Now Recruiting For

Virginia Conservation Police Officers

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is currently conducting a recruitment effort to hire multiple conservation police officers to be assigned to various duty stations across the Commonwealth. Virginia Conservation Police officers (CPOs) have full police authority with statewide jurisdiction. CPOs primarily enforce the fish, wildlife, and boating laws while patrolling their areas of assignment using 4×4 police vehicles, boats of all sizes, mountain bikes, and ATVs.

Applicants for the position of Conservation Police Officer must possess a high-school diploma or GED equivalent and be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire. Experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is essential. Additionally, applicants must have a safe driving history and possess or be eligible for a valid Virginia driver's license. Applicants that have a strong interest in hunting, fishing and boating are encouraged to apply. For more information on the qualifications needed to become a CPO, see below or our Recruiting page.

Applications accepted until 11:59 PM, July 5, 2017.

Qualifications

  • Applicants must be willing to work rotating schedules, weekends, and holidays. Applicants must be a US Citizen and must be 21 years old by the conclusion of the CPO Basic Enforcement Law Academy. Applicants will not be considered if any of the following applies:( dishonorable discharge from any of the United States Armed Forces, felony conviction, misdemeanor conviction involving domestic violence, perjury, false statement, or larceny, illegal use of Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance within past 5 years, illegal use of any drug, including marijuana within the past 12 months, DUI/BUI conviction within the last 5 years, conviction of eluding police, and conviction for leaving the scene of an accident/failure to report an accident in last 5 years.)
  • Demonstrated ability to meet the physical demands of the job, to plan and perform enforcement and educational activities, conduct thorough investigations; collect and preserve evidence; provide legally relevant courtroom testimony, understand laws and regulations, comply with agency and division policy and procedures, effect a forcible arrest, to communicate effectively in an inclusive and diverse work environment; work cooperatively with agency staff; and interact courteously and tactfully with the public. Demonstrated knowledge of personal computers and software such as Microsoft Office Suite. A high school diploma, GED or equivalent; possession of a valid driver's license and a safe driving history. At least 20/100 binocular vision, correctable to 20/20 with no job-related color deficiency; ability to hear or correctable to normal frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 hertz at a pure tone level of 25 decibels or less and no greater than 45 decibels at 4000 and 6000 hertz as verified by an audiometer test.
  • Medical, psychological, and polygraph examinations will be conducted as a part of the selection process. Additionally, candidates for employment must be able to successfully complete a background investigation that will include educational achievements, prior work experience, character and reputation, credit history, and a finger-print based criminal history record check. Successful applicants will receive basic training at department expense subject to the provisions of a tuition reimbursement agreement. Successful completion of basic training is necessary to meet law enforcement standards established in the Code of Virginia.
  • Selected candidates will be required to successfully complete a minimum one-year probationary employment during which they must demonstrate a working knowledge of criminal laws, rules of evidence, lawful search and seizure, court rulings, opinions of the Attorney General, and law enforcement practices as they apply to the enforcement of fish, wildlife and boat laws and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Associate Degree or higher in Criminal Justice, Criminology, or other job related wildlife law enforcement field;
  • current Virginia DCJS Law Enforcement certification;
  • Current licensure with regards to fishing, hunting, and boating; (Licensure information must be listed on the application)
  • Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)
  • Bi-lingual is a plus
  • Relevant work experience, which may include law enforcement, correctional officer, deputy sheriff, armed security personnel and/or natural resource/wildlife management.

Expected Hiring Salary Range

Minimum Salary: $41,814

Duty Stations

Region I

  • Accomack
  • Dinwiddie
  • Greensville
  • Northampton

Region II

  • Amelia
  • Bedford
  • Brunswick
  • Charlotte
  • Halifax
  • Henry
  • Franklin
  • Lunenburg

Region III

  • Bland

Region IV

  • Albemarle
  • Alleghany
  • Caroline
  • Clarke
  • Culpeper
  • Fauquier
  • Frederick
  • Goochland
  • Greene
  • Page
  • Shenandoah
  • Warren

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