Lead Crime Scene Investigator

Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Gathers information and data and performs expert level analysis, which may involve any or all of the following activities, receives initial call notifying crime scene unit of an incident, ensures legal search is within parameters of local, state, and federal laws; initiates investigations, determines TCSO jurisdiction, notifies and exchanges information with other public agencies when necessary; professionally gathers and processes physical evidence, photographs, and sketches crime scene.
• Directs other personnel at the scene and support staff, as needed. Communicates extensively with investigative deputies to determine the nature and extent of the crime and exchanges information with the investigating officers as well as other public safety agencies when necessary. Assumes control of and responsibility for a crime scene or other location by coordinating and directing other officers depending on the circumstances of a crime scene and the surrounding scene.
• Transports evidence by operating the crime scene vehicles, transporting evidence to and from property and evidence to crime labs.
• Drives a county vehicle to locations throughout Tarrant County when performing county business; traveling by any means necessary to conduct investigations and perform duties in areas with difficult accessibility, limited visibility and mobility, or adverse conditions.
• Listing and categorizing personal property and evidence; arranging for removal of bodies to the Medical Examiner's custody, being responsible for recognizing and preserving physical evidence, drugs, medical devices, related paraphernalia, and trace evidence and coordinating handling and collection of the same with departmental criminalist or officers from other agencies.
• Performs a variety of complex laboratory tests, analyses, classifications, and comparisons of all types of physical evidence from crime scenes.
• Works as authorized contact for statistical fingerprint submission to DPS.
• Reviews, audits, and maintains required records, files, and statistics; reviews evidence and approves submissions as needed for professional examination; approves prepared investigations and case supplements with the appropriate agencies, including law enforcement, district attorney, and hospitals.
• Communicates with appropriate staff and citizens in performance of duties that may establish rapport through interviews with or assisting citizens or parties of interest; interviewing witnesses, friends, relatives, or suspects to obtain information about the crime; contacting representatives from other law enforcement and criminal justice entities for follow-up investigations; providing information to various agencies, obtaining information as needed.
• Provides critical analysis to cases and testifies in court proceedings or under deposition regarding the findings of an investigation; prepares reports leading to search/seizure or arrest warrants, subpoenas, or other civil process documents.
• Identifies, diagnoses, and resolves complex issues in responding to crime scene requests and on-scene investigations. Performs expert level investigative skills while performing thorough investigations and overseeing collection of evidence.
• Provides technical assistance to law enforcement agencies.
• Performs both routine preventive maintenance on equipment and ensures quality control procedures.
• Trains and assists newly assigned investigators or staff. Recommends actions or participates in implementation of departmental programs, policies, procedures, or other professional activities, as required.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and policy and may update staff or work group on applicable changes. Provides information regarding state laws and codes as well as departmental policy and procedure in response to inquiries from members of the law enforcement community.
• Conducts training on lab procedures used by Tarrant County.
• Implements a standardized training program and monitors the training of new employees, remedial training of subordinates, and mandated continuing education requirements. This includes mandated quarterly control testing.
• Assign fingerprint comparison requests to investigators. Follows up on fingerprint cases to verify requests are completed in a timely manner. Reviews and approves fingerprint case reports and conclusions.
• Routinely reviews General Orders and SOPs to ensure they are up-to-date and comply with federal, state, local laws, and best practices. Makes recommendations on modifications to current policies and procedures.
• Answers calls from local law enforcement requesting assistance or guidance on active calls and makes decisions on response requests.
• Routinely reviews staffing to verify minimum coverage of assigned shift. Assumes leadership role in the absence of unit supervisor.
• Instructs TCOLE mandated training necessary for law enforcement personnel.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to stay organized and know how to prioritize the workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competency with computers and Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
• Advanced analytical skills.
• Must possess advanced knowledge and marked proficiency of physical evidence collection, identification procedures, criminological techniques, and fingerprint classification methods.
• Must be proficient in business writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.
• Must follow federal, state, local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and applicable crime scene standards and procedures including legal chain of custody procedures.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in forensic science, criminal justice, or closely related field.
• Two (2) full-time years of crime scene experience with a law enforcement agency which includes at least one (1) full-time year specifically in latent fingerprint examination experience.
• Must possess or obtain an International Associate for Identification (IAI) and Automatic Fingerprint System (AFIS) certifications within 6 months of hire.
• Must obtain TCOLE Instructors certification and Field Training certification within one (1) year of employment.
• Must obtain a valid Texas driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire.

Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s degree preferred.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To be considered for this position, your application must be complete and clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications. Please ensure that all sections of the application are fully completed, including Education (specifying the type of degree, field of study, and graduation status), Experience, and Certifications/Licenses. Resumes alone will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will result in disqualification, as eligibility for minimum qualifications cannot be confirmed without full documentation. If selected for hire, you will be required to provide proof of educational attainment during the onboarding process.

Tarrant County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudication in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Physical Demands and Work Environment & Other Requirements
While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to stoop, sit, walk, run on occasion, strenuously climb stairs or ladders, and lift up to 100 lbs. Must be able to exert physical force, when necessary, lift to pick up evidence, and twist. May have to sit at the computer for prolonged periods of time typing, using the computer, writing, or using the telephone. Exposure to communicable diseases.

There is exposure to household type cleaning agents (such as diluted bleach, alcohol-based window cleaner, chlorine-based cleanser); and occasional exposure to pesticides. There is occasional exposure to inmate control devices that emit pepper agents via aerosol spray, gel or foam. There is the potential of exposure to toxic smoke.

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