State of Maryland

A Natural Resources Cadet is the provisional level of work providing support and assistance to employees of the Natural Resources Police (NRP) or other units within the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) including Fisheries Services, Wildlife Services, Parks, or Forestry in preparation for entrance into the Natural Resources Police Academy and ultimately certification as a Natural Resources Police Officer.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a designated agency officer or other DNR administrator.  Employees may be required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions and may be exposed to toxic fumes and other hazards.  Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  Employees may be assigned to any area of the State for any function at any time.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by 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 the class specification.

Assists the NRP and other DNR Units with parks, public lands management, and enforcement related duties:

Works in an assigned area or unit with a Natural Resources Police Officer or other designated DNR employee;

Works with the Natural Resources Police Officers or other DNR employees on motor vehicles, or patrol boats and shares in the maintenance, upkeep and care of assigned equipment;

Compiles data, retains records and prepares reports on various activities;

Performs clerical duties;

Assists in the investigation of criminal activities;

Testifies at criminal trials of apprehended violators;

Enters data into and retrieves data from computers;

Performs public relations tasks;

Represents the NRP Cadet Program at various activities;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, and the general public;

Ability to learn, and interpret State laws and departmental regulations and how they affect various Units;

Ability to learn how law enforcement supports the overall provision of services to patrons of state lands, resources, users, and management of the resources under control of the Department;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to work in an organization requiring strict discipline;

Ability to learn to distinguish various makes and models of automobiles and motor trucks;

Ability to learn emergency law enforcement first aid.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

1. Candidates for this classification must be between 17 and 19 years of age to apply for the position, and between 18 and 20 years of age to be hired.

2. Some positions in this classification are assigned duties which will require the candidates to be examined by a Physician. After an offer of employment, candidates for such positions will be given a medical examination to certify the ability to perform the essential job functions. The examination may include strength and agility tests.

3. Candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an intensive background investigation, including fingerprint checks. An unsatisfactory reference check or police record may cause removal of the candidate’s name from the eligible list.

4. Candidates for positions in this classification must be citizens of the United States and establish residence in the State of Maryland prior to appointment.

5. Candidates for positions in this classification must have access to the use of a motor vehicle for official State business when deemed necessary by the agency.

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

7. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached. Employees must be available for duty on around-the-clock shifts and in emergencies.

8. 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.

9. Employees in this classification are subject to rotating assignments for a minimum of six months in any combination of DNR or NRP specific programs such as DNR Communications; Parks; Fisheries; Wildlife Forestry Service; NRP Academy; Headquarters; Investigations; Field Operations; or Maintenance and Supply.

10. Employees in this classification, upon reaching the age of twenty-one, and having served in the program for a minimum of six months, shall seek appointment to the next available NRP Academy class.  Natural Resources Cadets determined to be ineligible for appointment as an NRP Officer Candidate will be terminated from the Cadet Program.

Class Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel 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, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

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.