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Interested in employment as an Investigative Unit Agent? If you are looking for an exciting career and a rewarding future in law enforcement with good benefits, 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.
If you think you have what it takes, the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) encourages you to proceed to the Application page to determine if this career is the right one for you.
If you determine that this is an ideal fit for you, the OIU would appreciate the opportunity to consider you for employment. Please review the information, fill out the necessary forms on the Application page, and mail them to AAIC Phillip Langston, Ohio Investigative Unit, 1970 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43223. If you have any questions, please call (614) 728-1233.
To be able to apply for the position of Enforcement Agent with the Investigative Unit you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
High school diploma or GED
Ohio Peace Officer Training Certified
Valid driver license
21 years of age at time of appointment
United States citizen
Ohio resident at time of appointment
Must pass department required physical exam including vision and hearing testing, as well as background check
Automatic disqualifier – a felony conviction
The applicant is required to participate in physical fitness testing. The applicant must successfully meet the minimum mandated Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission fitness testing entry standards for recruits. The fitness testing consists of performing a minimum number of push-ups in one minute, a minimum number of sit-ups in one minute and a 1.5 mile run in a maximum time limit. The test is age and gender based.
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.
New agents cannot receive a permanent appointment until they have satisfactorily completed basic police training as requested by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. All applicants must be certified through the Ohio Police Training Commission at their own expense.
In addition, agents will receive in-depth training in liquor and food stamp enforcement laws, regulations and investigative techniques.
The Investigative Unit has enforcement offices in Akron, Athens, Cincinnati, 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.
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.
The starting base pay for an enforcement agent is currently $21.12/hour, or $43,929.60 annually. Differential pay of $.75 per hour of shift 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.
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
Less than 4 years of service - 3.1 hrs. per pay/10 days
4 years or more - 4.6 hrs./15 days
9 years or more - 6.2 hrs./20 days
14 years or more - 6.9 hrs./22.5 days
19 years or more - 7.7 hrs./25 days
24 years or more - 9.2 hrs./30 days
Personal Days
32 hours per year - suspended until August 2011
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.