Evidence Tech I

Duties

Essential Functions

• Complete all required, detailed records and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Presents accurate and professional testimony in court.
• This position may be subject to overtime and emergency recall during non-working hours in support of staff shortage and/or operational needs throughout the department.
• Communicates and acts in a professional manner with the public, co-workers, and work contacts.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
• Regular attendance and punctuality is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
• May be required to work early mornings, evenings, holidays or weekends, overtime, and call-in/call-back as needed.
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies and procedures; follows safety policies and practices, works in a safe manner, and reports unsafe activity and conditions.
• Maintains assigned vehicle and equipment according to Department standards.

CRIME SCENE

• Inspects and visually investigates crime scenes (homicides, assaults, kidnappings, burglaries, deaths, robberies, thefts, etc.) for the collection and preservation of evidence.
• Determines procedures/methodology to be used when identifying, collecting, and processing evidence.
• Record or visualize physical or trace evidence using various photographic techniques and using a variety of photographic technologies.
• Collect, photograph, preserve, classify, compare and identify fingerprints, palm prints, and other types of body prints.
• Preserve, compare and attempt to identify evidence such as blood, hair, fibers, cloth, wood, paint and glass fragments.
• Attend post mortem examinations; obtain from medical examiner pathological samples and evidence for later clinical examination.
• Process hazardous and drug related material for fingerprints.
• Collect, photograph, preserve, identify and perform basic analysis of blood, ballistics, narcotics, tool marks and other types of physical evidence; perform physical match comparisons.
• Take various types of photographs of persons and objects including aerial photographs, develop prints; enlarge and mount color and black and white photographs.
• Examine and process post blast crime scenes.
• Conduct crime scene investigations to recognize, search for, collect and preserve all types of evidence; as to location of evidence.
• Implement chemically based techniques to extract, amplify, or identify evidence from a wide range of materials.
• Take and prepare physical impressions to attempt to connect evidence with suspects; prepare castings or tire impressions, foot/shoe impressions, hand impressions, tool and other type of impressions; analyze and prepare conclusions of evidence for use in court testimony.
• Operates, cleans, and maintains a variety of cameras, video equipment, and computers in the collection and presentation of crime scene evidence.
• Perform general analysis of handwriting and document samples, as assigned.
• Ensures safety of self while performing crime scene or evidence processing on collection sites to include traversing, entering and exiting sites.
• Works with chemicals, powders, and body fluids using personal protective equipment according to prescribed safety standards and regulations.
• May be required to use a respirator when performing duties requiring exposure to hazardous chemicals and evidence that may be biohazardous and carcinogenic.
• Prepares and utilizes presumptive tests, various chemicals, powders, compounds and casting materials used in photographic and/or forensic laboratory, preserving techniques as required. Maintains cleanliness of the lab and equipment; Insures proper supply inventory is available.
• Completes photographic documentation of crime scenes and associated reports.
• Attends autopsies to photograph injuries and fingerprint the deceased for identification purposes.
• Testifies in court as a witness in connection to the scenes processed and evidence developed and preserved.
• Measures, makes mathematical calculations and diagrams crime scenes.

EVIDENCE

• Verifies, tags, marks, packages, documents acceptance, and stores property and evidence received in accordance with approved policies and procedures for safe handling, security, packaging, identification and storage of materials.
• Operates computer system to enter submitted items into Police Department evidence tracking system.
• Safeguards and maintains the integrity of all evidence and the chain of custody in accordance with state laws, City ordinances, and departmental policies and procedures; Testifies in court when subpoenaed.
• Determines appropriate and lawful disposition of property; Releases property to officers, property owners, the courts and/or other agencies; Releases property for sale at public auctions/online auctions; Maintains an accurate accounting of all property transfers and releases.
• Handle monies submitted as evidence, safekeeping or found property.
• Conducts periodic audits of property inventory; Corresponds with officers and general public regarding disposition of property; Matches stolen and lost property with property inventory.
• Receives, verifies, catalogs, stores, retrieves, transfers and disposes of property and evidence; Responsible for verifying evidence reports against property reports to ensure accuracy.
• Coordinates auction/on-line auctions for property deemed appropriate to be auctioned.
• Processes narcotics for disposal.
• Processes firearms for release, auction or disposal.
• Receives, stores and disposes bicycles and motorized vehicles.
• Reviews criminal history background checks to determine appropriate release of firearms
• Prepares written documents including: impound records, incident reports, logs, and letters in order to document the location of evidence.
• Observes and inspects submitted property and evidence to determine compliance with prescribed packaging and submission standards.
• Prepares authorized property for disposal and/or auction, as appropriate.
• When authorized, destroys property as required and outlined by law or regulation.
• Works in small, cramped areas, and reaches for property and evidence at elevated levels in order to store and/or retrieve items.
• Enters data into a computer terminal to create a database for evidence tracking and performs warrant checks on individuals before issuing claimed items.
• Works with evidence contaminated with body fluids, chemicals, pesticides, paints, insecticides, flammables, explosives, and other hazardous materials using normal protective equipment to properly handle and destroy the items.
• Collects, produces, and maintains written documents and maintains computer records on the disposition of evidence and other impounded property.
• Sorts, separates, and files impounded property and evidence.
• Testifies on the disposition of evidence when necessary.
• Transports property and evidence from off-site location to the central warehousing facility and transports evidence to crime laboratories for analysis.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• Routinely perform background/clearance checks for release of property to authorized personnel.
• Orders and maintain day-to-day operational supplies for officers and detectives.
• May serve on a variety of employee committees.
• Performs related duties as required.
• Performs special assignments as requested.

