Property and Evidence Custodian

Duties

Examples of Responsibilities

• Receives and records property/evidence from Police Department Personnel and other authorized personnel; safeguards property/evidence and maintains the integrity of the chain of evidence.
• Informs owners and other applicable parties as to the procedure for recovering property; keeps records of such items and any disposition taken through a specialized computer system.
• Interacts with citizens in person to return property and performs necessary checks to ensure property can be returned and is returned to the correct person.
• Receives, records and disposes of abandoned, lost or recovered properties using a computer.
• Maintains detailed inventory including such items as narcotics, jewelry, currency, weapons, and numerous household and business properties in the evidence room.
• Researches cases, contacts case investigators, other police agencies, and submits requests to various courts for case disposition. Regularly compiles items that have reached a certain status for disposal via incineration or through an authorized auction.
• Transports evidence items to other local agencies, the state crime lab, and other locations.
• Requires regular and prompt attendance plus the ability to work well with others as a team.

Job Conditions:

• Work is usually performed in an office/warehouse setting, sometimes without climate control.
• Frequent operation of a City provided vehicle for transporting evidence/property.
• There may be exposure to hazardous narcotics requiring the employee to wear rubber gloves or other personal protective equipment.
• There may be exposure to bio-hazardous material such as blood, semen and saliva.
• Some work areas will frequently have strong odors. Standard personal protective equipment will be provided by the employer.

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

Requirements

Minimal Qualifications

• High school diploma from a school accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or GED certificate issued by the appropriate state agency.
• Experience as a law enforcement property/evidence clerk or experience in organization and inventory of large amounts of items in a storage room setting is preferred.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of the rules and laws governing the receipt, control, disposition, and destruction of evidence and property obtained by the police.
• Knowledge of inventory control procedures and modern office practices.
• Knowledge of safety rules and procedures about processing and storing of hazardous and bio- hazardous materials.
• Knowledge of the proper procedures for safe handling, clearing and storage of various firearms to include pistols, rifles and shotguns.
• Ability to deal tactfully and professionally with the public by telephone and personal contact regarding inquiries concerning stolen, lost, abandoned, or confiscated property/evidence.
• Ability to maintain detailed records regarding the chain of custody of evidence.
• Ability to appear in court when subpoenaed and speak with knowledge and confidence regarding cases.
• Ability to act independently and with good judgment.
• Ability to organize, store, and find multiple items on shelves and racks.
• Ability to use computer programs such as Outlook and Microsoft Office applications.
• Skill in the use and care of a personal computer, scanner, and printer.

Physical Capabilities:

• Work is usually sedentary with occasional walking and climbing stairs, reaching, bending, lifting and carrying objects under 50 pounds.
• Work requires the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time, to operate a computer terminal and to perceive and/or discriminate colors, sounds, depth and texture.
• Work requires the ability to operate a motor vehicle.

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