Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential. Our mission is to promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life; to provide effective and efficient government our citizens can trust; and to deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

Performs specialized law enforcement work investigating suspected arson cases and related criminal offenses.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Investigates suspected arson cases and related offenses; examines scene of crime to determine exact nature of law violations; makes preliminary investigation involving the interrogation of suspects and witnesses for information purposes.
• Makes a detailed search and analysis of the crime scene using various technical procedures associated with arson investigations.
• Apprehends arson suspects, conducts interrogation of suspects to determine further disposition depending on confession of statement of suspect; books suspects according to evidence obtained, and accompanies suspect before a magistrate.
• Investigates and compares possible motive of crime to others of similar nature; reviews files and current bulletins published by Federal and State Bureaus of Investigation; obtains cooperation from other law enforcement agencies as to their records, files and related assistance.
• Maintains security at scenes of major fires until investigation of fire’s origin is complete; works closely with local, state and federal officials, fire officials, insurance company investigators and medical examiners in the investigation of suspicious fires; maintains records and reports associated with fire investigations.
• Presents testimony in court concerning investigative results and evidence obtained.
• Writes preliminary report on each case after initial investigation and adds supplemental reports as case progresses.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Experience in law enforcement work including some investigative experience, preferable involving suspected arson cases.  Graduation from high school; or an equivalent combination of experience and training.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Certification as a law enforcement officer in accordance with the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training and Standards Commission.  Certification in basic arson investigation.  Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Considerable knowledge of modern criminal investigative practices and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of the standard practices, procedures, methods, materials, techniques and equipment associated with arson investigation.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and characteristics of fire travel and patterns.
• Considerable knowledge of the geographical layout of the county.
• Skill in determining facts and gathering evidence associated with suspected arson cases.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action.
• Ability to make observations and remember names, faces, and various details.
• Ability to apply interpretations of laws to specific situations.
• Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to present court testimony effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED

TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements:  Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, typewriters, copiers, facsimile machines, firearms, restraint devices, nightsticks, cameras, two-way radios, etc.  Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle.  Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 25 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Work may involve walking, standing, running and physical confrontation.  Physical demand requirements are for Heavy Work.

Data Conception:  Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication:  Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information.  Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.

Language Ability:  Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, legal documents, etc.  Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, records, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.  Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence:  Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatical form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude:  Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical and professional languages, including legal, law enforcement, medical and insurance industry terminology, and emergency response codes.

Numerical Aptitude:  Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude:  Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination:  Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using law enforcement equipment.

Manual Dexterity:  Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment.  Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination:  Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament:  Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.  Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Physical Communication:  Requires the ability to talk and hear; (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words.  Hearing:  perceiving nature of sounds by ear.)  Must be able to communicate via a telephone and two-way radio.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition the Agency expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.