background investigations of applicants and gubernatorial or judicial appointees; documents all investigative activities.
• Preserves and protects crime scenes; gathers and analyzes information; interviews witnesses; interrogates suspects; makes arrests, collects materials, substances, and other physical evidence, including blood stains, hair, fiber, fingerprints; records and photographs scenes; analyzes electronic information; arranges for scientific testing and analysis as needed.
• Plans, directs and executes complex covert investigations, raids and surveillance operations; installs, operates and monitors highly complex electronic and aerial surveillance equipment; operates computers and computer software to extract, secure and analyze electronic data.
• Prepares detailed investigative prosecutorial reports; consults with prosecutors in filing charges; prepares, obtains and executes court orders for use in criminal investigations, including subpoenas, search warrants, arrest warrants, affidavits, and prepares court orders; testifies in criminal proceedings as a witness and as an expert witness in complex investigations; assists grand juries by serving subpoenas and assembling witnesses.
• Researches and develops continuing in-service training; studies professional literature related to new investigative techniques and procedures; studies legal materials related to court decisions and state and federal laws; may participate as an instructor in providing law enforcement training for the Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training or for other law enforcement officers or agencies.
• Researches and develops technical investigative programs to aid in conducting investigations or other work; researches and identifies criminal conspiracies by gathering and analyzing information maintained within various computer data systems and networks.
• Commands, directs and/or participates in multi-jurisdictional and/or multi-agency task force operations through coordination, research, staffing, planning, execution, and evaluation of complex law enforcement operations.
• Coordinates compliance and needs assessment, recommends modification or development of policies or procedures for the delivery of effective services to other law enforcement, governmental entities and the public.
• Oversees the overall operational effectiveness of assigned area of responsibility, monitors and evaluates ongoing assignments and programs, develops statewide strategic operational plans through the analysis and evaluation of current law enforcement operations and advanced criminal investigative tactics and trends.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Level I: Education and Experience requirements at this level are those contained in Title 74 O.S. Section 150.8A: “An Agent, at the time of appointment to the Bureau, shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and shall possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university" and two years of law enforcement experience with a governmental law enforcement agency and must be a certified CLEET peace officer or possess a certification by reciprocity agreement from another state; or a current employee of the OSBI with two years’ experience with the agency.
• Level II: Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level I plus one year of professional experience in conducting criminal investigations for a governmental law enforcement agency.
• Level III: Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II plus two additional years of qualifying experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

• Level I: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of modern criminal investigative techniques; Oklahoma criminal law pertaining to crime, search and seizure, arrest, and rules of evidence; recent court decisions affecting law enforcement; public relations pertaining to investigative activities; of basic math; basic English, grammar, and sentence structure; accounting and business records; and basic elements of computers and usage of computer software. Ability is required to conduct several investigations simultaneously; to present clear and accurate court testimony; to maintain undercover identity while preserving integrity; to maintain a chain of control over evidence collected; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to organize and present facts and opinions in a concise and objective manner; and to operate computers and computer software.
• Level II: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus knowledge of the use of electronic surveillance devices; of the use of deadly force and less-than-lethal force; of firearms safety practices and training methods; of forensic laboratory and agency capabilities; and of crime scene processing and proper evidence handling. Ability is required to gather and analyze evidence; to conduct interviews and interrogations; to install, operate and monitor electronic surveillance and other equipment; and to apply knowledge acquired through training.
• Level III: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level II plus the ability to train and coordinate the activities of investigative personnel; and to coordinate statewide or multi-county task force investigations.

Special Requirements

• Applicants must possess the ability and willingness to perform job-related travel; willingness to carry a firearm and use deadly force or less-than-lethal force as required; have and maintain physical and mental stamina to perform the work and willingness to accept the physical discomforts or dangers inherent in the work; ability to successfully complete any necessary training and certification required by the agency; be willing to be on call twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week; be willing to travel frequently and be away from home for extended periods of time; be willing to transfer where and when needed and to accept assignments anywhere in the state; pass a thorough character and background investigation; and successfully pass a polygraph examination, a drug screen, and a psychological evaluation. Subsequent to an offer of employment, may be required by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System and/or by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to satisfy medical examination and/or physical fitness testing standards or requirements.
• The federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 contained an amendment of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. This amendment addresses misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Applicants must be able to satisfy the limitations contained in this federal law.
• Some positions may require possession of education/experience/training as required by current Oklahoma Statutes or approved selective qualifications.
• Qualifying criminal investigative experience gained while in the military must have been in the GS-1811 series.
• The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has determined that some positions in this job family are safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.
• Successful applicants must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation. Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames.

Do you have the Education Required? See available on-line and campus-based degree programs now!