Investigative Assistant

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn!

To be included in the first round of application screening, submit your application by 5:00 pm on October 23, 2023.

Following this date, applications will be screened on a bi-weekly basis.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

To assist in conducting criminal and civil investigations, including alleged welfare and other fraud, check forgeries and other violations of laws and regulations; to perform routine and preliminary data collection, gathering of evidence, and investigative research; to perform a variety of clerical and related duties; and to assist in community outreach.

Positions in this classification are located in the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.

When assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, investigations focus on gathering evidence, interviewing and locating witnesses, forensic interviewing, crime scene investigations, and writing reports on findings for use in prosecution, or investigations of alleged welfare and other fraud, check forgeries and violations of welfare law and regulations.

When assigned to the Sheriff’s Office, investigations focus on gathering information and evidence, locating and interviewing victims and witnesses, recording statements, working closely with other law enforcement agencies, reviewing police reports, preparing court exhibits and/or testifying in court.

• Perform and assist in routine investigations of purported law violations including alleged violations of welfare law and regulations and the possibility of welfare fraud and check forgeries or in civil cases, conduct investigations of employee misconduct, tort claims, and citations.
• Perform early fraud and related investigations; conduct home visits to observe and look for irregularities and inconsistencies with applicants' documentation and statements or in civil cases, interview, by telephone or in person, complainants, dependents, and witnesses recording and documenting interviews.
• Perform investigations of missing persons and/or runaways; conduct home visits and interview family members.
• Research and collect required data and documentation for records and criminal case work; obtain court, law enforcement and other records; locate and interview witnesses, record statements, and collect and preserve evidence as directed.
• Receive fraud or employee misconduct complaints via the telephone and/or correspondence; request necessary information and documentation and complete appropriate paperwork/forms to initiate or document action taken.
• Review cases, case files, police reports, perform necessary follow-up and/or further investigation and make recommendations for appropriate action/disposition.
• Coordinate with attorneys and investigators in performing ongoing investigations of alleged violations of welfare laws and regulations, purported law violations, tort claims and litigation including service of subpoenas in non-confrontational circumstances.
• Maintain records of investigative and related activities; prepare reports, correspondence and recommendations as necessary and upon request.
• Conduct forensic interviews of children using an evidence-based protocol.
• Assist in community outreach efforts; update social media platforms.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Photograph and/or diagram crime scenes.
• Prepare court exhibits and/or testify in court.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Basic investigative techniques and procedures, including resources for locating people.
• Public assistance programs and eligibility requirements.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Basic accounting and mathematics.
• Basic criminal and civil law, civil process and procedures including rules of evidence.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; remember accounts given by witness; identify suspects; apply the law to field situations; observe while conducting surveillance; problem solve crime situations; and explain law to the public.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in a vehicle; walk, stand, bend, squat and kneel while retrieving files and documents; walk, stand, or climb stairs during field interviews, home visits or surveillance activities; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation. Use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means or retrieve information/data; see with sufficient acuity to observe subjects; hear and speak with sufficient acuity to interview and communicate with subjects, witnesses and other parties; and lift moderate weight.
• Learn the California statutory laws related to criminal or civil investigation, including welfare fraud investigation, arrest, custody, rules of evidence, search and seizure, interviewing and interrogation, and hearing and trial procedures.
• Learn modern police science, technology and investigative techniques.
• Learn to analyze and evaluate evidence.
• Understand complexities of civil law, public assistance programs and regulations.
• Compile oral and physical evidence.
• Establish rapport with and manage witnesses.
• Take detailed statements and affidavits.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain information through interview and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Work unusual and/or prolonged work schedules while conducting investigations.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, dictation machine, facsimile machine, postage meter and photocopy machine.
• Use tools and equipment used in investigation including flashlight, binoculars, camera, police radio, and tape recorder.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written forms.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Read and comprehend reports.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:
General

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.