Police Evidence and Property Technician I/II (20640827)

THE POSITION

The current opening is for one full-time position. Under general supervision, this non-sworn classification is responsible for the performance of specialized and technical duties involved in the identification, storage, and processing of impounded property and evidence as part of the criminal investigative functions within the City's Police Department.  Primary responsibilities of the position are to collect,  identify, classify, and store fingerprints and trace evidence for criminal cases and to maintain the Department's automated record keeping system; manage the storage, production and disposal of electronic/digital media and evidence and property in conformance with applicable State and local regulations; and other duties as assigned. The Evidence Technician supervises a part-time Property Clerk.  This position is subject to being on-call for after-hours responses to major incidents.

The Ideal Candidate will have similar work experience that involves a heavy workload and great attention to detail.  The candidate will have demonstrated ability to excel and self-motivate with minimum supervision. 

Police Evidence and Property Technician I is the trainee level class. Initially under close supervision employees receive on the job training in the performance of a wide variety of tasks in analyzing and evaluating physiological fluids, controlled substances and other physical evidence. Employees are initially assigned less difficult, routine duties and progress to increasingly complex assignments throughout the Department until fully trained. This class is flexibly staffed with the II level and incumbents are expected to advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating the required proficiency.

Police Evidence and Property  Technician II is the journey level class in this series performing a wide variety of complex tasks in analyzing and evaluating physiological fluids, controlled substances and other physical evidence. Employees are required to use initiative and independent judgment in performing these duties and must be able to adopt unusual methods and techniques of scientific analysis in areas where procedural guidelines have not been clearly defined. Police Evidence and Property Technician II are required to appear in court as expert witnesses regarding the results and interpretation of tests and analyses. Employees may also provide some direction and assist in training other members of the police department.

Please refer to job description for additional details. The duties described in this job announcement are intended only as illustrations of the basic types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. 

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING  AND QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Police and Evidence Technician I

• Thirty semester units from an accredited college or university in police science, scientific crime detection, evidence technology and photography or related field.
• Associate in Arts degree in criminal justice or evidence technology preferred, including knowledge of applicable federal, state and local criminal and civil laws, codes and regulations.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license.

Police and Evidence Technician II

• Requirements for Technician I plus,
• Two years of experience in fingerprint identification and crime scene investigation.
• Associate in Arts degree in criminal justice or evidence technology preferred, including knowledge of applicable federal, state and local criminal and civil laws, codes and regulations.
• Must have qualified in court as a fingerprint expert.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Evidence collection and processing using a variety of technical equipment, materials and processes.
• Electronic/digital media and evidence use, storage; and disposal.
• Photographic methods and equipment as related to crime scene investigations and laboratory processing.
• Basic rules of evidence; department rules and regulations. 
• Proper English usage, report writing.
• Hazards and safety precautions applicable to warehousing and evidence.
• Firearms handling.
• Supervisory best practices.
• Preferred: Experience with digital evidence management

Ability to

• Work independently, with recent working knowledge of methods and techniques related to criminal identification and crime scene investigation.
• Work with a diverse of employees and others.
• Read reports, contracts, correspondence, memoranda, and other records.
• Operate a variety of standard office equipment.
• Speak, hear, and cooperate with suspects, victims, officers, witness, defense attorneys, etc., regarding items of evidence or property both on the telephone and in person.

Physical and environmental conditions include the ability to

• Frequently reach, lean, twist, turn, grasp, lift, push, pull bend, and kneel; ability to input data into a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Input data into a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Remain in a standing or sitting position for extended periods of time.
• Travel over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces.
• Move objects weighing less than 50 pounds short and long distances.
• Work in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the elements.
• Work any shift, weekends and holidays.

Position includes exposure to various

• Drugs, syringes, and drug-related paraphernalia.
• Firearms, ammunition, and lead.
• Various body fluids; fingerprint powder and gasses.
• Hazardous materials and infectious or communicable diseases.
• Computer glare.