State fish and boat officers wanted

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is looking for individuals interested in a career as a Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO). WCOs perform specialized work in fish conservation and watercraft safety under the jurisdiction of the Commission, blending law enforcement and public relations duties [see the PFBC Brochure - What is a WCO? ]. WCOs work demanding schedules including holidays and weekends, to perform their vital public safety and conservation duties. Additional information about a career as a WCO is available on the Commission’s Careers page at www.fish.state.pa.us . All WCOs begin their career as a WCO Trainee. Before candidates are assigned the highly independent duties of Waterways Conservation Officer, they must complete an extensive 52-week specialized training program beginning with approximately 20 weeks of instruction in law enforcement principles and practices that meet the standards of the Municipal Police Training Act. An additional 32-week period follows with 20 weeks of classroom training by the Commission at the H. R. Stackhouse School of Fisheries Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Centre County, Pennsylvania and 12 weeks of supervised field training. The program is conducted under close supervision, according to stringent rules. Those who successfully complete the training program will be promoted to a Waterways Conservation Officer position. Applications for WCO Trainee positions will be accepted between Aug. 13 and Oct. 1. All written testing must be completed with the Civil Service Commission by Nov. 22. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at date of hire and possess a current valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. Applicants must be residents of Pennsylvania, of good moral fiber and be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Successful candidates must pass written, oral, and physical evaluations. During the application period, application forms and further information on the application process can be obtained from the State Civil Service Commission website at www.scsc.state.pa.us. Information is also available from State Civil Service Commission office in Harrisburg at 717-783-3058 Information is also available by contacting the PFBC’s Human Resource Office at 717-705-7820 or by visiting the website at www.fish.state.pa.us.