Special Investigator - MCAT

Summary

Under general supervision and direction from the Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) Commander, serves as a Special Investigator specifically focused on border related crimes. The Special Investigator facilitates its entities, affiliates and external partners to further the mission of the Sheriff’s Office and the State of Arizona Local Border Support activities through partnerships, cooperative operations, strategic planning, and corroboration with federal, state, tribal and local entities to abate criminal organizations and operations directly relating to border-related criminal activity

The Sheriff's Office Special Investigator – MCAT is currently a temporary grant-funded position. This position will be required to pursue future grant opportunities in an effort keep the position funded. The Navajo County policy and procedures provides the following terms for grant-funded positions: Grant-funded positions: Grant-funded positions may be regular or temporary and may be full-time or part-time. These status issues will be determined individually with each position, based on terms specified in the grant. Regular full-time and eligible part-time grant-funded positions will have all of the same benefits as regular positions funded by the County. If the grant funding is canceled for any reason, the position is automatically eliminated and the employee is laid off. The layoff is effective no later than the date the grant funds are exhausted. Grant-funded positions may be classified or unclassified depending upon the appropriate criteria as stated in Section 1.53.

Essential Job Functions

(Essential function, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.)

• Responds to crime scenes; Assist with processing crime scenes and analyzed evidence; identifies and collects evidence; performs surveillance duties; completes detailed reports.
• Conduct criminal and civil investigations and follow-up work on assigned cases; coordinate with other investigators and law enforcement agencies; assist prosecutors with development of trial tactics and defense rebuttal evidence.
• Conduct investigations by interviewing witnesses, victims, family members and others; assured witnesses are protected as needed, and present in court as required.
• Perform investigative research to prepare cases for trial; anticipate probable defense strategies and prepare rebuttal evidence; documents case files and related reports.
• Prepare criminal and civil cases and testifies before the Grand Jury and at court proceedings; works with attorneys to prepare investigative information to support charges and trial strategy; prepares demonstrative exhibits and evidence for court proceedings.
• Prepares probable cause affidavits and criminal complaints; procures arrests and search warrants serve warrants and makes arrests.
• Prepares reports of findings, evidence, witness remarks, transcripts, and other pertinent information for solving and prosecuting crimes.
• Contacts and coordinates with other law enforcement and service agencies such as adult and juvenile jails, public defender’s office, justice courts, probation department, forest service, crime lab, public fiduciary, road yard, and emergency services; provide information at public meetings and works with volunteer fire departments, emergency medical service personnel, block watch programs and volunteers.
• Leads/mentors’ detectives and task force officers assigned to the Major Crimes Apprehension Team and criminal investigative units.
• Leads and trains detectives and task force officers with drug and human smuggling techniques and trends.
• Coordinates relevant training for drug sales, drug trafficking for Major Crimes Apprehension Team and local partners.
• Coordinates relevant training for high-risk investigation and apprehension operations for Major Crimes Apprehension Team, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and local partners.
• Prepares sensitive and high-profile command briefs, operational plans, and after-action reports.
• Provides expertise in drug sales and drug trafficking and serves as the subject matter expert in Drug Trafficking Organizations, Transnational Criminal Organizations, and Money Laundering Organizations.
• Provides investigative connections and links between criminal operations and criminal organizations.
• Serves as a direct partnering link with partner organizations; HIDTA, DEA, HSI, ICE, and all state and local partners.
• Conducts classes for schools and other organizations regarding drug awareness.
• Prepare and distribute crime bulletins, briefings, alerts and other reports as needed.
• Prepare periodic statistical reports. Assist in the preparation of presentations for internal and external use. May assist in the preparation of predictive reports based on historical crime data.
• Act as a liaison to other law enforcement agencies.
• Assists in completing various requests to support Patrol and Investigative efforts to include, but not limited to, searching social media, examining credit reporting data, researching open sources, examining mobile phone data, compiling photographic line-ups, performing rational analysis, and examining criminal history and DMV reports.
• Interprets crime report information from a variety of sources and makes connections and links between persons, property, situations, and modus operandi.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to effectively foster a collaborative work, network environment, and develop and maintain effective working relations with peers, clients, other agencies, contract providers, stakeholders, and partners.
• Ability to effectively work in a diverse collaborative team environment, while promoting service values.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively convey complex and technical information and training.
• Ability to protect the privacy and security of sensitive investigations and intelligence.
• Ability to exercise good judgement, maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to maintain significant trust and diplomacy is required, in addition to normal courtesy and tact. Work involves extensive personal contact with others and/or can be of a personal or sensitive nature. Work may involve motivating or influencing others. Outside contacts become important and fostering sound relationships with other entities both in organizations and individuals becomes necessary.
• Ability to work well independently, learn quickly and adjust to varying work assignment in response to system changes. Detail and accuracy oriented.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi-task environment, prioritizing tasks properly, and completing tasks/projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to interpret and submit for relevant local, state and federal grants or associated funding sources.
• Skill in conflict resolution, problem solving, and mediation practices.
• Skill in persuasive and motivational communications.
• Skill in the use of firearms, law enforcement vehicles for evasive driving, and communications equipment.
• Skill in maintaining accurate and timely documentation and records.
• Skill in effective communication, verbal and in writing.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.
• Skill in project management and fostering cooperative working environment.
• Knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods. Techniques and equipment.
• Knowledge of relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to law enforcement investigations.
• Knowledge of county roads and state routes.
• Knowledge of law enforcement investigative work.
• Knowledge of cartel based criminal organizations, procedures and trends.

Desirable Qualifications

Minimum of ten (10) years as a certified law enforcement officer, minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory or command level position at a law enforcement agency AND meet all Arizona POST requirements. Minimum of five (5) years of experience of exposure, investigation or expertise in border related criminal activity, drug trafficking, drug trafficking organizations, human trafficking operations and money laundering organizations. Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related field; AND Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in criminal justice system, or related field; OR an equivalent combination of directly related work experience and education may substitute for the degree requirements; AND a valid Arizona driver’s license.