Evidence Technician

Duties

Administrative Duties

• Completes paperwork; processes and maintains accurate, orderly records; follows established records management practices; adheres to approved retention schedules.
• Transfers information from paperwork to computer and files paperwork, including data entry and scanning.
• Maintains evidence labeling.
• Communicates with the public including responding to phone calls or onsite visits from the public regarding evidence; sends letters to the public on all property that is identified to be released.
• Receives evidence through intake lockers; sorts evidence and properly assigns it to protective storage; maintains proper care and control of evidence and property according to established practices and guidelines.
• Provides assistance to and trains officers in evidence booking procedures.
• Retrieves evidence and property for release to the public or to officers of the court, following all applicable rules, policies, and laws
• Transports to and receives property and evidence from the state crime lab or AFIS.
• Maintains evidence room in a condition that is always prepared for outside audits to ensure standards and policies are routinely followed, evidence/property is protected from damage or deterioration, appropriate chain of custody processes are utilized, written documentation (e.g., flow charts, property reports, and logs) are appropriately maintained, notification and release authorizations have been obtained, evidence/property location and status are validated, evidence/property having no evidentiary value is being disposed of according to policy
• Create or amend a written directive addressing the issues to consider in determining the disposition and purging of evidence/property to include, at a minimum, the following: obtaining proper authorization for final disposition of evidence and property, returning items to identified owners, lawful disposal of evidence and property, disposal of items requiring special consideration, reconciling all computerized data systems and hard-copy paperwork to reflect the final disposition of evidence/property items, including who authorized and handled the release or destruction, and to whom items were released.

Miscellaneous Duties

• Provides back-up support to other administrative staff; assists Criminalist in evidence collection and packaging at crime scene, as needed; participates in special projects such as evidence room audits.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

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

Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of evidence collection, processing, storage, and disposition using a variety of technical equipment, materials, and processes.
• Departmental rules and regulations.
• Computers as related to inventory systems associated with evidence and property tracking and
• inventory.
• Proper chain of custody and security requirements as established for the preservation of property
• and evidence.
• Photographic methods and equipment as related to crime scene investigations and laboratory
• processing.

Ability to:

• Perform a variety of police related administrative and technician work.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer to perform data entry and file maintenance.
• Make sound decisions that facilitate the integrity and security of the property and evidence function.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Learn and adhere to applicable departmental, local, State, and Federal rules, regulations, and laws.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Maintain appropriate workplace behavior to effectively communicate and interact with others.
• Perform heavy manual labor requiring a full range of physical motion including standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting of objects weighing up to 75 pounds, twisting and turning, bending, stopping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, balancing, crawling, reaching for objects with hands and arms, and using hands to finger and control objects.

Experience and Training Guidelines - Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: Two to three years in evidence management or related experience with law enforcement preferred.
• Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Supplemental college level course work or certification in forensics, photography, criminal justice, or related field are preferred.

Equipment Utilized:

• Standard office equipment, including computers and a variety of software.

Certificates or Licenses:

• Possession of or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver's License and a driving record satisfactory to obtain coverage by the City's insurance carrier. Ability to obtain certification through the International Association for Identification once hired.

Contact with Others:

• Primary internal contact is with the professional, administrative, and Police staff. Primary external contact is with vendors, other public agencies, and the general public.

Hazards:

• May be subject to contact with articles that require universal precautions as related to infectious disease. Contact with chemicals and weapons, in a variety of settings from the office, to the street, to burned or exploded buildings and/or to scenes of criminal activity. Job requires physical effort requiring lifting of objects of a significant amount of weight.

Supervisory Requirements:

• Receives general supervision from the Technical Support Services Sergeant and/or the Senior Criminalist.

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