Employment Opportunity


Senior Forensic Identification Specialist

Torrance Police Department, Torrance, California

Salary: $6,531.20 - $8,339.07 Monthly

Final Filing Date: The first review of candidates will be of those applications received by Monday, February 13, 2023.

The Torrance Police Department Forensic Identification Specialist Unit is comprised of five (5) Forensic Professionals and a Supervisor. The all civilian unit performs a full range of complex and technical crime scene investigations, that include documentation, preservation, and collection of physical and biological evidence, forensic photography, latent print examinations, providing expert testimony and other related work as required.

These positions operate on a 4/10 schedule and will be required to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and on a rotating on-call schedule. Incumbents will be working the field in all weather conditions, laboratory, and general office settings. Physical demands of the performed duties include climbing, bending, lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 60lbs., exposure to blood-borne, air-borne pathogens, bodily fluids, various hazardous chemicals used to develop latent print impressions, occasionally crawling in small confined spaces, possible prolonged use of computers and tolerating adverse conditions such as fingerprinting and photographing deceased persons.

Senior Forensic Identification Specialists perform a full range of technical and complex crime scene investigations, chemical processing, latent print examinations, technical report writing and provide expert testimony in the areas of evidence collection, chemical processing, photography and latent print examinations.

This is the full journey-level class within the job series. Employees within this class are distinguished from the Forensic Identification Specialist by being a fingerprint expert and the performance of the full range of duties, as assigned. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This level is fully qualified to work in the field, independent of supervision, even on the most complex cases and is expected to give expert testimony in court. Work is judged primarily on overall results with great latitude in determining work methods and assignment requirements. Work may require the development of recommendations consistent with directives, policies and regulations.

Duties and Requirements Click to read more

Duties:

The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all-inclusive.
  • Processes the most complex crime scenes requiring specialized techniques in recognizing, searching, collecting, and preserving all types of friction skin evidence, including partial distorted latent prints, and physical evidence.
  • Develops, collects, and preserves latent fingerprints by dusting, and applying various chemical processes and utilizing alternative light source technology.
  • Prepares, enters, and compares latent fingerprints in the automated system currently in use by the Police Department.
  • Conducts crime scene investigations to recognize, search for, collect, photograph and preserve latent prints and physical evidence such as hairs, fibers, plant material, and biological fluids.
  • Makes impressions of shoe prints, tire tracks, and other objects at crime scenes.
  • Provides technically competent, expert testimony on comparisons of partial and distorted friction skin evidence and processing of crime scenes.
  • Updates procedural manuals and participates in developing briefing and training videos.
  • Prepares court exhibits and testifies in court regarding findings.
  • Performs detailed comparisons of partial and distorted friction skin evidence to known friction skin exemplars.
  • Guides and instructs less experienced personnel in the various assigned duties of the position.
  • Collects, photographs, preserves, identifies palm prints and other types of body prints and performs basic presumptive tests for biological fluids.
  • Makes assignments, sets priorities, trains and reviews the work of subordinate staff.
Examples of Other Duties
  • Participates in training of staff and outside agency personnel.
  • Participates in case related research projects and evaluates new procedures.
  • Attends division and department meetings as required.
  • Serves on various committees as appropriate.
  • Performs related duties as required.

Requirements:

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:
  • Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in forensic science, biology, chemistry, or a related field.
  • Three years paid experience as a Forensic Identification Specialist or the equivalent at an accredited forensic laboratory, or law enforcement agency, participating in site investigations and laboratory analysis. Experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of four years experience.
  • Must possess a valid State of California driver's license of the appropriate class.

  • An International Association for Identification (IAI) certification as a crime scene investigator (CCSI) and/or a Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE) is desirable.
Successful candidates will possess the following:
  • The ability to conduct, document, and manage complex crime scene investigations, including detailed report writing skills.
  • Effective report writing skills and courtroom expert testimony.
  • Skills and knowledge in recognition, search techniques, collection, and documentation of latent prints from physical evidence.
  • Competence in the operation of digital imaging systems used for documentation and analysis purposes.
  • Knowledge and skills in automated systems and chemical methods used to identify and compare latent fingerprints to partial and distorted friction skin evidence as well as known friction skin exemplars.
  • Adequate knowledge and skills in training and evaluating staff members, especially pertaining to the related fields of Crime Scene investigations and Latent print examinations.
  • Working knowledge and skill sets in entering and comparing latent print impressions in the local and federal Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS).

Do you have the Education Required? See available on-line and campus-based degree programs now!

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How to apply: Apply online

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Posted: February 1, 2023


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