Forensic Scientist EVII - Crime Scene Investigations Supervisor - Area 2 (D22)

Indiana State Police•Fort Wayne, IN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This role serves as a civilian employee of the Indiana State Police (ISP) responsible for supervising Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) and District Evidence Specialists within a designated geographic area. The primary focus is to ensure compliance with security and quality assurance standards for the District Evidence Management System. The position involves managing crime scene response, evidence security, and quality assurance protocols, providing leadership for resource utilization, and directly supervising and evaluating CSI and Evidence Specialist performance. The role also includes overseeing responses to complex investigations like mass fatalities and disaster situations, ensuring timely evidence transfers, recommending staffing and equipment needs, and identifying training requirements. The supervisor will represent the Department, conduct training, maintain communication with various communities, review statistical data, evaluate service requests, manage callout rosters, and review CSI reports for accuracy and compliance. Additionally, the role involves liaising with prosecutors and other professionals, assessing equipment and budgetary needs, recommending policy changes, coordinating major case investigations, inspecting evidence facilities, conducting quality assurance reviews, monitoring court testimony, lecturing, and performing general maintenance of crime scene equipment.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree or higher with natural science, forensic science and/or criminal justice classes.
Five years experience as a certified full time CSI for an ISO/IEC 17020 or 17025 accredited laboratory may substitute for a Baccalaureate degree.
Must have completed a Department approved crime scene investigator’s training program and be certified by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy or have a minimum of three years of forensic services experience, preferably in crime scene processing and evidence handling.
Must meet competency testing for Crime Scene Investigators upon completion, if required, of initial training, and must successfully complete proficiency testing annually.
Must achieve and/or maintain certification as a Crime Scene Investigator with the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).
Ability to supervise highly trained and knowledgeable personnel.
Ability to respond to requests for service while in an off-duty status.
Ability to operate office and technical equipment (computer, lab-issued instrument, etc.).
Ability to adhere to established laboratory safety practices.
Ability to testify as an expert witness in an objective, unbiased, and professional manner.
Ability to understand rules of evidence as interpreted by courts.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Must be able to differentiate colors as evidenced by medical certification.
Must possess a valid Indiana driver’s license.
Ability to travel by aircraft and other vehicles.
Ability to attend training and meetings at alternate locations for extended periods of time.
Must be able to successfully pass a background investigation.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the crime scene response, as well as the security, management, and quality assurance protocols of the district evidence systems within the area of responsibility.
Provide leadership to ensure a more productive utilization of available resources.
Directly supervise and evaluate the work performance of the Crime Scene Investigators and the District Evidence Specialists within area of responsibility.
Oversee crime scene response to mass fatalities, disaster situations, and complicated investigations.
Ensure that evidence transfers among districts and laboratories, as well as the districts-to-districts transfers, are accomplished in a timely manner.
Evaluate for and recommend future staffing needs and equipment purchasing.
Identify and recommend training needs for Crime Scene Investigators, Evidence Specialists, and other Department employees in area of responsibility.
Represent the Department at public appearances and conduct periodic training for Department and other criminal justice community personnel.
Maintain effective communication with the scientific and criminal justice communities and Department personnel.
Review and evaluate statistical data generated by the Crime Scene Investigations Section, the Crime Scene Investigations Quality Assurance Unit, and the District Evidence Management Systems.
Evaluate the Crime Scene Investigations Section requests for service to ensure that forensic support is appropriate within the area of responsibility.
Maintain a current after-hours callout roster and distribute it as directed by Forensic Services Division (FSD) policy.
Review Crime Scene Investigators reports and field notes to ensure accuracy, adherence to the records management system requirements, quality assurance standards, and FSD policies and procedures.
Liaison with prosecutors, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy staff, laboratory Forensic Scientists, and other law and forensic professionals as needed.
Assess equipment needs for Crime Scene Investigators and Evidence Specialists and make budgetary recommendations.
Evaluate training needs and make recommendations related to Crime Scene Investigators and Evidence Specialists.
Evaluate and make recommendations regarding policies and procedures that affect the crime scene response, the Crime Scene Investigations Quality Assurance Program, and the District Evidence Management System.
Coordinate forensic investigations of major cases and serial crimes as needed.
Perform periodic inspections of District evidence facilities to ensure inventories are maintained properly and the evidence destruction process is conducted as required, and to ensure compliance to the Crime Scene Investigations Quality Assurance System protocols.
Conduct Crime Scene Investigations Quality Assurance and District Evidence Management System Reviews as directed by the Division Commander.
Monitor and evaluate Crime Scene Investigators and Evidence Specialists court testimony.
Testify in court as required.
Lecture to various groups to support the mission of the Department and the FSD.
Direct, supervise, and evaluate the performance of personnel within area of responsibility and other FSD personnel as needed.
Inspect and conduct general maintenance of crime scene equipment to ensure reliability and serviceability is maintained.
Ensure compliance with accreditation requirements, Standard Operating Procedures, Rules, Regulations, and FSD policies.
Serve on interview committees.
Perform other duties as required.