Property & Evidence Custodian

Duties

Essential Job Functions

• Makes presentations to groups and individuals on subjects related to the job's tasks and functions.
• Assists the general public with requests for the return of property and/or evidence.
• Types, files or obtains police reports and records as needed.
• Collects information and either acts upon it if within the scope of his/her authority or routes it to the proper authority or agency.
• Attends training as assigned.
• Develops and maintains required skills and acquires licenses, permits, and certifications associated with areas of special expertise.
• Trains new employees in areas of special skills or expertise.
• Prepares clear, accurate and complete reports, logs and documents on any and all activities engaged in.
• Assists in recovery, proper marking, and inventory of property for storage to ensure safekeeping of the property until claimed by owner or auctioned.
• Assists operations and investigations divisions in recovery of stolen property which includes storage, identification, and inventory for return to owner or holding for court proceedings.
• Maintains an inventory of recovered property to determine ownership, return property or sell at auction.
• Disburses evidence and property to officers and civilians.
• Maintains files of all evidence in the computer system.
• Maintains cleanliness and order in the evidence room.
• Audits all evidence and property on an annual basis.
• Maintains a data base for all items reported lost or found.
• Notifies any and all persons owning or having legal right to possession of property in the custody of the department.
• Returns, or causes to be returned, property to owners or others having legal right to possession.
• Disposes of unclaimed and contraband property in the manner established by department policy and all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Destroys, or cause to be destroyed, all evidence, property, and contraband materials upon direction from a court order.
• Processes and routes evidence to the appropriate crime laboratory for analysis, and retrieves said evidence upon completion of analysis.
• Routes photographic film submitted as evidence for processing, and retrieves those photos and negatives when completed.
• Manages immediately requests for copies of evidentiary materials for the State's Attorney's Office, or other court order-appointed individuals' requests, (i.e., photographs and videotapes, etc.).
• Testifies in court as to policies, procedures and methods used in handling, storage, and security of property, evidence, and photographic materials coming within or under his control.
• Prepares supplemental reports on all actions which involve evidence or property actions (i.e., laboratory submission and retrieval, destruction, or auction, etc.).
• Responds to citizen inquiries and complaints pertaining to evidence, property, or court orders.
• Gathers and completes necessary steps to release custody of appropriated property for auction.
• Orders and maintains all supplies needed for the collection, preservation, and storage of evidence and property.
• Obtains dispositions of property previously stored in the evidence/property room to determine release of property to owner, destruction, or auction, as required by the guidelines set forth in department policy.
• Operates all video and photographic equipment as required.
• Provide exceptional internal and external customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned/required.

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

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of procedures for operating various office equipment, including personal computers. Knowledge of the Department's policies, procedures, regulations, organization and work flow.
• Ability to exercises sound, and use independent judgment. Ability to complete special duty assignments with little supervision. Ability to respond quickly and accurately to written and oral directions, instruction, inquiries and requests. Ability to interact politely and professionally with co-workers, City officials, and the general public, including members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or familial status. Ability to provide superior customer service and respond to difficult and sensitive co-workers and citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Ability to act quickly, calmly and decisively in emergencies and under stress. Ability to handle situations firmly, courteously, tactfully and impartially. Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing. Ability to record information clearly and completely.
• Ability to operate a photocopier, printer, calculator, and facsimile machine and other general office equipment. Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Ability to exercise discretion in determining data classification and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships. Ability to exchange information for the purpose of obtaining information or clarifying details.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED; supplemented by college level coursework with emphasis in Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or closely related field; with two (2) years previous experience working in a clerical or data entry capacity.
• Previous law enforcement environment experience preferred.
• Experience working with the systematic receipt, storage, maintenance, issuance and disposal of various property items preferred.
• Must possess and maintain, throughout employment, a valid Florida driver's license and satisfactory driving history.
• Applicants qualifying for employment will be subject to a polygraph examination and an extensive background screening.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The position involves regular shift work usually Monday-Friday with some nights and weekends. Work shifts are normally 8 hours in duration, but may be extended in the event of emergency, disaster, manpower shortage, work load, or work-in-progress.
• Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including automobiles, radios, telephones, etc. Must be able to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to life, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; must be able to remain on feet for periods of time, stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, carry, push, pull, climb, balance, walk, run.
• Frequently required to walk; see, hear and talk with the public; read presented documents, write or use keyboard to communicate through written means.
• Must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level is quiet to moderately loud. Sometimes work is stressful when working under stringent time constraints.
• Basic tools and equipment necessary to perform job tasks and functions - including but not limited to simple tools tape measures, etc.), cameras, packaging equipment, driving, etc.
• Personal danger, including but not limited to Persons and/or articles with contagious/communicable diseases; Hazards associated with the operation of a property and evidence unit.

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