State of Maryland

A Natural Resources Police Officer is the trainee level of law enforcement work in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) learning to enforce State and federal laws and departmental rules and regulations as they apply to conservation, boating, DNR managed lands, criminal, civil and traffic violations. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees receive close supervision from a Natural Resources Police Officer Sergeant or other higher ranking officer. Employees are subject to call-in 24 hours a day during emergencies and staffing shortages and work varying shifts. Employees are required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions and may be exposed to toxic fumes and other hazards. The work may involve lifting objects weighing fifty pounds or more, climbing, crouching, crawling, walking and running.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

The Natural Resources Police Officer and the Natural Resources Police Officer First Class are differentiated in that the Natural Resources Police Officer attends the Natural Resources Police Training Academy and learns to assume more responsibility in the performance of work under close supervision, and the Natural Resources Police Officer First Class performs the full range of duties with complete independence

Learns to enforce conservation, criminal, civil, boating and traffic laws, rules and regulations;

Learns to perform patrol duties on foot and in motor vehicles and marine vessels;

Learns to issue warnings, citations and summonses, and make arrests;

Learns to investigate accidents and criminal acts;

Learns to prepare clear and accurate reports in accordance with agency guidelines;

Responds to complaints and emergencies;

Learns to render first aid; Learns to collect and preserve evidence;

Assists in the preparation of cases for judicial proceedings;

Testifies in judicial proceedings;

Learns to operate agency vessels, vehicles or other equipment in accordance with laws, agency rules and policies;

Assists in agency public relations activities;

Learns to conduct routine inspections;

Learns to identify wildlife and marine species and habitats;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn conservation, criminal, civil, boating and traffic laws of Maryland;

Ability to learn investigative techniques;

Ability to learn agency policies, rules and regulations concerning natural resources police duties;

Ability to learn to care for and use firearms;

Ability to learn to care for and use vehicles, vessels and any other agency equipment;

Ability to respond to the public in an effective and tactful manner;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to learn to prepare clear and accurate reports;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to react quickly and calmly during emergencies;

Ability to endure vigorous physical activity;

Ability to learn natural resources management principles, practices and methodology;

Ability to learn to identify marine and wildlife species and habitats;

Ability to learn to administer first aid.

Education: High School diploma or G.E.D. certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission regulation.

Experience: None.

Note: The above educational requirement is set by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Section 3-207.

1. Employees in this classification must complete and successfully pass the Entrance Level Police Training Course required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission and the Maryland Natural Resources Police within one year of the date of employment.

2. Employees in this classification will be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle and will be required to possess a motor operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Selection standards for police officer certification are established by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Section 3-207. These selection criteria are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations 12.04.01.04 and include the following: U.S. Citizenship Must be at least 21 years of age A completed background investigation, including a check of criminal history Oral interview and truth verification device testing Physical and psychological examination following offer of employment.

2. Employees are subject to call-in 24-hours a day and, therefore, will be required to provide the employer with a phone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification will be required to bear firearms and to demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations, 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

5. Employees in this classification are subject to assignment in any area of the State.

6. Employees in this classification will serve a two-year probation period.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a skilled service classification in the State Personnel and Management System. All positions in this classification are skilled service positions. Some positions in skilled service classifications may be designated special appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405.

This classification is assigned to bargaining unit I, Sworn Police Classes.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1.) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2.) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3.) meet the minimum qualifications of the class.