Evidence and Identification Technician

Duties

• Identifies, collects, documents, preserves, and processes latent prints and other physical evidence from crime scenes or investigations;
• Manages Agency’s property storage room;
• Collects, duplicates, and converts digital surveillance evidence;
• Handles evidence in a safe manner to prevent damage, loss, and/or cross-contamination; maintains proper chain of custody for evidence;
• Confers with individuals who may provide information that could be helpful in processing evidence recovered from a potential crime scene for a police investigation;
• Enters spent cartridge cases into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) database, compares images in national database to determine possible matches, and refers matches to a forensic scientist for confirmation;
• Testifies and presents physical evidence and findings in a court of law;
• Prepares summaries, reports, and other documentation related to processing evidence from an investigation or a crime scene;
• Provides periodic training regarding the collection, preservation, and processing of physical evidence;
• Screens burglary and theft reports daily, and creates a prioritized list of crime scenes to be processed;
• Operates motor vehicle to transport equipment, supplies, and evidence to and from potential crime scenes;
• Restocks supplies and maintains equipment;
• Completes periodic training to stay current on technology and trends;
• Operates Division-supplied communication devices, computers, or other electronic equipment;
• Administers and maintains the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) computer system;
• Liaisons with computer manufacturers, supply vendors, external identification professionals, outside police jurisdictions, City law enforcement, and court agencies;
• Provides quality assurance of fingerprint submissions;
• Processes latent fingerprints collected from crime scenes;
• Assures timely submissions of fingerprint and ID information to state and federal agencies;
• May testify in court regarding fingerprint identification;
• Receives, documents, categorizes, reviews, and verifies a wide variety of property and evidence, including but not limited to, hazardous and toxic materials, chemicals and substances and firearms, determines and arranges transportation of evidence for additional outside analysis or storage, while maintaining a complete chain-of-custody;
• Receives requests from the public and outside agencies; provides information regarding procedures for obtaining property and evidence and laws governing release;
• Assists in the processing of requests from the Prosecutors Office; copies, prepares and maintains confidential and evidentiary documents, CDs, DVDs, photographs, other evidence and prepares transmission of digital evidence; coordinates with Prosecutor’s Office for the review of such evidence; prepares evidence for court and documents chain-of-custody;
• Performs research, determines ownership, and if evidence can be released or destroyed in compliance with office policies, procedures, and State laws; obtains authorization and arranges for the destruction and disposal of property and evidence including hazardous and toxic materials, chemicals, and substances; prepares correspondence to property owner for the release of property;
• Maintains a variety of records regarding the receipt, storage, release, and destruction of property and evidence;
• Assists with audits of property and evidence room performed in accordance to policy, verifying location; arranges for and participate in narcotic, guns, and money audits;
• Maintains legal custody and control of the property and evidence room card access; moves and shifts property and evidence as required to maintain storage levels; requisition materials and supplies, as necessary;
• Uses safety precautions and follow Department procedures to properly handle firearms, weapons, chemical samples, blood, DNA, narcotics, syringes, toxic materials, money, valuable items, illicit material, and alcoholic beverages to prevent injury, avoid contamination, and assure chain-of-custody;
• Works with sworn personnel to facilitate victim viewings of property and evidence, ensuring the safekeeping and chain-of-custody of said property and evidence;
• Testifies in court regarding handling and chain-of-custody of evidence;
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other agency representatives and the public using principles of good customer service;
• Must obtain Master Crime Scene Investigator certification through OPOTA;
• Maintains professional training;
• Participates in on-call rotation;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

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

Requirements

• Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent. Bachelors degree preferred. Must have a valid Ohio driver's license and a clean criminal record. Work involves moderately complex, relatively standardized tasks, processes and operations following established laws and procedures.

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