Property & Evidence Technician

City of Haines City • Haines City, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Evidence Technician is a civilian position under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Police. This position is assigned the duties of a Custodian of the Police Property and Evidence Department. The Evidence Technician performs a variety of duties and tasks related to customer service and daily operations necessary to achieve exemplary services involving the receipt, recording, storage, retrieval, and destruction of property and evidence through efficient and effective implementation of all operational duties, clerical duties, and tasks within the parameters of the Property and Evidence Department. An essential element of this position is an attitude that includes the following: Interacting positively and cooperating with co-workers, responding politely to customers, working as a team member, functioning under intense pressure, and responding positively to supervision.

Requirements

• Required knowledge is obtained through the completion of a High School degree or GED.
• One (1) year of experience in warehousing or inventory control preferred.
• Coursework related to inventory control, warehousing, and storage keeping is preferred.
• Comparable work experience may be substituted for coursework.
• The individual must possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Duties may include public speaking, including courtroom presentations/testimony, which requires the ability to communicate and professionally present oneself.
• Must have the ability to make sound decisions, problem solves, organize thoughts, concentrate, and reason logically.
• The position requires the ability to listen, understand, and follow oral/written directions.
• The position requires the ability to read and/or write reports, memorandums, court orders, subpoenas, and fill out forms completely.
• Must be able to successfully maintain and work with confidential information.
• Requires ability to read and write English, and comprehend data/questions.
• Must be able to read and understand State of Florida Statutes about confiscation, preservation, and destruction of property and evidence; research, resource, and supplemental materials; City policies and procedure manuals/materials; Department General Orders; Case Reporting Manual; Accreditation Standards Manuals; NIMS/ICS issued materials; FDLE submission requirements; evidence collection procedures; crime lab procedures; maps; and radio codes/signals/unit identifications, and recognize informative placards/signs.
• The individual must be able to work under high demands, short time constraints, and the pressures of a fast-paced work environment, meeting established timelines/deadlines.
• Requires the ability to multi-task, follow oral/written directions, recognize danger or potential hazards, communicate tactfully, impartially, and effectively; concentrate, comprehend/follow complex instructions, reason logically, organize thoughts, and make decisions.
• The individual must maintain self-discipline, organizational skills; knowledge of established property/evidence custodial practices; Criminal Justice System; Judicial procedures, and available resources.
• Must be knowledgeable of the following: storage facilities and containers; evidence supplies; evidence recognition/types; evidence collection procedures; property/evidence processing procedures; security codes; inventory control procedures; weapons safety; biohazard procedures; exposures relating to hazardous materials, narcotics, and chemicals.
• The individual must understand the practical application of NIMS/ICS principles and tactics as they relate to the Property and Evidence Unit, and understand and apply safety techniques within a field and office setting.
• The individual must remain informed of current/community events; maintain public relations skills, knowledge of public safety concerns, and work with confidential information.
• Must be able to perform basic and complex property and evidence-related duties.
• The position requires the individual to have the ability to recognize evidence, and knowledge of handling various types of evidence and collection procedures.
• Requires the ability to utilize electronic equipment, operate the alarm system, use tools, read maps, operate specialized equipment, operate overhead doors, operate locks and gates, and operate a bar-coding system.
• The position requires the ability to recognize environmental dangers, explosion dangers, and potential hazards.
• The individual must be able to maintain accurate logs.
• The individual must maintain assigned equipment/vehicle in operational ready status.
• The position requires knowledge of General Orders and City policies and procedures.
• Requires the ability to read gauges/odometers and expiration dates, loosen lug nuts, and perform minor vehicle maintenance.
• Must be able to establish and maintain effective working and professional relationships with City and other public employees, Department members, State Attorney's Office, other property/evidence professionals, and the general public.
• The position requires the ability to communicate effectively; have interpersonal skills; public relations; problem-solving/stress management, and self-discipline skills with the ability to concentrate on specific tasks.
• The position requires knowledge of other government agencies, referral sources, and available community services.
• The individual must have a working knowledge of the City's geographical area.
• Must maintain and exercise ethnic/cultural awareness.
• The individual must be able to perform basic mathematical equations necessary to perform payroll preparation, evidence processing such as recognition of and counting U.S. currency, and have basic mathematical, keyboarding, computer, organizational, decision making, and accounting skillsets.
• Must be able to use a computer, keyboard, software such as Microsoft Office (e.g. Word), Power DMS, audio/visual equipment; calculator, telephone, copier, facsimile or scanner, crime scene processing equipment, and field equipment/supplies.
• Must know about filing systems and be able to file alphabetically/numerically.
• The individual must be familiar with office supplies; forms/forms control; and various/appropriate documents/forms and logs.
• Must possess a valid Florida Class E driver's license, and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must pass an applicable post offer pre-employment testing and background and credit check selection process requirements.

