GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for the collection and identification of evidence associated with civil and criminal cases, and internal investigations. Reports to a Police Sergeant.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Identifies, collects, preserves, documents, and processes physical evidence independently from complex crime scenes, and victims and suspects; collects latent fingerprints; photographs and sketches crime scenes; maintains chain of evidence; processes and maintains digital images; transports evidence to and from state crime lab; and coordinates with detectives and all appropriate laboratories.
Documents crime scenes using sketching and measurements, photography and videotaping; transports all departmental evidence collected; works on a variety of projects within the department; recovers fingerprints and processes latent fingerprints on various surfaces; obtains fingerprint impressions and interprets fingerprint patterns; properly disposes and labels biohazard materials; maintains and properly cleans cabinets; handles wet and soiled items collected by technicians and officers; handles and processes firearms under specific safety conditions.
Processes evidence in the field and laboratory; attends autopsies; interprets laboratory analysis reports and forensic findings, prepares detailed reports for inclusion in formal case files; serves as a technical witness; works with Detectives and Patrol Officers, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office and other agencies to develop and prepare cases; prepares and presents expert testimony, and defends court testimony.
Maintains inventory of supplies for photo and fingerprint labs; mixes chemicals for latent fingerprint and photo lab use; handles chemical in accordance with the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) set forth by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
PEFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of modern criminal investigative practices and procedures. Has general knowledge of the geographic and socioeconomic layout of the city. Has general knowledge of federal, state, and city laws relative to criminal investigations. Has general knowledge of the standard practices, materials, techniques and equipment associated with criminal investigations. Is able to survey a crime scene and decide what evidence needs to be collected and photographed. Is able to determine what type of examination should be performed to obtain the best results for the investigation. Is able to present clear and effective testimony in court. Is able to interpret and apply laws to specific cases and to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations, and adopt quick, effective actions. Is able to make observations and remember tames, faces, and various details. Is able to prepare clear and comprehensive reports. Is able to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under “Essential Job Functions.”
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to superiors with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meeting job responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions with a minimum of errors in accordance with prescribed policies and procedures. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, service administrator, professionals, consumers and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, Forensic Science, Biology or a related field, and 2-3 years of experience in crime scene investigations to include fingerprinting and photography; or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state, and federal criminal history check and a sex offender registry check.
Selected applicants must be available to work all assigned shifts. This will include day shift or night shift.
Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.
Requires satisfactory results from a medical, psychological evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.
A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Required to work holidays, nights, and weekends, and on a rotational call-in basis.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a two-way radio, typewriter, calculator, copier, camera etc.; and general law enforcement equipment. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements of the job are those rated for sedentary work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, records and memorandums. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Requires the ability to assess critical situations and establish methods to resolve such situations.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and medical terminology, and emergency response codes.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using general law enforcement equipment and a variety of photographic equipment. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking, expressing, or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via two-way radio.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
