Public Safety Specialist (Criminal Evidence Section)
About The Position
As a Public Safety Specialist – Criminal Evidence Section, you will play a vital role in supporting our mission to uphold justice and serve the community by ensuring the integrity, security, and proper handling of criminal evidence and property. This position offers a dynamic and meaningful opportunity to work at the intersection of law enforcement, public service, and meticulous recordkeeping. In this role, you will work under regular supervision while performing a wide variety of complex, detail-oriented tasks critical to the criminal justice process. Your primary responsibilities will include the intake, secure storage, release, submission to the state laboratory, and lawful disposal of property and evidence, all while maintaining precise chain-of-custody documentation to support legal proceedings. You will proactively identify and resolve discrepancies, system issues, or storage concerns in collaboration with your supervisor, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. You will also contribute to the broader team by cross-training in other functional areas, assisting with periodic audits and inventories, and supporting fellow team members when needed. As the public face of the Evidence Section, you will respond to inquiries from the general public, law enforcement, and external agencies, providing excellent customer service while ensuring the confidentiality and security of sensitive materials. Additionally, you will assist supervisory staff with reporting, fiscal tracking, special projects, and interagency coordination, helping keep our operations running smoothly and effectively. On occasion, you may be called to testify in court regarding the custody and handling of evidence, underscoring the critical nature of your work. This position requires the ability to work well in a team environment and independently, maintaining a high level of integrity and attention to detail in a secure, high-accountability setting.
Requirements
- High school diploma or G.E.D.
- 1 year of related experience working in law enforcement, public safety, evidence/property room, records management, or another clerical/technical field.
- Ability to work well in a team environment and independently.
- High level of integrity and attention to detail in a secure, high-accountability setting.
- Must pass a thorough background investigation, which may include criminal history, credit check, education verification, license verification, and/or fingerprinting.
- Must have a current, valid driver's license.
Nice To Haves
- Associate’s degree or degree in Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Forensics, or a related field.
- Experience with filing, inventory, and evidence management software.
- Demonstrated superior customer service and effective written/oral communication.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to learn specialized databases.
- Prior experience testifying in court or maintaining chain-of-custody records.
- Knowledge of chain-of-custody principles, evidence handling protocols, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to train or instruct internal team members or external agency personnel on evidence handling procedures, chain of custody protocols, or the use of evidence management and tracking systems.
- Certifications such as Evidence Handling (e.g., IAPE), NCIC/VCIN access, or CJIS Security Awareness Training.
Responsibilities
- Intake, secure storage, release, submission to the state laboratory, and lawful disposal of property and evidence.
- Maintain precise chain-of-custody documentation to support legal proceedings.
- Proactively identify and resolve discrepancies, system issues, or storage concerns in collaboration with your supervisor.
- Cross-train in other functional areas.
- Assist with periodic audits and inventories.
- Support fellow team members when needed.
- Respond to inquiries from the general public, law enforcement, and external agencies.
- Assist supervisory staff with reporting, fiscal tracking, special projects, and interagency coordination.
- Testify in court regarding the custody and handling of evidence.
Benefits
- Professional development and training opportunities, including certifications in evidence handling and secure records management.
- Access to County-provided equipment and resources, such as a county vehicle (when required for field duties) and a County-issued cell phone for business use.
- Supportive, team-oriented environment that values integrity, accuracy, and service to the public.
- Opportunities to build strong interagency relationships and gain experience in a high-impact area of public safety operations.
- Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
- 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
- Paid Annual Leave
- Paid Personal Leave
- Paid Sick Leave
- Paid Holidays
- Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
- Optional Group Life Insurance
- An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Career Development Opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
