Evidence Technician (In-House Only)

City of Lemoore•Lemoore, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

To perform a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility; maintain control and custody of evidence; to return or destroy seized property and evidence as appropriate and authorized; to maintain a variety of records detailing the location or disposition of property and evidence; to perform routine clerical, technical, and administrative work in support of law enforcement activities; and to perform a variety of tasks in support of crime scene investigations.

Requirements

Knowledge of operational characteristics, services, and activities of a property and evidence program.
Knowledge of methods, procedures, principles, practices and terminology used in property and evidence handling, recording, preservation, storage and release.
Knowledge of rules of evidence pertaining to collection, processing and disposal.
Knowledge of principles and practices of proper evidentiary storage, identification and retrieval.
Knowledge of principles and practices of a law enforcement program.
Knowledge of record keeping methods.
Knowledge of methods and techniques of testing evidence.
Knowledge of methods and techniques of data collection and analysis.
Knowledge of principles and practices of crime and accident scene investigation.
Knowledge of basic police terminology and evidentiary terminology.
Knowledge of office practices, procedures, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Knowledge of principles of pertinent federal, state and local codes, laws and regulations.
Ability to perform a variety of tasks related to the collection and preservation of evidence and criminal investigations.
Ability to collect, test, analyze, evaluate, and preserve evidence.
Ability to receive, process, store, document, release, and dispose of evidence and property.
Ability to adhere to established evidence collection and disposal guidelines.
Ability to provide testimony in court.
Ability to research case files to determine property and evidence status.
Ability to respond to and evaluate crime scenes for the collection of evidence.
Ability to prepare evidence for transport.
Ability to maintain a current knowledge of evidence and property storage and release procedures.
Ability to perform follow-up duties on assigned investigations.
Ability to prepare a variety of clear and concise reports on activities.
Ability to maintain accurate and complete records.
Ability to respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
Ability to follow oral and written directions.
Ability to work independently in the absence of supervision.
Ability to safely handle firearms and narcotics.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
One year of law enforcement experience or experience in the collection and preservation of records or artifacts.
Equivalent to an Associate’s Degree or two full years of attendance at a college or university with a major emphasis in criminology, law enforcement, or administration of justice.

Responsibilities

Serve as evidence officer: receive, record, categorize, store, analyze, and preserve evidence; maintain control and custody of evidence.
Accept property and evidence; verify proper packaging of property; contact officers, supervisors, and other staff regarding necessary corrections; assure proper protection of property and evidence, receive items, and prepare inventories.
Log evidence into collection book; check items in and out for court investigations.
Maintain chain-of-evidence and all records regarding retained property and evidence.
Prepare materials for storage, identify storage locations, store and secure property and evidence; control access to property and evidence, maintain security logs, check material out exclusively to those with a “need to know” and within established guidelines.
Determine when to dispose of evidence and prepare appropriate petitions; gather and prepare evidence and property items for destruction; destroy evidence and property items upon receipt of court order for destruction.
Release property in accordance with current laws and departmental policies.
Maintain and update knowledge of evidence handling requirements; train department staff in correct property and evidence packaging and processing.
Collect latent hairs, fibers, blood, biological fluids and other evidence; process evidence of latent prints; prepare and transport evidence to forensic laboratories for further analysis.
Aid as crime scene investigator, respond to major crime and accident scenes, evaluate scene for the collection of evidence and forensic services; photograph, collect, document, store, and preserve evidence.
Research and determine status of cases; notify property owners and/or purge property in accordance with the law.
Assist the general public and allied agencies by phone and in person; respond to requests from law enforcement personnel, outside law enforcement agencies, and the general public regarding the location and recovery of property and evidence; explain policies and procedures governing the release of evidence; send correspondence to property owners regarding release of property.
Prepare routine office functions such as word processing, filing, and record keeping; prepare reports of property and evidence.
Maintain and stock evidence supplies.
Attend a variety of meetings, conferences, and training sessions regarding the property and evidence function; maintain awareness of developments within the fields of property and evidence.
Provide testimony in court regarding evidence chain of custody, tests performed, and findings.
Perform related duties as required.