State of Maryland

A Special Detective Investigator is the full-performance level of investigation work involving the identification and elimination of corruption within Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).   Employees in this classification are certified by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission as Police Officers to receive allegations and conduct confidential investigations of criminal activity and allegations of serious misconduct by DPSCS employees, inmates, and visitors with the cooperation with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Maryland Attorney General, and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. Employees in this classification are responsible for managing, overseeing and conducting criminal investigations for offenses that may have been committed against property owned and occupied by State or federal government. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Special Detective Lieutenant Investigator or other designated administrator.  Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages and may work a rotating shift, holidays and weekends.  Employees may be required to physically subdue and restrain those under investigation and must wear protective clothing such as gloves, helmets, riot or ballistic vests when the need arises.  Employees are exposed to crime scenes in which deceased persons, toxic or dangerous substances may be present.  The work will require the collection of evidence that may include searching hazardous environments such as dumpsters, landfills, garbage cans, etc.  Employees may be required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions.

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.

The Special Detective Investigator is differentiated from the Special Detective Investigator Lieutenant in that the Special Detective Investigator is certified by the State of Maryland as a Police Officer and performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the Special Detective Investigator Lieutenant is certified by the State of Maryland as a Police Officer and has supervisory responsibility for Special Detective Investigators.

Receives allegations and conducts confidential investigations of criminal activity and allegations of serious misconduct by DPSCS employees, inmates, visitors and others as directed;

Determines the scope, timing, and direction of investigations;

Interviews complainants, victims, witnesses and individuals under investigation using standard electronic recording equipment and /or notepad to gather information for investigations using approved and acceptable interview and interrogation methods in accordance with established procedures;

Identifies and collects physical evidence and reports information related to assigned investigations using standard evidence collection tools;

Completes required paperwork in order to store evidence in accordance with Internal Investigative Unit Property and Evidence Collection Policy and Procedures;

Composes complex criminal and administrative investigative reports that are clear, logical, impartial and properly documented, consistent with the mission of the DPSCS;

Serves subpoenas, summonses and other official documents;

Obtains and executes search and seizure and arrest warrants; and files charging documents consistent with established procedures;

Carries and maintains proficiency with firearms;

Makes arrests; 

Operates safely a State motor vehicle in the course of duties;

Presents clear and precise testimony in court and administrative hearing on all aspects of the assigned investigations in order to explain the results of the investigation in accordance with established procedures;

Meets training standards established by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission for Police  Officers to maintain certification, as well as advanced training in investigations techniques to enhance career development;

Initiates and maintains electronic surveillance on suspects for investigative purposes;

Gathers intelligence through contacts, suspects, informants or other means to further investigations;

Meets with and reviews investigations with local States Attorneys, U.S. Attorneys and Assistant Attorney Generals;

Meets with and discusses all investigations and possible and/or pending criminal cases with the DPSCS Attorney advisors;

Assists in developing anti-corruption programs through an interchange of information and cooperation such as the Drug Interdiction Program;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of State and federal criminal laws and departmental codes, regulations and policies;

Knowledge of Constitutional Law, Search and Seizure, and Laws Governing Detention and Arrest of individuals who violate the Law;

Knowledge of investigative practices, interview techniques and interrogation methods;

Knowledge of public safety and security operations, precautions and preventions associated with the protection of people, data and property;

Skill in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches and weighing the relative costs and benefits of a potential action;

Skill in observing and recalling incidents and details such as identity of persons, location of items, conversations and sequences of events and actions taken during the incident or investigation;

Skill in structuring or classifying multiple pieces of information obtained from various sources;

Ability to care for and use firearms;

Ability to utilize independent judgment of probable cause to decide when to make an arrest of an individual during the course of an investigation;

Ability to determine whether criminal charges should be filed following the completion of an investigation;

Ability to react quickly and calmly during emergency situations;

Ability to work with confidential informants;

Ability to work within a team setting;

Ability to testify in court and administrative hearings in order to explain the results of the investigation;

Ability to prepare clear, concise and accurate reports;

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

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

Experience: Two years of investigative work as an Internal Investigation Detective, Provisional or two years of comparable law enforcement investigative experience in a municipal, county, state or federal police agency.

Notes:

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

2. Candidates may substitute education at an accredited college or university at the rate of 60 credit hours, including at least 15 credit hours of criminal justice courses for up to one year of the required experience.

1. Candidates for this classification must possess and maintain a current Maryland certification as a Police Officer.

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

1. Employees must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Police Training Commission for Police Officers in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-207 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Selection standards for police officer training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 04, Chapter 01 and include the following: 

U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status
Must be at least 21 years of age
A complete background investigation
Oral interview
Physical examination
Polygraph and psychological evaluations.

2. Candidates for this classification will be given a medical examination to determine their ability to perform job-related functions.

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 call-in on a 24-hours a day basis and will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

5. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 06.01.09, 12.04.01 and Police Training Commission General Regulation .01-1, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

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 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 assigned to Bargaining Unit I- Sworn Police Officers classes.  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 the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.