Property & Evidence Technician

Duties:

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

• Receives property and evidence, documents the receipt, maintains the physical integrity and control and the chain of custody, and physically stores property and evidence in the designated property and evidence room.
• Releases and purges property and evidence following appropriate federal, state, and local laws and regulations; prepares evidence and property for auction and/or disposal, including narcotics and firearms, upon completion of court proceedings.
• Initiates, organizes, updates, maintains, and controls access to complex filing systems and records, including highly sensitive case files.
• Acts as liaison to the court and other offices requiring the transmission of property and evidence; prepares evidence for officers and investigators for court proceedings; maintains records and tracks such actions.
• Releases property to the public; prepares the proper paperwork and prepares evidence for pick-up; completes the necessary reports and documentation of the release.
• Records and maintains records for all currency booked into evidence, safekeeping, and found property; prepares documentation for all monies authorized for general fund and unclaimed money transfers; coordinates money and safe transfers between departments.
• Creates, processes, schedules, and prepares item destruction of narcotics and firearms via court orders.
• Processes District Attorney follow-up while adhering to strict deadlines.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, forms, receipts, and specialized documents, such as letters to investigators, property claim letters to citizens, and other correspondence.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Observes and complies with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 50 pounds or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and potential direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Requirements:

Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques used in the collection, preservation, organization, and presentation of physical evidence.
• Functions, terminology, services, and principles and practices of law enforcement work.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Techniques for records management and evidence processing, including records disbursement and chain of evidence procedures.
• Categories of evidence for organizing and storing same.
• Terminology utilized by the District Attorney’s Office.
• Methods used in the collection, tabulation, review, analysis, and distribution of evidence and property, forms, reports, and documents.
• Recordkeeping principles and practices.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Perform technical, detailed, and responsible law enforcement support work.
• Store and maintain a diverse range of property and evidence requiring different methods of treatment, retention, and environmental conditions.
• Maintain the integrity of evidence and the chain of custody as required by established guidelines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Organize, research, and maintain technical files.
• Enter data into a computer system, file and maintain automated and hardcopy records, and prepare written materials with sufficient speed and accuracy.
• Make accurate arithmetic and statistical calculations.
• Prepare clear and effective reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Education: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• Experience: Two (2) years of clerical or paraprofessional experience in a law enforcement agency, preferably related to the property and evidence function.

Licenses and Certifications:

• None.

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