Employment Opportunity
Criminalistics Technician I/II
Santa Maria Police Dept, Santa Maria, California
Salary: $7,652.47 - $9,301.65 Monthly
Final Filing Date: Nov 6, 2025
This recruitment is for one full-time Criminalistics Technician I or Criminalistics Technician II and may be filled at either level depending on education and experience.
The Santa Maria Police Department strives to protect and serve all those who live, work, and/or visit Santa Maria. This is accomplished by working in cooperation with the community, promoting safety and enforcing the law. The Criminalistics Technician I/II position is an individual contributor role that provides professional support assistance to police officers/detectives during investigations by processing crime scenes and conducting laboratory work. The Criminalistics Technician I/II supports investigations in a number of ways, including: photo-documentation (crime scenes, victims/suspects, and evidence),attending autopsies, creating crime scene diagrams, collecting evidence (DNA, biological, trace, physical, etc.), latent search examination/comparisons, chemical/physical processing of evidence, processing firearm evidence, writing detailed reports of field/lab work completed, providing courtroom testimony, and providing professional support to outside law enforcement agencies.
The role of the Criminalistics Technician I/II enables more efficient investigation of crimes to give victims and the public peace of mind and a sense of trust in the high-quality safety services offered by the Santa Maria Police Department Crime Lab Unit.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Highly motivated and driven team player
- Maintain composure in difficult situations/work well under pressure
- Flexible and adapt to changing work environment
- Clear and concise communication skills
- Confident and positive attitude
- Working experience with chemical processing of evidence in a laboratory setting
- Detail oriented
- Spanish speaking skills are highly desirable but not required
Duties
Under general direction of assigned supervisor, performs a variety of complex and technical identification work within the Crime Laboratory. This classification may be flexibly staffed at the discretion of the Department Director. Responds to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends, and holidays. Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification but may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees, or special projects.Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics
Requirements
Criminalistics Technician I- Ideally, one year of experience in photography and photography laboratory work, fingerprinting, and crime scene investigation is desirable or
- One year of experience with a law enforcement agency during which photography, photography laboratory work, fingerprinting, and crime scene investigation procedures were being carried out as a sworn officer or
- One year of experience as a combination identification technician/sworn officer; and
- Graduation from high school.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
- Ideally, four years of professional experience with crime scene investigation, fingerprint, and crime lab work for a law enforcement agency (preferably California); and
- Graduation from high school, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
- Additional college or university coursework in forensics is desired.
- Employees may be considered for a level II advancement after completion of two years in their current assignment, at the Department Director discretion.
- Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards, and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
- Law enforcement as they apply to the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence; fingerprinting; interviewing and interrogation techniques.
- Produce clear and illustrative photography under a variety of conditions.
- Perform laboratory related tasks.
- Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
- Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent).
- Use computer and other office equipment effectively.
- Possession of licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment, such as
- Membership in the International Association for Identification (IAI) is desirable.
Do you have the Education Required? See available on-line and campus-based degree programs now!
How to apply: Apply online 
Posted: Oct 11, 2025
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