Crime Scene Investigator I or II

Duties

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR II:

Essential duties and functions may include the following:

• Responds to crime and accident scenes, evaluates the scene and conducts searches for evidence utilizing disciplines related to crime scene investigation.
• Measures and/or photographs crime scenes, evidence, etc. Documents, collects, packages, preserve, and processes evidence.
• Utilizes alternate light sources, chemical and physical processes, scientific methods and equipment for the detection and collection of evidence.
• Processes evidence and crime scenes for latent fingerprints, utilizing both chemical and powder processes.
• Writes, drafts, and completes reports and/or documentation of work completed.
• Enters and modifies information in LERMS and WatchGuard.
• Assists other law enforcement agencies with crime scene processing.
• Maintains the crime lab in an orderly fashion.
• Testifies as an expert witness in court regarding analysis and procedures, after being declared by the judge, an expert in their field of crime scene investigation.
• Be willing to be on a 24-hour on call rotation. Be willing to be at the Farmington Police Department or crime scene in a timely manner. Be willing to carry and respond to a work cell phone.
• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of strategic and administrative crime analysis.
  • Skill in oral and written communication.
  • Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  • Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  • Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
  • Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  • Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  • Ability to maintain confidential, sensitive material.
  • Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
• Processes crime scenes at any hour of the day or night and under any weather conditions. Systematically surveys area and formulates a plan of procedure. Ensures security of crime scenes (using crime scene tape, barricades, police personnel, etc.) before conducting a search for all objects and articles that may be evidence. Gives advice and direction to patrol officers and detectives in crime scene and evidentiary matters.
• The investigator documents a scene by use of field notes, field sketch including measurements, photographs , and record of evidentiary items collected. This ensures the ability to write a detailed report based on the ability to observe minute details of the crime scene as they relate to the crime.
• Evidence identified must be collected and properly packaged. This function includes efficient lifting and preserving of various types of evidence. The crime scene investigator must be aware of the types of packaging and packaging material as the improper selection of such material could render the evidence useless.
• The investigator assists criminal justice officials in preparing for criminal cases providing reports, finalized diagrams, and photographs. Testimony must not only follow the rules of evidence but in laymen's terms explain to a jury the evidence and actions completed at the crime scene.
• The investigator must prepare and forward all necessary administrative reports and forms in keeping with division and department policies.
• Coordinates and instructs various classes for the police academy, citizen's academy, patrol officers, detectives, high school, and/or other departmental and civilian organizations.
• Operates a motor vehicle to assist in carrying out the business of the department.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of this position.
• Uses excellent customer service skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.
• Work with limited supervision; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with law enforcement agencies; understand, interpret and apply laws, statutes, and policies.
• All other duties as assigned.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Attends other various departmental activities as required.
• May serve on various employee committees, as required and assigned.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR II:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• This is a non-certified police position and works under the general supervision of the Detective Supervisors of Farmington Police Department, uses comprehensive knowledge, and standardized principles, practices and procedures in the identification, documentation, collection, preservation, processing, and/or handling of evidence at/from crime scenes. Works on assignments that are moderately complex in nature where considerable judgement, responsibility, and initiative are required. Visitation and investigation of crime scenes are required.

