Crime Scene/Evidence Specialist

Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
The following are intended to describe core work functions of this classification. While the level and broad nature of essential duties may not change, specific work tasks will vary over time depending on the Town’s needs.

• Responds to crime scenes for technical police support.
• Processes and investigates crime scenes to identify, record, document, and collect physical evidence, including fingerprint evidence, DNA, blood, bodily fluids, hair, fibers, and firearms.
• Uses cameras, measurement equipment, and special physical evidence procedures to collect evidence and document crime scenes.
• Searches for and recovers latent fingerprint evidence for personal identifications.
• Performs presumptive chemical tests to determine the presence of blood evidence.
• Performs proper collection, preservation, and packaging of different types of evidence.
• Provides testimony related to the work performed in court and other legal proceedings.
• Writes reports and completes all paperwork associated with crime scene investigations.
• Produces print/impression evidence by casting and/or photographing to scale impressions to use potential physical evidence as investigative aids.
• Performs function tests and test fires impounded firearms and enters the spent cartridge casings into the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network.
• Performs duties on elevated platforms, including ladders, lifts, and roofs.
• Performs duties in challenging conditions to include decomposing bodies, strong odors, chemical atmosphere, accelerants, arson scenes, insects, hostility, emotionally charged situations, child and animal victims.
• Receives, logs, inventories, transports, stores, and releases items of evidence, found property, or safekeeping items.
• Observes and inspects submitted property & evidence to determine compliance with prescribed packaging and submission standards. Verify, tag, mark, properly package, secure, and document chain of custody utilizing electronic database systems.
• Determines that all incoming impounded items have been properly packaged, marked, cataloged into records management system and labeled with all necessary information.
• Reviews lab analysis request forms, verifies information, documents, tracks, and processes requests.
• Prepares and verifies evidence for transport to the crime laboratory.
• Verifies and processes returned evidence from laboratory.
• Receives, analyzes and processes disposition authorizations forms for firearm releases including any required research related to the owner, case disposition, item status, etc.
• Receives, analyzes, and processes asset forfeiture disposition authorization forms; media evidence duplication requests, disposal authorization forms, and other related process requests.
• Provides customer service and answers inquiries/complaints regarding property disposition.
• Monitors and controls the distribution of evidence and property to users in order to assure that material is used only by authorized personnel.
• Maintains complex filing systems with a variety of subject matter in order to provide easy access to records with little direction from supervisor.
• Performs data and bar code entry into management system.
• Processes and transports items of evidence to and from police department facilities, storage locations, laboratories, and other designated locations.
• Prepares and destroys items of evidence, abandoned/found property as authorized.
• Performs filing and other clerical work necessary to maintain the property room.
• Researches all abandoned, found or unclaimed property for possible owners; prepares publications, and processes for appropriate disposition.
• Performs on-call duties and responsibilities for after-hours response as needed.
• Testifies in court regarding the integrity of property storage, preservation and transportation.
• Assists with miscellaneous administrative and customer service related duties.
• Assists in advising department personnel of the laws and policies of evidential property control.
• Develops curriculum, instructs, and trains department personnel regarding crime scene investigation and property and evidence functions.
• Performs appropriate inspections and audits.
• Performs related work as assigned.

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

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (at job entry)
Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED -AND- 2 years of experience as a Crime Scene Technician (or similar job title/duties) responsible for recording, documenting, and collecting physical evidence;
• -OR- an equivalent combination of directly related education and experience.
• Associate’s Degree in Forensic Science, Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience with a law enforcement agency of comparable size or larger and 2 years of experience in inventory control, property accountability, or other similar experience is preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• None.

Special Requirements

• Must complete a thorough background investigation including a criminal history check and a polygraph examination.

KNOWLEDGE

• Modern police practices and procedures;
• Crime scene processing and evidence collection;
• Methods of records, evidence, and property storage;
• Principles, practices, and methods of property accounting, inventory control, and material handling;
• Office management processes and procedures;
• Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation;
• Basic report and form preparation/completion Office management processes and procedures;
• Customer service procedures and techniques;
• Recordkeeping practices and procedures;
• Computerized criminal justice information systems;
• Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation;
• Laws, regulations, and policies regarding safe work practices.

SKILLS

• Processing crime scene evidence with accuracy and attention to detail;
• Analyzing situations quickly and objectively, to recognize actual and potential dangers and to determine proper course of action;
• Maintaining composure in stressful situations;
• Taking photographic evidence including the use of a variety of film, digital equipment, lighting, filtration, infrared, and ultraviolet techniques;
• Using powders and chemicals to process scenes for latent fingerprints and subsequent lifting/photographing;
• Classifying, developing, transferring, and processing fingerprints;
• Gathering and preserving physical evidence;
• Utilizing proper safety precautions related to crime scenes, chemicals, and equipment used in processing evidence;
• Testing gunshot residue;
• Conducting field drug testing;
• Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation;
• Basic report and form preparation/completion
• Providing customer service;
• Maintaining complete and accurate records/filing systems for easy retrieval of information;
• Retrieving and verifying information from computerized records;
• Maintaining confidentiality;
• Following oral and written instructions;
• Operating standard office equipment;
• Using computers and related software applications;
• Prepare a variety of documents and information relevant to assignment;
• Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and other interested parties sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

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