Job Description
Duties and Requirements Click to read more
Duties
The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job:
- Responsible for the recognition, identification, documentation, and scientific collection of all physical evidence pertinent to the investigation of a criminal act.
- Examines crime scenes to discover, preserve, collect, photograph, video and identify physical evidence.
- Communicates extensively with uniformed officers and investigators to determine the nature and extent of crimes and shares information/findings with investigators.
- May fingerprint persons or deceased persons using ink pads or specialized tools.
- Maintains a working knowledge of the latest crime scene techniques and available resources.
- Interprets the scientific data gathered and prepares meaningful reports in a manner to be presented to a judge and jury in a court of law.
- Prepares sketches and diagrams to include dimensions of a crime scene and to establish location of evidence and relationships of all relevant data.
- Prepares detailed reports and documentation for investigative use and court proceedings.
- Documents, handles, packages, and receipts evidence to maintain chain of custody in accordance with established forensic practices under state and federal laws.
- Directs law enforcement personnel at crime scenes to ensure continuity and preservation of evidence.
- Appears in court as an expert witness, as required.
- Instructs other agency members in Criminalistics, crime scene processing and training seminars, to include outside law enforcement agencies under mutual aid requests.
- Makes presumptive field tests of suspected illegal drugs to determine type.
- May be assigned to train new employees and/or act as a trainer to coworkers in specific specialty areas.
- Operates computers and standard office equipment, including commonly used computer software programs required by the position.
- Is available and willing to work such overtime per day or per week as the Sheriff’s Office determines is necessary or desirable to meet its needs.
- Is available and willing to work such weekends and holidays as the Sheriff’s Office determines is necessary or desirable to meet its needs.
- Performs duties both in the office and in the field.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Extensive knowledge of modern forensic laboratory equipment and procedures.
- Extensive knowledge of criminal acts, methods of operation and investigative procedures.
- Extensive knowledge of all areas of Criminalistics.
- Considerable knowledge of criminal law, criminal court proceedings and rules of evidence.
- Knowledge of various chemical and physical techniques for development of latent prints.
- Knowledge of law enforcement accreditation standards at the Sheriff’s Office.
- Knowledge of computers and commonly used computer software programs.
- Skill in the use of laboratory and photographic equipment and materials.
- Ability to operate computers and commonly used computer software programs, as well as any other standard office equipment as required by the position.
- Ability to give acceptable expert testimony in a court of law.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, coworkers and other law enforcement/judicial personnel.
- Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written English, to include public speaking.
- Ability to apply sound reasoning and decision-making.
- Ability to interact in a professional manner with all staff.
- Ability to get along well with others.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
- EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years' experience performing crime scene duties in a law enforcement agency.
- OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience that satisfies the requirements of the job as approved by the Sheriff.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science, Natural Science, Criminalistics or a closely related field.
- EXPERIENCE: Three (3) years’ experience performing crime scene duties and IAI certification in Crime Scene Investigations.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must obtain CPR and First Aid certification within the initial probationary period.
- Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License.
- Must be available for on-call work schedule assignments that require working nights, weekends and holidays.
- Must successfully complete the initial probationary period and training.
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Job Tags
Holiday work, Night shift, Weekend work,