State of Maryland

A Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent is the full performance level of enforcement and regulatory work in the Regulatory and Enforcement Division of the Comptroller of Maryland.  Employees in this classification are responsible for assessing and enforcing compliance with the revenue laws and regulations pertaining to alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, motor fuels, transient vendors and other taxes administered by the Comptroller of Maryland.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent Supervisor.  Employees are on call 24 hours a day and travel to designated areas throughout the State and outside the State.  Employees in this classification may be assigned to day, evening, or night shifts which may include weekends and holidays.  Employees frequently perform duties outdoors in all types of weather where conditions may be hazardous, dirty and uncomfortable.  The work may require lifting heavy objects such as cases of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, restraining violent individuals, and climbing, running, stooping and bending.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent is differentiated from the Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent Supervisor in that the Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Comptroller Field Enforcement Agents while the Comptroller Field Enforcement Agent performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Conducts investigations of criminal and regulatory activities involving alcohol, cigarettes, motor fuel, transient vendors and other taxes administered by the Comptroller of Maryland;

Conducts inspections of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, tax records, licenses, petroleum products, invoices and other documents for the purpose of detecting fraud and assessing compliance with State and federal laws and regulations;

Interacts with violators and purchases contraband for use as evidence;

Works in an undercover capacity;

Conducts stationary and mobile surveillance in and out of state;

Operates a police vehicle at high speeds and may be required to pursue and arrest violators;

Makes high risk felony traffic stops and arrests;

Interviews and interrogates suspects arrested for various crimes;

Gathers intelligence on organized criminal activities and operations;

Prepares search and seizure warrants and participates in raids and arrest of violators;

Meets and makes recommendations to state’s attorneys in reference to Division investigations;

Testifies at criminal court, other judicial proceedings, liquor boards, and administrative hearings;

Assists in the coordination of enforcement activities with federal, State and local law enforcement officers;

Works on joint task forces with federal, State and local law enforcement officers; Participates in in-service training and firearms training;

Prepares comprehensive reports;

Works within various computer programs and criminal history software, i.e. CJIS, N.C.I.C., METERS, Courts, M.V.A., Faces of the Nation, along with working software such as Microsoft Word;

Issues stop sales orders and warnings to transient vendors, retailers and distributors who are in non-compliance with inspection criteria;

Issues citations to transient vendors and licensees who are in non-compliance with State laws and regulations;

Advises transient vendors, retailers and distributors regarding the interpretation and application of tax, licensing and inspection laws, rules and regulations;

Performs visual and chemical tests of alcoholic beverages and petroleum products to detect unlawful practices;

Collects taxes and records;

Leads other enforcement agents, occasionally, as part of specific investigations;

Participates in roundtable discussions with federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies and out of state agencies;

Meets Uniform Crime Reporting mandates;

Conducts appropriate checks of arrestees through the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and techniques of criminal investigation;

Knowledge of investigative techniques;

Knowledge of agency policies, rules, and regulations concerning Division duties;

Knowledge of caring for and using firearms;

Skill in calculating and collecting tax receipts;

Skill in the use of firearms and police communication equipment;

Skill in operating a police vehicle under emergency circumstances;

Ability to deal with the general public and the business community in an effective and tactful manner;

Ability to learn the Maryland taxes levied on alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, motor vehicle fuel, transient vendors and other taxes administered by the Comptroller of Maryland;

Ability to operate investigative equipment such as a fingerprint kit, dusting powders, still and video cameras, etc.;

Ability to gather and properly collect evidence;

Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with other law enforcement agencies;

Ability to prepare clear, detailed, and accurate reports;

Ability to present testimony in courts and administrative hearings on behalf of the State;

Ability to communicate effectively with representatives of the industry, owner, managers, licensees and division members both orally and in writing;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to react quickly and calmly during emergency situations;

Ability to direct other agents’ activities when acting as the lead investigator on specific investigations;

Ability to conduct mobile and stationary surveillance;

Ability to work independently;

Ability to work in a covert capacity;

Ability to mingle with perpetrators of crime in order to gather intelligence.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate as described in the Maryland Police Training Commission regulation.

Experience: Four years of experience as a police officer investigating crimes including motor vehicle accidents and responding to emergency calls for police services or as a field enforcement agent responsible for assessing and enforcing compliance with revenue laws and regulations.

Notes:

1. The above education requirement is set by the Maryland Police Training Commission in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-209, Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Applicants may substitute additional education in criminal justice or law enforcement, at an accredited college or university, at a rate of 30 credit hours for each six months of the required experience for a maximum of two years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in general inspection, investigation, enforcement, and compliance classification or general inspection, investigation, enforcement, and compliance specialty codes in the logistics field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. 

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties, which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. After training, employees in this classification will be required to maintain periodic certification of essential marksmanship in the firing of a handgun and other firearms that may be necessary to carry out assignments.

3. Employees in this classification must have successfully completed the Entrance Level Police Training Course required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission and hold a current police officer certification by the Maryland Police Training Commission.

1. Selection standards for police officer certification are established by the Maryland Police Training Commission in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-209 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. These selection criteria are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 04, Chapter 01 and include the following:

Appointment as a police officer; U.S. Citizenship;
A complete background investigation;
Oral interview;
Physical examination;
Possession of a driver’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call 24 hours a day and must provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

4. Employees in this classification may be required to bear firearms and to demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis.

5. Employees in this classification may be subject to assignment in any area of the State.

6. Employees in this classification may be subject to long hours of driving to out of state locations.

7. Employees in this classification may be subject to extended workdays on a regular basis.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit I, Sworn Police Officers classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.