Nice To Haves

• One (1) year of experience in warehousing or inventory control preferred.
• Coursework related to inventory control, warehousing, and storage keeping is preferred.
• Comparable work experience may be substituted for coursework.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the performance of all assigned Property and Evidence Unit operations necessary to achieve exemplary services involving the receipt, recording, storage, retrieval, and destruction of property and evidence through efficient and effective implementation of all crime scene-related services.
• Performs duties necessary to achieve Department and organizational goals, and objectives, and property/evidence responses/initiatives.
• Acts as custodian of the Property and Evidence Unit.
• Maintains sound knowledge of modern techniques specific to handling property and evidence.
• Responsible for the security of evidence for use in the apprehension and prosecution of law violators.
• Responsible for maintaining up-to-date required/mandated training.
• Duties include attending training activities to ensure ongoing job-related training and professional development is compliant with all applicable Federal, State, Occupational Health and Safety, and organizational policies, practices, and standards.
• Required to provide documentation of training to Department upon successful completion of training activities/courses, ensuring personal training record is up-to-date.
• Required to review and electronically sign General Orders, online training, and other instructive/informative documents published in Power DMS, within established timelines.
• Responsible to perform duties relating to the receipt of property and evidence. Duties include collecting/receiving property/evidence; inspecting property/evidence to ensure it is packaged properly and by Department standards; and ensuring property/evidence paperwork is completed properly and submitted with property/evidence.
• Retrieves property/evidence from Department evidence lockers/cages.
• Weighs evidence such as narcotics/drugs.
• Responsible to perform duties relating to documentation/recording of property/evidence received into the custody and control of the Property and Evidence Unit. Duties include logging and performing data entry into a computerized property/evidence tracking system; bar-coding property/evidence; preparing reports; maintaining concise and accurate records; maintaining files and activity reports; maintaining visitor logs; processing disposition forms; responding timely to SAO requests, court-ordered subpoenas, duces tecum, and retrieving information data.
• Ensures timeliness of reports/documentation/correspondence.
• Utilizes computer equipment and software programs.
• Compiles statistics.
• Maintains confidential information.
• Responsible for duties relating to the storage of property/evidence. Duties include placing property/evidence in specific assigned locations for easy location/retrieval; maintaining/storing sensitive property/evidence separately (guns, currency, drugs, precious metals, jewelry...) by accreditation mandates; operating property/evidence equipment; and maintaining indoor/outdoor and sally-port storage locations.
• Assists with audits/inspections.
• Maintains confidential information.
• Responsible for duties relating to the retrieval of found or confiscated property/evidence. Duties include responding to telephone inquiries; retrieving property/evidence from assigned storage locations; preparing evidence as requested; ensuring the computerized property/evidence tracking system is timely updated, and ensuring the property/evidence chain of custody is properly documented.
• Releases property/evidence to appropriate authority, and returns property/evidence to rightful owners pursuant to law and upon appropriate authorization.
• Submits evidence to crime lab(s).
• Additional duties may include responding to crime scenes to assist in the retrieval of found or confiscated property/evidence at the request of the Detective Unit.
• Responsible for duties relating to the destruction/disposal of property/evidence pursuant to law. Duties include retrieval of items slated for disposal/destruction; timely updating computerized property/evidence tracking system; determining appropriate destruction/disposal methods in accordance with procedures and pursuant to law; scheduling destruction/disposal; completing destruction/disposal of property/evidence; and ensuring reports and data entry are completed timely.
• Maintains records of destruction/disposal in accordance with the law.
• Responsible for Quartermaster related duties. Duties include ordering/distributing expendable items to Department members; and ensuring the Quartermaster storage location is maintained in a secure, neat, and orderly fashion.
• Ensures Quartermaster is appropriately stocked to meet member necessities.
• Completes and maintains appropriate paperwork in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Responsible for Department Forms Control. Duties include maintaining/assigning form identification numbers; and coordinating the form approval process with Department Accreditation Manager.
• Maintains copies of forms, and a computerized tracking system.
• Responsible for issued equipment/vehicles/supplies. Duties include maintenance of assigned/issued equipment in operational ready condition, and maintaining Property and Evidence Unit vehicle in operational ready condition.
• Conducts self-inspections.
• Maintains/utilizes equipment/vehicles by General Orders.
• Requests/ensures timely repair/replacement of items not deemed to be operationally ready.
• Conduct research projects/special assignments; respond to telephone inquiries; and maintain liaison with other agencies.
• Testifies at trials/hearings/depositions.
• Complete and process State Statutes 119 requests, requests for information, and evidence submissions for the State Attorney's Office, the Office of the Public Defender, and outside agencies.
• Will package and prepare evidence for submission to FDLE.
• Obtain surveillance videos, organize photos submitted for evidence and have them backed up on the server, complete ATF e-traces, and issue and maintain AEDs and other drug test kits.
• Perform additional duties as assigned and will assist in the receipt, recording, storage, retrieval, and destruction of property and evidence.

Benefits

• The City of Haines City is a Drug-Free Workplace.
• Salary range is provided to show the min to max compensation for a position. It is not the basis for or guarantee of a starting salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED