Forensic Specialist Trainee

Duties

TYPICAL TASKS

• Responds to crime scenes to identify, collect, preserve, and document evidence related to criminal investigations. Processes physical evidence for latent fingerprints and DNA. Ensures chain of custody on physical and trace evidence to aid in criminal investigations and subsequent court proceedings.
• Performs and maintains evidence records of crime scenes including but not limited to sketches, measurements, digital photographs, and video recordings.
• Processes, handles, moves, and analyzes physical evidence including human remains, blood, other hazardous body fluids, and evidential items contaminated with blood or other hazardous body fluids while ensuring chain of custody.
• Climbs and crawls in to undesirable places including but not limited to roofs, attics, under houses, and other tight spaces that may contain biological agents or other undesirable conditions to photograph and recover evidence.
• Utilizes and maintains forensic equipment and chemicals necessary to process evidence.
• Casts shoe, tire, and tool mark impressions to be used in criminal investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
• Prepares detailed reports concerning criminal investigations, evidence handling, and actions taken in support of each investigation to include chain of custody on evidence collected as well as laboratory analysis results.
• Testifies in court of law concerning the collection and chain of custody of related evidence.
• Assists the Hampton Police Division’s Records Unit with fingerprinting and photographs of arrests, court orders, and employment candidates as needed.
• Operates Police Division vehicles of various sizes to and from crime scenes to complete scene processing responsibilities. Transports evidence to and from crime laboratories for analysis and prepares detailed reports concerning evidence handling and chain of custody on the evidence transported.
• Completes administrative documentation including but not limited to data entry for evidence records, laboratory documentation, equipment and supply inventories, and purchase requests.
• Responds to inquiries and requests from any law enforcement personnel and Commonwealth Attorney concerning processing and analysis.
• Successfully completes forensic refresher and career development training.
• Demonstrates punctuality and regular attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervision.

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

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate’s degree in forensic science, police science, biology, chemistry or a related field and a minimum of six months of full-time experience in police investigative work and photography or closely related experience.
• Must successfully pass a Police Department background investigation to include a polygraph examination prior to an offer of employment or promotion.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and must have and maintain a satisfactory driver’s record based on the City of Hampton’s criteria.

Additional Requirements

• Requires effective communication with internal and external customers.
• May require working beyond a standard 40-hour work week to include on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts.
• Requires extensive travel throughout the City.
• The incumbent may be considered “essential personnel” during City emergency situations or at the direction of the City Manager which may include long hours and unusual schedules.
• Must be able to maintain the ability to provide credible testimony in court, to the magistrate and in other situations where credibility will be of importance. A sustained finding of untruthfulness at the conclusion of an internal investigation may result in immediate termination.

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