Conservation Officer

Become a Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer

Conservation officers (COs) are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As a licensed peace officer, conservation officers enforce laws related to fish and wildlife, state parks, trails, forests, waters and wetlands. They also perform public relations and education duties throughout the state.

Conservation Officer Work

DNR conservation officer positions exist to provide public safety, resource and recreation protection response to DNR field operations, including fish, wildlife, recreation, commercial, water and wetlands, environmental crime, state parks and trails, according to applicable statutes, regulations and policies.

Conservation officer work involves:

Law enforcement: COs enforce all authorized statutes and regulations; enforce all authorized recreational, environmental and emerging issues statutes and regulations; identify needs, develop methods and implement plans to detect violations; investigate complaints; process criminal violations and arrest violators; seize and preserve evidence; and conduct audits of natural-resource licensed commercial operations.

Safety and adult training: COs support hunter and recreational vehicle safety training courses, recruiting and maintaining a volunteer instructor pool, providing required training aids and assuring classes are scheduled.

Public relations: COs communicate DNR goals to the public by personal contact or actively seeking media and speaking opportunities, and provide assistance with injured or nuisance animals.

Cooperative relationships: COs maintain working relationships with other DNR units and all law enforcement and other related agencies.

Administration and reporting: COs work out of their homes and prepare and submit reports on their work.

Hiring and Training Process

The hiring and training process has several steps, including a written examination, division interview, background investigation, pre-work screening (functional capacity exam), psychological assessment and medical evaluation. Successful candidates are hired and placed in academic and field training during which time they are trained on the specific job tasks of a conservation officer for a period of approximately six months.

Qualifications

A conservation officer must:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Have skill in performing peace officer duties
• Have good reading comprehension, oral and written communications skills
• Be knowledgeable about fish and wildlife identification, habitat and other related environmental sciences
• Have ability to perform the job in adverse weather and other environmental conditions; observe and record information; read, analyze, interpret and communicate information; detect and analyze information based on sight, smell and/or taste, etc.
• Not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the performance of job duties and responsibilities
• Have no felony conviction in Minnesota or a crime in any other state or federal jurisdiction that would have been a felony if committed in Minnesota
• Have no other criminal convictions involving serious natural resource violations, crimes involving moral turpitude, or two or more alcohol-related driving violations for the past ten years
• Have no DWI, reckless or careless driving, or other serious driving violations within the last five years
• Possess a valid Minnesota peace officer's license; be eligible to be licensed by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (POST); or complete basic police training and be certified as a full-time peace officer in a state or federal law enforcement agency with which Minnesota has reciprocity and pass the POST Board reciprocity exam.

The 2008 Peace Officer Licensing Exam schedule is:

• February 15, 2008 (Deadline - February 1,2008)
• April 18, 2008 (Deadline - April 4, 2008)
• June 19 & 20, 2008 (Deadline - June 6, 2008)
• August 14 & 15, 2008 (Deadline - August 1, 2008)
• October 17, 2008 (Deadline - October 3, 2008)
• December 10, 2008 (Deadline - December 5 2008)

[Note: Questions concerning peace officer license requirements should be directed to the POST Board at 651-643-3060 or Official Site for the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training . For a list of educational institutions in Minnesota where you can pursue a Peace Officer Certificate see the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Web site . Other questions should be directed to Ray Romero, Division of Enforcement Recruiter at ray.romero@dnr.state.mn.us.]

Criteria for Rejection as a State Conservation Officer Applicant

The following criteria provides the basis for rejection as a Minnesota Conservation Officer. In addition, deliberate misrepresentation or failure to disclose information can and often will result in your rejection or termination if discovered after hiring

• Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, or a crime in any other state or federal jurisdiction that would constitute a felony or gross misdemeanor if committed in Minnesota, including a finding or verdict of guilt, whether or not the adjudication of guilt is withheld or not entered, an admission of guilt or no contest.
• Conviction of a state or federal narcotics or controlled substance law irrespective of any proceedings under Minnesota Statutes, section 152.18, or any similar law of another state or federal law.
• Conviction of, including a finding or verdict of guilt, whether or not the adjudication of guilt is withheld or not entered, an admission of guilt, or a no contest plea or a violation of Minnesota Statutes, or any similar law of another state or federal law:
  1. Assault in the fifth degree, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.224;
  2. Domestic assault, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.2242;
  3. Violation of an Order for Protection, Minnesota Statutes, section 518B.01(14);
  4. Mistreatment of persons confined, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.23;
  5. Mistreatment of residents or patients, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.231;
  6. Criminal abuse, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.2325;
  7. Criminal neglect, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.233;
  8. Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.2335;
  9. Failure to make a required report regarding vulnerable adults, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.234;
  10. Criminal sexual conduct in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, degrees, Minnesota Statutes, sections 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451;
  11. Misconduct of a public officer or employee, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.43;
  12. Presenting false claims to a public officer or body, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.465;
  13. Medical assistance fraud, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.466;
  14. Theft, Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.52;
  15. Receiving stolen property, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.53;
  16. Maltreatment of vulnerable adults, Minnesota Statutes, section 626.557;
  17. Disorderly conduct –caregiver against a vulnerable adult, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.72(3);
  18. Violation of Restraining Order, Minnesota Statutes, section 609.748(6).
• Evidence that the applicant has misrepresented or falsified any information to the Department of Natural Resources.
• Conviction of solicitation, inducement, or promotion of prostitution in violation of Minnesota Statutes, section 609.322, or any conviction under Minnesota Statutes, section 609.324, or being convicted of similar offenses in another state or federal jurisdiction.
• Having engaged in sexual harassment, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 363A.03(43).
• Registration as a predatory offender under Minnesota Statutes, section 243.166 or 243.167.
• Conviction of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle Minnesota Statute 609.487.
• Conviction of obstruction of the legal process, arrest or firefighting in violation of Minnesota Statutes, section 609.50.
• Conviction of any crimes involving moral turpitude.
• Two (2) or more alcohol-related driving violations or implied consent violations within the past ten (10) years.
• Criminal conviction of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving or other serious driving violations within the last five (5) years.
• Conviction of a misdemeanor in Minnesota or a crime in any other state or federal jurisdiction that would constitute a misdemeanor if committed in Minnesota, involving natural resources or moving traffic convictions, within the past three (3) years.
• Conviction of a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, or a crime in any other state or federal jurisdiction that would constitute a gross misdemeanor if committed in Minnesota, involving natural resources or moving traffic convictions, with in the past ten (10) years.
• Revocation of an issued DNR license, registration or permit within the previous 36 months.
• Conviction of a “no-fault” violation of Minnesota Statutes, section 169.792 within the previous 12 months or two conviction within five (5) years, or having a driver’s license suspended twice for “no-fault” violations within the previous five (5) years.
• Dismissal or negotiated resignation in lieu of termination from any previous employer.
• Conviction of nonsupport of spouse or child under Minnesota Statute 609.375.
• An undesirable discharge from the military, or an honorable discharge that indicates the applicant is not eligible for re-enlistment.
• Documented instances of misconduct by prior employers.
• Having been the subject of revocation, suspension, or surrender of a peace officer license or certificate in resolution of a complaint or other adverse action relating to licensing or certification in another jurisdiction.
• Failure to obtain licensure as a Minnesota peace officer or an official letter of eligibility to be licensed as a peace officer by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) by the deadline established by the hiring authority.
• Documented instances of undesirable work habits.
• Documented pattern of unfitness or patterns of misconduct.
• Adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction, within or without the state, as incapacitated, mentally incompetent, chemically dependent, mentally ill and dangerous to the public, or as having a psychopathic personality, or required to register as a predatory offender under Minnesota Statutes, section 243.166 or 243.167.
• Documented history of behavior, which indicates that the applicant will not succeed as a State Conservation Officer.

The 2007-2008 Hiring Process

The Division of Enforcement anticipates hiring 14 Conservation Officers in 2008. Following is a tentative schedule for the 2007-2008 hiring process. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

Post announcement	Completed
Written examination	Completed
Oral interviews & Firearms identification and handling exercise	Completed
Background investigations	Completed
Pre-work screening (functional capacity screening)	Completed
Psychological assessments	Completed
Conditional job offers (Must be POST eligible by this date)	Completed
Medical evaluation	Completed
Final job offer	Completed
Academy begins	04/30/08 - 07/22/08
Graduation	07/22/08
Field training	07/23/08 - 11/11/08
Stationed	11/12/08

Questions regarding the examination process should be directed to: humanresources@dnr.state.mn.us.

No new academies are being planned in fiscal year 2010 or fiscal year 2011 at this time.

Wages and benefits

The current salary range is $21.27 to $27.76 hourly/$44,412 to $57,963 annually. Conservation officers are also eligible for seasonal overtime earnings.

Benefits include life, health, dental, and workers' compensation insurance; optional deferred compensation saving plan; and a retirement plan. There are also paid holidays, vacation days, and sick leave.

Additionally, conservation officers are provided take-home patrol vehicles, ATV, snowmobile, watercraft; reimbursed for monthly phone service and business related meals; issued body armor, firearms, and other safety equipment.