See INVESTIGATOR 1.

Conducts complex investigations in order to substantiate allegations of fraud, misconduct, discrimination, fraudulent and unfair business practices, or other claims under state jurisdiction.

This is the senior level of the series. Positions work independently to investigate and resolve complex civil or criminal cases which are characterized by: multiple claimants; internal personnel investigations; fraud or collusion among clients, vendors and providers; alleged violations within the vehicle/vessel industry; or allegations of public benefit fraud.

Positions may receive limited guidance from senior level Investigators, possessing advanced knowledge, in unique situations. This guidance will be infrequent.

Functions as an impartial investigator in discrimination disputes, fraud cases, Electronic Benefit Transfer, trafficking cases and prohibited violation checks of varying difficulty and complexity;

Researches, analyzes, and evaluates information from multiple sources;

Identifies, gathers and preserves physical and documentary evidence; analyzes evidence to identify program and criminal violations and evaluates relevancy, reliability, credibility and admissibility of evidence;

Conducts reviews of cases investigated by other agencies and institutions;

May be a member of an investigative, rules development, or special project team;

Investigates allegations of public benefit fraud among public assistance recipients including theft, forgery, perjury, complicity and other violations of law pertaining to the unlawful receipt of public assistance monies, medical benefits, food stamps and other benefits and services;

Investigates all public assistance programs administered by the state;

Investigates EBT fraud;

Conducts detailed field investigations which include interviewing employers, business agents, neighbors, landlords, school officials, workers, public officials, credit managers and law enforcement officers;

Investigates allegations of unfair business practices such as fraudulent advertising and alleged antitrust law violations;

Investigates industrial insurance claims files by injured workers in areas such as hearing loss, occupational disease and heart attacks;

Gathers, reviews and evaluates medical records pertaining to industrial injury conditions; interviews physicians and other medical vendors to determine degree of injury, treatment required and disability resulting from industrial accident;

Obtains written and verbal statements from witnesses, suspect(s) and person(s) of interest;

Conducts investigations of alleged violations or charges of unprofessional conduct, fraud, false advertising, improper and/or unfair business practices and tactics that are affected by professional licensing law requirements;

Investigates claims filed pursuant to Section 16 of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act alleging discrimination;

Investigates alleged violations of Securities, Franchise, and Camp Club Acts;

Investigates complex public offering statements and marketing practices of subdivided land, time share, common-interest and condominium developers to ensure compliance with the consumer protection provisions of the land development act.

Performs the duties of the lower levels in the series;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: methods, principles, standards and techniques of criminal and civil investigations; interviewing techniques; rules of evidence; chain of custody of evidence; laws of arrest, search and seizure; Miranda Warning; techniques in investigative report writing; court procedures; applicable Washington State statutes and federal and state regulations pertaining to area of investigation; specialized terminology within area of investigation; auditing, record keeping and bookkeeping techniques.

Ability to: gather, preserve, and present relevant and pertinent evidence without arising undue or undesirable comment among employers, friends, business agents, or neighbors; interpret and apply Washington State statutes and federal and state regulations; analyze, interpret and organize information; write and speak clearly, concisely, accurately and informatively; exercise mature judgment in a wide variety of public contacts.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

One years of experience as an Investigator 1.


Three years of experience as an investigator with a criminal justice government agency or private organization, or other directly allied field.

Note: Two years of related college-level course work may be substituted for experience.

New class: 10-15-82.
Revised definition: 2-9-90.
Revised definition: 1-11-91.
Salary adjustment; revised class code, definition, distinguishing characteristics, and desirable qualifications; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Updated desirable qualifications 6/23/2017.
Revised distinguishing characteristics, typical work, knowledge and abilities, salary range adjustment, adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.