Property/Evidence Technician

Description

The City of South Lake Tahoe is hiring a Property/Evidence Technician to join the Police Department. Under general supervision, this position will perform crime scene investigations, evaluate and process evidence, examine latent fingerprints, maintain property room, prepare evidence, testify in court and perform related duties and responsibilities in accordance with Police Department policies and procedures

Recruitment Process

Applications Received: June 26 - July 28, 2024

Oral Panel Interview/Qualifications Appraisal: Tentatively the week of August 12th

Department Interviews: End of August

Evidence/Property Technician

• This is the entry level of the Property/Evidence Technician series. Employees in this class work under close supervision as a trainee performing crime scene investigation duties according to established procedures in scene photography and videography, evidence evaluation, collection and processing, scene diagramming and latent fingerprint examination and identification. Incumbents receive both on-the-job and formal classroom training and perform duties of increasing responsibility that are generally observed and reviewed both during its performance and upon completion. During the first year of employment, incumbents are expected to progress in acquiring skills, knowledge, and abilities to be able to perform work independent of direct oversight and supervision.

Examples of Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Conducts specialized tasks in photography, latent fingerprint development, bloodstain photography, and trace evidence collection.

• Processes and enhances, classifies, and identifies fingerprints using various means and then assists in person identification matters with Federal, State and local authorities.

• Conducts crime scene response; searches for, identifies, confers on, and collects physical macro and trace evidence; photographs and video records crime scene; makes diagrams and log items collected from each location.

• Identifies and preserves evidence; prepares for and presents in court; books property into and out of evidence to preserve the chain of evidence; maintains files and daily logs; conducts evidence audits; destroys and releases property; inventories monies and narcotics; generates reports and assists other members of the department with investigations.

• Compares latent fingerprints to known and unknown suspects and victims; searches files for identifying suspects using CalDOJ and FBI identification systems. Collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies for fingerprint classification and identification.

• Is responsible for the preparation, identification, and maintenance of fingerprints and other related identification records.

• Conducts specialized tasks in photography, arson and bomb investigations, bloodstain interpretation, hair fiber and trace evidence collection.

• Serves as an expert witness; provides courtroom testimony.

• May require close viewing or observation of victim(s) of accidents or violent crimes.

• Performs related duties as required

To see the full job description, please click here.

Typical Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Crime scene investigation: photography, diagramming, collection and preservation of evidence.

• Evidentiary collection methods and analyses

• Use of camera and video equipment.

• Standard fingerprint classification methods, practices, records, and equipment.

• Modern methods, practices, and techniques of police work including knowledge of criminal investigation and crime scene analysis.

• Records or visualizes physical or trace evidence through such photographic techniques as macro, micro, infrared, and ultraviolet photography and the use of alternate light sources.

• Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office Suite

Ability to:

• Analyze crime scenes.

• Develop evidence to be processed.

• Identify, interpret, explain, and enforce evidentiary and other police procedures.

• Review and interpret case reports.

• Maintain awareness of safety at all times.

• Prepare and analyze clear and concise reports.

• Lift latent fingerprints and to classify fingerprints accurately.

• Maintain detailed criminal records.

• Work under pressure.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and writing in English.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and the public.

Education and Experience Guidelines

• Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Evidence/Property Technician

Education/Training:

A combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Experience:

One year, equivalent to full-time, experience as a student trainee, or career employee in a law enforcement agency.

AND

Education:

Completion of sixty (60) units from an accredited college or university with major work in forensic science, criminal justice, chemistry, biology, or a closely related field.

Substitution:

A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major work in forensic science, criminal justice, chemistry, biology, or a closely related field may substitute for the required experience.

Additional Substitution:

Three years' experience in police investigation, forensics, or fingerprinting, and a Bachelor's Degree in a non-related field.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid California or Nevada driver's license.

Supplemental Information

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Reactive emergency, natural or man-made disaster, and crime scenes with travel from site to site; the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in areas of limited and restricted entry and exit; regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and wet and/or humid conditions; occasionally works in high, precarious places; exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, the noise level is occasionally very loud when responding to emergency calls and when working at an emergency incident.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an emergency response setting; walk, stand, sit, or run for prolonged periods of time; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; occasionally climb and balance; regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights; frequently lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights; occasionally lift and/or more heavy weights and tools;; requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers; ability to speak and hear in English to exchange information; ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations.

Vision: See within the normal range of vision with or without correction; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

FLSA Designation:Non-Exempt