Essential duties and functions, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Responds to crime and accident scenes, evaluates the scene and conducts searches for evidence utilizing disciplines related to crime scene investigation.
• Measures and/or photographs crime scenes, evidence, etc. Documents, collects, packages, preserve, and processes evidence.
• Utilizes alternate light sources, chemical and physical processes, scientific methods and equipment for the detection and collection of evidence.
• Processes evidence and crime scenes for latent fingerprints, utilizing both chemical and powder processes.
• Writes, drafts, and completes reports and/or documentation of work completed.
• Enters and modifies information in LERMS and WatchGuard.
• Prepares the operating budget for the lab and crime scene equipment.
• Assists other law enforcement agencies with crime scene processing.
• Testifies as an expert witness in court regarding analysis and procedures, after being declared by the judge, an expert in their field of crime scene investigation.
• Assists with crime scene reconstruction including determining the sequence of events that took place, bullet trajectory and identifying blood stain patterns to aid in blood stain analysis.
• Maintains working relationship with scientific laboratories (i.e. DPS Lab in Santa Fe) for evidence analysis.
• Maintains the crime lab in an orderly fashion.
• Provides aerial photography at crime scenes and performs specialized photography using the alternate light source.
• Conducts administrative and /or technical reviews of personnel casework to ensure compliance with division practice, policy, and procedure.
• Be willing to be on a 24-hour on call rotation. Be willing to be at the Farmington Police Department or crime scene in a timely manner. Be willing to carry and respond to a work cell phone.
• May provide leadership, work assignments, training, and guidance to others.
• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Comprehensive knowledge of strategic and administrative crime analysis.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to maintain confidential, sensitive material.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories are not allowed.
• Processes crime scenes at any hour of the day or night and under any weather conditions. Systematically surveys area and formulates a plan of procedure. Ensures security of crime scenes (using crime scene tape, barricades, police personnel, etc.) before conducting a search for all objects and articles that may be evidence. Gives advice and direction to patrol officers and detectives in crime scene and evidentiary matters.
• The investigator documents a scene by use of field notes, field sketch including measurements, photographs and record of evidentiary items collected. This ensures the ability to write a detailed report based on the ability to observe minute details of the crime scene as they relate to the crime and their meaning in relation to the evidence.
• Evidence identified must be collected and properly packaged. This function includes efficient lifting and preserving of various types of evidence. The crime scene investigator must be aware of the types of packaging and packaging material as the improper selection of such material could render the evidence useless.
• The investigator assists criminal justice officials in preparing for criminal cases providing reports, finalized scale diagrams, and photographs. Testimony must not only follow the rules of evidence, but in laymen's terms explain to a jury the significance of evidence and actions completed at the crime scene as it relates to scientific evidence. Gives expert witness testimony in criminal court cases.
• Exercises a lead role over a CSI I in planning, coordination and evaluation of major crime scene investigation. Also, leads out in the same role in preserving, processing and collecting evidence, investigating major crime scenes and in conducting evidence investigation.
• The investigator will maintain the crime lab in an orderly fashion. Oversees CSI I to assure appropriate techniques are used while processing evidence and conducting proper crime scene investigations. Maintains crime scene equipment on a regular basis. The investigator will properly prioritize items of evidence by case importance for lab submissions. Maintains working relationship with scientific laboratories (i.e. D.P.S. in Santa Fe) for evidence processing.
• Prepares the operating budget for the lab and crime scene equipment.
• The investigator must prepare and forward all necessary administrative reports and forms in keeping with division and department policies.
• Coordinates and instructs various classes for the police academy, citizen's academy, patrol officers, detectives, high school, and/or other departmental and civilian organizations.
• Operates a motor vehicle to assist in carrying out the business of the department.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of this position.
• Uses excellent customer service skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.
• Work with minimum supervision; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with law enforcement agencies; understand, interpret and apply case law as related to case investigation, state statutes as well as federal laws where applicable, and policies.
• All other related duties as may be assigned.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Attends other various departmental activities as required. May serve on various employee committees, as required and assigned.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

Requirements

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR I

• This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy which includes: pre employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow up testing.
• The minimum requirement for the position is an associate degree in the field of criminal justice, forensics, biology, chemistry, natural sciences, or other closely related fields or three years investigative experience.
• Must have knowledge of photographic and identification techniques used in law enforcement; fingerprint collection; and computer use and techniques. As well as an understanding of DNA collection techniques and trace evidence collection techniques.
• Valid New Mexico driver's license required with acceptable driving record for past three years.
• Be willing to be on a 24-hour on call rotation. Be willing to be at the Farmington Police Department or crime scene in a timely manner. Be willing to carry and respond to a work cell phone.
• Ability to follow verbal and/or written instructions.
• Ability to work under stress and handle stressful situations.
• Ability to meet deadlines including timely completion of reports.
• All applicants must provide enough information for a thorough background check.
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories are not allowed.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR II

• This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy which includes: pre employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow up testing.
• The minimum requirement for the position is a bachelor degree in the field of criminal justice, forensics, biology, chemistry, natural sciences, or other closely related fields or five years of experience in investigations in a law enforcement agency.
• Must have knowledge of photographic and identification techniques used in law enforcement; fingerprint collection; and computer use and techniques. As well as an understanding of DNA collection techniques and trace evidence collection techniques.
• Valid New Mexico driver's license required with acceptable driving record for past three years.
• Be willing to be on a 24-hour on call rotation. Be willing to be at the Farmington Police Department or crime scene in a timely manner. Be willing to carry and respond to a work cell phone.
• Ability to follow verbal and/or written instructions.
• Ability to work under stress and handle stressful situations.
• Ability to meet deadlines including timely completion of reports.
• All applicants must provide enough information for a thorough background check.
• IAI Crime Scene Analyst certification (not required but recommended).

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