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

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED supplemented by college level coursework in evidence collections and handling, Crime scene investigations; crime scene technology, forensic science, chemistry, law and legal, courtroom procedures and the criminal justice system.
• Two to three (2-3) years experience in property accountability, warehousing, inventory control, law enforcement work or related field and/or.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible customer service and related technical experience in working with the public to gather, provide, or present information.
• Advanced photographic experience or training preferred.
• Any combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge and experience to perform the work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Arizona Driver’s License;
• Possess or ability to obtain TOC Level A Certification within six (6) months of hire;
• Willingness and ability to obtain International Association for Identification (I.A.I) Certification in such subjects as Forensic Art, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Crime Scene, Footwear, Latent Print, Forensic Photography, Tenprint, Forensic Vide.
• Must be willing to work weekends, holiday, nights, and rotating shifts and is subject to on-call/call out as required with standby pay.
• Ability to pass an extensive law enforcement background investigation.

Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of the techniques used in investigation, identification, collection, preservation and processing of physical evidence; Basic operation of photographic equipment, video cameras and personal computers; Operation of fingerprint, classification, and identification systems currently in use in law enforcement; Variety of technical equipment, materials, and processes; Federal, State and local laws regulating the collection, preservation, storage, retention and disposal of property and evidence; Basic rules of evidence; Police procedures; Court testimony procedures and techniques; Crime scene report writing, English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; The principles, practices, and methods of warehousing, inventory control, material handling, storage, recordkeeping, and property accounting; computer terminal data input and retrieval processes; Departmental orders, policies and procedures; Applicable City, State and Federal policies, statutes, laws, and regulations; Organization of a police department and the functions of a police forensics laboratory; Case preparation and reporting procedures pertinent to the judicial process; Computerized data entry and retrieval systems; Mathematical principles required to perform necessary technical calculations; Street layout and geography of the City including street names and numbers; Microsoft Office products and other relevant software and technologies.

Skills:

• Skill in the use of computers, cameras, recorders, and other such regular and special equipment as may be assigned; Reading and interpreting data, manuals and specifications; Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands; Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers and the public; Working in a team environment; Providing customer service; Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications; and Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Abilities:

• Ability to learn to use collection, identification and comparison techniques of physical evidence at crime scenes; Learn to operate specialized equipment used in the collection, analysis and preservation of evidence; Learn to take, develop and print effective and useful crime scene photographs including aerial photographs; Perform limited maintenance on photographic equipment and accessories; Learn to lift, classify, verify, compare and identify latent fingerprints according to established systems and procedures; Learn to operate camera and video equipment in the gathering and presentation of evidence; Learn the process necessary to accurately and efficiently reconstruct a crime scene for use during courtroom testimony; Observe and recall details and learn the skills necessary to present expert testimony; Learn applicable Federal, State and local criminal and civil laws, codes and regulations; Accurately and confidently give courtroom testimony regarding the collection of crime scene evidence; Learn to prepare and present thorough and accurate crime scene reports; Learn police, court systems, and criminal procedures relative to the processing, retention and disposal of evidence; Learn safety and security methods and practices involved in the handling and storage of firearms, weapons, narcotics, drugs, money, and dangerous devices; Understand and carry out oral and written instructions; Process hazardous and drug related material for fingerprints; Communicate effectively, orally and in writing; Establish and maintain legible, complete and accurate records and related documents; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information; Write memoranda, correspondence, reports and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar; Adapt to changing work priorities; Perform basic mathematical calculations; Participate in teamwork productively; Comprehend and make inferences from written material including procedure manuals and departmental administrative and field orders in order to learn and apply crime scene processing techniques; Willingly work assigned shifts to include supporting operations due to on call that include the working of nights, weekends, holidays, overtime and call-out as scheduled and necessary; Ensures safety of self while performing crime scene investigation/processing on sites to include traversing, entering and exiting sites; Perform in adverse weather conditions; Wear OSHA required personal protective equipment; Bend or life repeatedly or continually while performing scene processing; Traverse safely over rough, uneven, sloping, or rocky surfaces or terrain, and maneuver around crime scenes. Need to show effective and efficient work ethic. Willing to perform at a high pace.

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