Definition
A Background Investigator is a civilian employee who conducts and compiles personal and professional background investigations for public safety candidates by interviewing employers, co-workers, neighbors, law enforcement officials, military personnel, members of the candidate's family, and personal references; prepares reports on findings; makes recommendations as to background findings; and performs other related duties.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Direction is provided by the Sheriff’s Personnel Lieutenant. Responsibilities may include limited supervision of Sheriff’s Personnel Office Administrative staff.
Typical Duties
Reviews candidates’ completed background interview forms (e.g., City application, Personal History Statement, Release and Waiver, polygraph report) with each candidate to check for inconsistences, errors, omissions, falsifications and minimum requirements to ensure accuracy and completion before conducting the candidates’ background interview.
Obtains and reviews records (e.g., police department check, campus police check, driving record, Child Abuse Central Index, and Firearms Certification) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and State and Municipal law enforcement to determine if a candidate was a witness, victim, suspect or perpetrator of any crime.
Obtains and reviews arrest reports, witness statements, and other relevant documents from various agencies (e.g., police, military, courts, or campus police) to determine candidate compliance with POST requirements, and Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Investigation standards.
Obtains and analyzes reports from credit reporting agencies by checking for financial responsibilities such as collection accounts, past due accounts, charge offs, bankruptcy, and civil liens in order to evaluate candidate’s financial responsibility. Interviews candidates’ employers, co-workers, neighbors, law enforcement officials, military personnel, members of their family and personal references via phone, email, and in-person, to determine candidates’ character, honesty, work ethic, integrity, and assessing overall qualifications for the position.
Makes follow-up inquires to candidates’ personal and professional references via phone, email, and in-person to assist in determining credibility of candidates’ statements.
Observes each candidate during initial contact of a background investigation for the presence of physical indicators of intoxication and/or use of controlled substances.
Writes detailed and complete interview statements obtained from various sources (spouse/ex-spouse check, law enforcement references/checks, clarification interview summary) and completes interview forms (e.g., residence check and employment check) for each interviewee in order to allow a reviewer (e.g., Background Unit team leader, group supervisor, case manager, and hiring department representatives) to draw reasonable and logical conclusions about the candidates.
Completes final background investigation packages for presentation to supervisor and management by organizing all investigative material in a specific order in accordance with established background procedures and POST requirements.
Keeps an electronic log on an ongoing basis to track the progress of each investigation in order to keep management apprised of the status of investigations and identifying staff productivity.
Writes a final overall summary and recommendation based upon objective analysis and evaluation of the candidate’s complete background, including the Personal History Statement, interviewee statements, and all other information gathered in the investigation, as measured against background standards set forth by Sheriff’s Office standards for review by management.
Trains new Background Investigators in the techniques, concepts, and administrative procedures related to background investigations (e.g., interviewing techniques and requesting government records) to ensure the standardization and quality of all investigations.
May act as a lead to staff involved in the related duties of a Background Investigator (e.g., reviewing cases, case assignment, monitoring productivity, timekeeping, discipline, and performance evaluations).
Essential job duties may be assigned that are not listed above but are relative to this job classification.(Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.)
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications are used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license which are required and equivalent to the following.
Knowledge of:
Skill/Ability to:
Education:
Experience:
License or Certificate:
DESIRABLE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:
Supplemental Information
[Sheriff’s Background Investigator] Job Code: 002000, Res: 22-0270, Adopted/Approved: 03/29/2022
[Sheriff’s Background Investigator] Job Code: 002000, Res: 22-0779, Approved: 09/13/2022
Supplemental Information
Overtime Status: Eligible
Probation: Six (6) Months
BU: 03