Duties | Training | Assignment | Public relations | Qualifications | Salary | Benefits | Apply

Interested in employment as an Investigative Unit Agent? Read the information below and when finished, if you meet these minimums and wish to apply, e-mail your full name, mailing address and phone number to the representative listed or contact the Investigative Unit at the phone number provided.  You will be sent an applicant packet.  If you return the completed packet you will be scheduled for the next examination.

If you are looking for an exciting career and a rewarding future in law enforcement with good benefits and limited travel, the Investigative Unit of the Ohio Department of Public Safety is looking for men and women to become undercover enforcement agents. Agents are trained as Ohio Peace Officers with statewide jurisdiction and selected federal authority to enforce both the civil and criminal laws.  

DUTIES
Investigative Unit agents are charged with enforcing Ohio's liquor laws, portions of the Ohio Revised Code and the regulations of the Liquor Control Commission. Special emphasis is placed on the sale to and consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 years of age.

Agents become involved in enforcement-related areas such as gambling, prostitution and narcotics while enforcing the Liquor Control Commission's regulations.

Agents enforce laws against the sale of tobacco products to those people under 18 years of age.

The Investigative Unit is the only state law enforcement entity dedicated solely to the prevention and detection of illegal use of food stamp benefits. Enforcement agents work with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to detect, investigate and prosecute those people improperly using these benefits.

Enforcement agents work undercover and must be adept at playing any role that will allow them to blend in with the clientele of the premises that is under investigation.

TRAINING
New agents cannot receive a permanent appointment until they have satisfactorily completed basic police training as requested by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council. This training will be provided by the department at no cost to the successful candidate.
OPOTA Physical Fitness Standards

Those who have previously received the required training must apply to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council for recertification. Additional training may be required for such certification. This training will be provided at no cost.

In addition, agents will receive in-depth training in liquor and food stamp enforcement laws, regulations and investigative techniques.

ASSIGNMENT
The Investigative Unit has enforcement offices in Akron, Athens, Middletown, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. The size of the area served by each of these offices varies according to the population and the number of liquor permit premises.

Applicants must agree to move their residence to the area where they are permanently assigned.

Agents will occasionally be assigned to areas away from their residence. These assignments will usually be for a short duration. The agent is reimbursed for lodging and meal costs during this time in accordance with the state travel policy and union contract.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Agents act as a liaison between the Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies across the state, cooperating and assisting in law enforcement activities. They serve as instructors at police schools and give speeches and lectures to schools and civic organizations as part of "The Sober Truth" program, Alcohol Server Education and the Speakers' Bureau.

QUALIFICATIONS
To be able to apply for the position of Enforcement Agent with the Investigative Unit you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

— 21 years old at the time of testing
— High school graduate or have obtained a GED
— Completion of undergraduate core program in criminology or related social or behavioral science -OR- completion of associate core program in criminal justice, criminology, police science, law enforcement or related field -OR- 18 months of sworn peace officer experience (3000 hours). Time in the U.S. military in a law enforcement position is recognized. The Attorney General’s office has advised that work as a corrections officer does not constitute law enforcement experience.
— One month’s experience in some form of public relations work
— Valid driver’s license
— Vision: If not already 20/20 must be corrected to 20/20 with some type of corrective lenses (can be no worse than 20/125 uncorrected in either eye). Moderate color vision is required. Vision Specialist Document (if applicable)
— Hearing: Uncorrected standard - must be able to perceive a stimulus within the frequency range of 500 (Hz) to 3000 (Hz) at a tone not to exceed 30 (db).

Automatic disqualifier – A felony conviction

SALARY
The starting base pay for an enforcement agent is currently $20.41/hour, or $42,453 per year. Sixty cents per hour of shift differential pay is added for hours worked between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Authorized overtime (over 40 hours/week) will be paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate. Agents may request pay or compensatory time for overtime hours.

BENEFITS
Sick Leave
80 hours each year, accumulative

Occupational Injury Leave
Each agent is entitled to a maximum of 1500 hours of occupational injury leave for any injury incurred while on duty.

Paid Vacation
10 days after 1 year of service
15 days after 5 years of service
20 days after 10 years of service
22.5 days after 15 years of service
25 days after 20 years of service
30 days after 25 years of service

Personal Days
32 hours per year

Holidays
10 paid holidays per year

Healthcare
Several group health plans are available. Cost is shared by the state. Dental and vision coverage is provided at no cost to the employee after one year of service.

Life Insurance
Provided after one year of state service at no cost to the employee. Double indemnity will apply for employees killed in the line of duty and for accidental death at any time.

Military Leave
Employees who are a member of reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States are entitled to a military leave of absence from their duties without loss of pay for field training or active pay for a period not to exceed 31 days in any calendar year. The maximum number of hours allowed is 176.

APPLY
To place your name on the Investigative Unit recruitment list via email, please click on the following name: Philip Langston or you may contact the Investigative Unit at (614) 728-1233.   Provide your name, home address and phone number. 

If you have what it takes, the Investigative Unit would appreciate the opportunity to consider you for employment.