Property Room Assistant

Duties

Examples of Essential Functions

• Receives property and evidence, documents the receipt, maintains the physical integrity and control and the chain of custody, and physically stores the property and evidence in the designated property and evidence room.
• Prepares evidence for submittal to outside agencies or labs for analysis, including packaging, securing, and preserving evidence items, preparing required forms, and submitting forms with evidence to labs.
• Coordinates with crime laboratories: determines and justifies which evidence to refer; prepares and transports evidence including weapons, narcotics, and biological specimens for analysis and processing by others.
• Releases and purges property and evidence following appropriate federal, state, and local laws and regulations; prepares evidence and property for auction and/or disposal upon completion of court proceedings.
• Initiates, organizes, updates, maintains, and controls access to complex filing systems and records, including highly sensitive case files.
• Acts as liaison with the court and other offices requiring the transmission of documents and the coordination of criminal filings and court appearances; may serve as an expert witness in court proceedings; prepares evidence for officers and investigators for court proceedings; maintains records and tracks such actions.
• Releases property to the public; prepares the proper paperwork and prepares evidence for pick-up; completes the necessary reports and documentation of the release.
• May receive and screen visitors and telephone calls; answers questions, distributes forms, and provides a variety of information requiring the use of judgment and the interpretation of laws, policies, and procedures.
• Performs difficult, complex, technical and/or specialized office support work that requires the exercise of independent judgment, the application of technical skills, and a detailed knowledge of the activities and procedures specific to the Police Department.
• Researches and assembles information from a variety of sources for the preparation of periodic and special reports or the completion of forms; uses spreadsheets and makes arithmetic and statistical calculations.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, forms, receipts, brochures, and specialized documents, such as letters to investigators, property claim letters to citizens, and other correspondence.
• Provides training and technical assistance to co-workers, including providing instruction on proper evidence collection and maintenance techniques.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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

Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Functions, terminology, services, and principles and practices of law enforcement work.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local codes, regulations, policies, technical processes and procedures, including penal, vehicle, and health and safety codes and regulations.
• Techniques for records management and evidence processing, including records disbursement and chain of evidence procedures.
• Methods used in the collection, tabulation, review, analysis, and distribution of evidence and property, forms, reports, and documents.
• Record keeping and filing principles and practices.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Computer applications related to the work, including data tracking, word processing, and basic spreadsheet applications.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for dealing with and solving the problems presented by a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Perform technical, detailed, and responsible law enforcement support work.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain rules, policies, codes, and procedures.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Organize, research and maintain technical and administrative files.
• Enter data into a computer system and prepare written materials with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform the work.
• Make accurate arithmetic and statistical calculations.
• File and maintain automated and hard copy records with speed and accuracy.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs, as well as a digital camera
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to the completion of twelfth (12th) grade and supplemental specialized training in criminal justice, police forensics, police property room, police evidence, or a related field, and one (1) year experience in providing clerical or administrative support in a law enforcement setting.
• Successful completion of the California Department of Justice Evidence or comparable course within twenty-four (24) months of the date of entry into the position.

License:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California Driver's License by time of appointment.

Other:

• Due to the nature of this position, applicants recommended for hire must pass a detailed background investigation and a psychological examination.
• This position will be subject to random drug testing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read written materials, a computer screen, and examine evidence; color vision to distinguish between evidence and property characteristics; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone and/or radio; This is primarily a sedentary office classification that requires extended periods of time of sitting; standing in work areas, and walking between work areas may also be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects necessary to perform job functions.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS:

• Employees work indoors and outdoors, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical, and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. This position may be required to work holidays, weekends, and off-hours shifts including working extended shifts in relief or exigent situations.

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