Criminal Investigator III (Lakewood) - Remote

About the role

The Criminal Investigator III is a certified Peace Officer (P.O.S.T.) within the Liquor Enforcement Division, responsible for administering and enforcing Colorado's alcohol beverage and tobacco laws. This role promotes public safety, supports economic growth, and ensures the responsible sale and consumption of liquor and tobacco products through fair, transparent, and consistent enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Liquor, Tobacco, and Criminal Code Investigations
  • Conduct inspections, compliance checks, and undercover operations to investigate alleged violations of Colorado Liquor and Tobacco Statutes, Criminal Statutes, and Regulations.
  • Determine violations and take appropriate action, such as issuing criminal summonses or completing charging documents for review.
  • Interview witnesses, suspects, complainants, applicants, licensees, and the public to gather evidence.
  • Utilize databases such as Public Service Record (PSR), CSP evidence tracking system, and Callyo to support investigations.
  • Make physical arrests when necessary, consistent with Department policy.
  • Conduct covert operations and surveillance with prior approval from supervisory staff.
• Statutory Enforcement
  • Respond to complaints and proactively inspect licensed liquor and tobacco businesses as an armed peace officer.
  • Apply fact-finding analysis, problem-solving, and investigative techniques to assess compliance.
  • Conduct interviews for license approvals, denials, or administrative proceedings.
  • Issue criminal summonses and provide clear, factual summaries of investigations for prosecution.
  • Perform underage sale compliance checks that may result in criminal enforcement.
  • Prepare sworn affidavits for judicial review and testify in civil, criminal, and administrative hearings.
  • Assist local police agencies with liquor and tobacco investigations and conduct physical arrests when appropriate.
  • Draft operational plans for review by supervisory staff and coordinate with underage operatives.
  • Investigate liquor license violations related to serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents upon request from law enforcement.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Investigate complaints of alleged violations from licensees, law enforcement, local licensing authorities, and the public.
  • Plan and execute investigations into alleged violations of Colorado Liquor and Tobacco Regulations.
  • Collaborate with local authorities to conduct compliance checks of tobacco licensees, ensuring Synar checks and statutory requirements are met.
  • Deliver clear, factual summaries of investigations for criminal prosecution or administrative action.
  • Investigate alleged Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) violations, communicate with licensees, and issue notifications for corrections.
• Administrative Duties
  • Accurately document work time and leave in the Department’s time-tracking database (UKG).
  • Maintain a Google calendar for daily activities, locations, and supervisor expectations.
  • Attend all required Department training, both in-person and online, and maintain certifications such as arrest control, firearms, CCIC, and others mandated by the Department of Revenue and POST.
  • Prepare comprehensive investigative reports within established timeframes.
  • Draft Demand for Records, summonses, arrest warrants, and search warrants as necessary.
  • Maintain spreadsheets for Division statistical purposes and keep supervisory staff informed of activities.
  • Provide training to local authorities, law enforcement, industry stakeholders, and the public on liquor and tobacco requirements.

Requirements

• Must be a resident of the State of Colorado at the time of application.
• Must possess a valid Colorado POST certification that is active, in good standing, and free of restrictions, suspensions, or revocations.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation, tax check, pre-employment physical, and psychological evaluation.
• Willingness to work nights, rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and maintain on-call status for emergencies.
• Ability to travel extensively within the designated territory (Steamboat Springs to the Kansas border and Wyoming border to Denver).
• Proficiency and qualification with firearms and other defensive equipment as required by Colorado P.O.S.T.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience: Six (6) years of full-time professional investigative experience in a regulatory environment.
• OR Education/Experience:
  • A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting, business administration, public administration, criminology, criminal justice, criminalistics, political science, police science, law enforcement, law, psychology, sociology, or a closely related field.
  • Two (2) years of full-time professional investigative experience in a regulatory environment.
• Substitutions: Six (6) years of relevant experience may substitute for the required degree on a year-for-year basis.

Benefits

• PERA retirement benefits, including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage.
• Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
• 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave.
• Variety of discounts on services and products through the State of Colorado’s Work-Life Employment Discount Program.