Criminalist III, Digital Forensics

Duties

Criminalist III duties:

• Collects, examines, analyzes, and processes complex evidence, including trace, firearms, impression, biological, fingerprint, digital, and crime scene evidence.
• Develops, validates, and implements new methods and technologies in the analysis of evidence.
• Develops and updates written procedures for evidence analysis, data interpretation, case note composition, and maintenance.
• Reviews requests for forensic services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.
• Assigns cases based on factors such as available personnel, specialties of personnel and caseload.
• Conducts administrative and technical reviews of all case files and reports.
• Develops and implements quality control and safety procedures in the laboratory.
• Develops a documented evidence control system to ensure the integrity of physical evidence.
• Establishes and implements a documented program to ensure that instruments and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.
• Administers proficiency testing, reviews results, and recommends remedial action as necessary.
• Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.
• Researches technical journals, textbooks, and proprietary publications to determine the best methods of performing tests.
• Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence.
• Schedules training for staff in the use of highly technical instruments and microscopes.
• Maintains training and proficiency test records of all subordinates, case examinations and service records for scientific instruments in the laboratory.
• Prepares written budget requests for presentation to superiors of unit need, including equipment upgrade, staff training or other budget increases.
• Confers with Inspectors and District Attorneys to discuss case priorities.
• Serves as an instructor on evidence collection and crime laboratory procedure for Police Academy and for Advanced Officer training courses.
• Attends professional meetings to maintain communication with other agencies, and to keep abreast of innovations that may be useful to the Unit.

Digital Forensics duties:

• Supervises the activities of subordinate personnel engaged in Digital Forensic examination. Plan, assign and evaluate subordinate personnel to ensure conformance with departmental regulations and policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Develop and review division operating procedures.
• Prepare section for Accreditation.
• Collect and transport multiple forms of evidence to and from various locations for forensic evaluation and chain of custody documentation and process evidence according to department procedure.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

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

Requirements

Education:

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related physical science field.

Experience:

• Four years (4) of full-time professional experience working in a laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City's 8260 Criminalist II).

License and Certification:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Substitution:

• Postgraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Background Investigation:

• Prior to employment with the San Francisco Police Department, a thorough background investigation will be conducted to determine the candidate’s suitability for employment. The investigation may include, but not be limited to: criminal history records, driving records, drug/alcohol screening, and other related employment and personal history records. Reasons for rejection may include use of controlled substances and alcohol, felony conviction, repeated or serious violations of the law, inability to work with co-workers, inability to accept supervision, inability to follow rules and regulations or other relevant factors. Candidates may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening, and must clear Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprinting. Criminal records will be carefully reviewed; candidates who do not report their complete criminal records on their applications will be disqualified. Applicants will be fingerprinted.

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