Criminalist

City of Wylie•Wylie, TX

About The Position

Performs administrative and technical duties associated with the acceptance, storage control and disposition of police evidence and property. Protect the integrity of evidence throughout the judicial process, and to ensure compliance with all State and local laws regarding the storage and disposition of property and evidence. Analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification of latent prints to known prints, individualizing the source of latent prints. This includes the elimination and or identification of suspects. To identify, collect and preserve evidence. Assist in criminal investigations. Processing crime scenes and processing evidence. Supervision is provided by the Investigative Services Sergeant.

Requirements

High school diploma is required.
Valid Driver's License required with no restrictions except “A”.
Driving record must be in compliance with City policy.
Completion of National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses as outlined by Emergency Management after hire.

Nice To Haves

Six months to one year of college level coursework or training beyond high school from an accredited college or university with major course work in Police Science, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Mathematics/Statistics or a related field and one to three years of experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Receives, sorts and secures all property delivered to the evidence room.
Enter evidence into the computer system to enter submitted items into Police Department evidence tracking system.
Accountable for security and integrity of evidence room; responsible for preserving the critical chain of custody.
Determines appropriate and lawful disposition of property; releases property to officers, property owners, the courts and/or other agencies.
Prepares destruction orders and completes destruction of evidence that is no longer needed or no longer has evidentiary value or property that has not been claimed or has no known owner.
Processes evidence for latent prints when needed.
Ensure that all evidence to be processed by an outside lab is sent to the appropriate lab in a timely manner and in accordance with policy and procedure to maintain chain of custody.
Maintains an accurate accounting of all property transfers and releases.
Conducts periodic audits of property room and completes an annual inventory.
Processes crime scenes by taking photographs, sketches and measurements, dusting for fingerprints, conduct trajectory and or blood pattern stain analysis when needed, collecting, preserving and logging physical evidence, completing reports, and packaging, managing and inventorying evidence
Lifts, processes and compares latent prints
Completes analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification of latent prints individualizing the source of the latent print to the suspect, victim or other source. This includes identifications and eliminations.
Identifying latent prints through conducting searches on latent prints utilizing the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) (AFIX Tracker) and the Department of Public Safety’s Universal Latent Workstation.
Processes evidence by performing presumptive laboratory tests, analysis, classifications, comparisons, and identifications of all types of physical evidence from crime scenes and completes and distributes lab reports for each request received.
Testifies in court by consulting with court personnel concerning testimony, responding to requests for specific evidentiary information and testifying under oath on crime scenes processed for specific cases on latent print comparisons, and or chain of custody events.
Provides educational opportunities by conducting training classes for police officers on crime scenes, training for interns and high school crime scene skills groups.
Provides departmental support by maintaining files and records, preparing detailed reports to ensure proper chain of custody, and assisting other organizations and agencies that do not have crime scene investigative units or latent print examiners.
On call availability for crimes scenes or other specific after hour needs or demands
Continues training and education for changing laws and processing techniques
Attends meetings to maintain awareness of new developments in the field
Works cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies
Responds tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies.
Communicates clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Other duties as may be assigned