Special Agent II

Section:                                  Gun Violence Section/Criminal Law Division

Class:                                      Special Agent II

Location:                                Harrisburg

Telework:                               Limited ad-hoc telework opportunities available with supervisor approval and based on business need.

Position Type:                       Full-time, Non-civil service, Union

Work Hours:                          8:30 – 5:00      

Salary Range:                        Starting salary of $74,255

Basic Function

The mission of the Statewide Gun Violence Section is to investigate and make arrests for straw purchases and illegal transfers of firearms by researching the origins of recovered crime guns. Agents in Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg, assist local departments in comprehensively tracing firearms and work jointly with the ATF to pursue gun trafficking organizations within Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. These cases are primarily prosecuted by District Attorneys but larger scale gun trafficking groups and organizations engaging in gun violence can be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney Generals as corrupt organizations cases.

This is criminal investigative work of a highly confidential nature involving the investigation of gun trafficking and violations of the Uniform Firearm Act; the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and other applicable Commonwealth laws and statutes.

Special Agents utilize the entire spectrum of investigative processes and procedures in the conduct of or in providing assistance with the conduct of criminal investigations ranging from routine to the most sensitive, complex, and difficult cases.  A Special Agent II may conduct an investigation independently or as a case agent coordinating the efforts of a team or as a team member and may provide direction and guidance to a less experienced agent.   Work is received from a supervisor who reviews the work product of the employee through written reports and conferences to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance to established policies and procedures and to evaluate the application and effectiveness of sound judgment.

A Special Agent II could perform the below duties independently.

• Utilizes various databases (Etrace and others) to research, recover, and share information involving firearms
• Conducts surveillance related to illicit gun trafficking and conducts outreach with Federal Firearms Dealers
• Examines or assists in the examination of financial records, accounting ledgers, and legal documents to detect and/or confirm illegal activity
• Collects, evaluates, develops, and prepares evidence for presentation for prosecution or provides assistance with these tasks
• Conducts or assists with the conduct of surveillance of individuals or locations
• Interviews or assists in the interviewing of witnesses and interrogation of subjects to ascertain information, evidence, and confessions
• Makes or assists in making arrests and executing searches pursuant to court-ordered warrants
• Participates in raids and undercover assignments
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of criminal complaints and search warrants
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of written summary reports of investigative activities and detailed reports of investigations setting forth allegations and evidence
• Collects, prepares, and submits evidence for laboratory analysis or provides assistance with this task
• Appears in court before a district justice or a statewide investigating grand jury to present testimony and evidence as a prosecution witness and may serve as the prosecution officer at the district justice level
• Is required to qualify with an approved firearm at predetermined intervals
• Assists with and/or provides information for the preparation of press releases
• May be required to use a firearm in self-defense, the defense of fellow agents, the public, or to prevent the commission of felonious crimes

In addition to the below qualifications, applicants must have Act 120 certification, certification from an Act 120 equivalent training program as determined by the Office of Attorney General, or have successfully completed the Commonwealth Investigators Training Program.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate’s degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and four years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and two years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Police Administration, or a related major specific to the criminal investigative field, or a technical or specialized major related to a specific position, and one year of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
• Six years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
• Four years of active duty military experience with honorable discharge, and two years of relevant law enforcement or investigative experience, or experience in a technical or specialized field related to a specific position OR
• Six years of active duty military experience with honorable discharge including two years as a Military Police Officer with the Criminal Investigations Division or a relevant Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) OR
• Any equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and training