Job Description

Forensic Evidence Supervisor

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Class Title

Forensic Evidence Supervisor

Class Code

1570

Salary

$111,342.40 - $138,715.20 Annually

+ Definition

+ Benefits

Classification Description Summary

Under direction, supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for receiving, securing, storing, safeguarding, preserving, and disposing of property and evidence items in the Police Department; take responsibility for the forensic investigation and processing of crime scenes and related evidence, provide lead oversight and work direction to subordinate personnel, process and evaluate evidence, examine latent fingerprints, train and participate in the evaluation of the performance of subordinate personnel; ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; and performs the more technical and complex tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Essential Functions

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.

Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, review, and participate in the work of staff responsible for receiving, securing, storing, safeguarding, preserving, and disposing of property and evidence items recovered by or submitted to the Police Department.

Respond to a wide variety of crime scenes and oversee and direct the activities of subordinate personnel both at crime scenes, in follow-up processing of evidence, and in the examination, identification and verification of latent fingerprints.

Serve as the principal forensic investigator and point-of-contact for all forensic work processes and products for major crime scenes and other scenes as assigned.

Participate in and perform specialized duties in the investigation and evaluation of crime scenes and related evidence.

Collect, preserve, protect, prepare written records and establish and/or control the chain of custody of physical and biological evidence.

Measure locations and relational distances of victims, suspects and other individuals, evidence, objects, buildings, vehicles and other items using manual and automated equipment and prepare diagrammatic material depicting those measurements and locations as found at crime scenes.

Develop latent fingerprints with powders, chemicals, or other approved methods, both in the field and in an evidence laboratory, on a variety of objects and surfaces and perform related specialized photography.

Perform forensic photography and videography of victims, suspects, crime scenes, items of evidence, latent prints and other items and objects.

Fingerprint and photograph dead bodies in various states of decomposition.

Prepare the primary crime scene report and other supplementary investigation reports related to crime scene investigations, evidence collection and processing, fingerprint identification and processing procedures, and other reports as required.

Establish schedules and methods for providing assigned services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.

Participate in the development of policies and procedures; make recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participate in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.

Participate in the selection of assigned staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.

Participate in the preparation and administration of the program budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures.

Evaluate property and evidence storage needs and methods; develop recommendations to maximize storage efficiency and safety; develop and implement shelving and storage layouts to maximize storage and functionality of evidence storage.

Review reports prepared by staff to determine ownership of property in order to return property to its rightful owner; make determinations for the proper disposal of evidence following established process.

Respond to requests from law enforcement personnel, outside law enforcement agencies and the general public regarding the location and recovery of property and evidence; explain policies and procedures governing the release of evidence.

Testify in court on behalf of the City regarding acquired evidence as necessary.

Maintain records concerning operations and programs; prepare reports on operations and activities.

Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.

Coordinate the process of outside laboratory testing and communicate test results within the department to ensure timely processing.

Manage inventory of supplies including testing kits, chemicals, Personal Protecting Equipment (PPE), forensic kits, orders and stocks necessary laboratory supplies, and processes vendor invoices.

Perform related duties as required.

Minimum 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:

Operation, services, and activities of a property and evidence program. Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.

Methods, procedures, principles, practices, and terminology used in property and evidence handling, recording, preservation, storage, and release.

Advanced techniques of digital forensic photography and videography.

Advanced techniques of fingerprint pattern recognition.

Techniques of developing latent fingerprints with powders, chemicals, or other approved methods.

Advanced techniques in the manual and automated preparation of crime scene diagrams.

Evidence collection, preservation, protection and establishment and control of the chain of custody.

Court procedures regarding the handling and storage of evidence.

Legal guidelines pertaining to the maintenance and control of evidence.

Records management and inventory techniques.

Warehousing and storekeeping principles and practices.

Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.

Office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.

Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including those relating to the safekeeping and disposition of property and evidence.

Ability to:

Coordinate and direct the Police Departments property and evidence programs. Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in property and evidence functions.

Select, train, and evaluate staff.

Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for receiving, securing, storing, safeguarding, preserving, and disposing of property and evidence items in the Police Department.

Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.

Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.

Receive, process, store, document, release, and dispose of evidence and property. Maintain accurate records of property and evidence acquired.

Maintain a current knowledge of property acquisition, storage, and release procedures, rules, and regulations.

Effectively account for police property and evidence; organize and maintain control systems. Apply, explain, and ensure adherence to pertinent laws, rules, regulations, protocols, policies, and procedures related to acquisition, storage, and release of property and evidence.

Prepare clear and concise reports.

Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.

Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.

Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.

Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.

Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.

Understand the criminal and civil judicial systems.

Operate modern office equipment including computers and applicable software.

Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.

Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.

Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Provide effective testimony in court.

Prepare records and reports.

Work at locations involving human trauma of all types and degrees of severity and in high stress situations.

Perform crime scene investigation work involving extended hours and physical effort, in inclement weather and at a variety of locations.

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:

Education/Training:

A Masters degree from an accredited college or university with major work in forensic science, criminal justice, chemistry, biology, or a closely related field. An equivalent combination of directly related professional crime scene investigations, evidence processing and evaluation, forensic photography and videography, manual and/or automated crime scene diagramming, and/or latent fingerprint examination, identification and verification, inventory control or storekeeping experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the Masters Degree (individuals are still required to possess a Bachelors Degree in the fields outlined above).

Experience:

Six (6) years experience with at least three (3) years performing the full range of duties and responsibilities related to crime scene investigations, evidence processing and evaluation, forensic photography and videography, manual and/or automated crime scene diagramming, and/or latent fingerprint examination, identification and verification, inventory control or storekeeping experience including three (3) years of lead or supervisory experience.

License or Certification:

Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, valid NCIC certification for inquiry.

Completion of courses in fingerprints, crime scene investigation/reconstruction, crime scene photography, and blood stain pattern examination.

Certified Latent Print Examiner or Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst from the International Association for Identification (IAI).

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

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: Work is performed primarily in a field and office environment; travel to different sites; exposure to inclement weather conditions, noise, dust, fumes, and gases; exposure to irate and abusive individuals; exposure to mechanical hazards and to hazardous traffic conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; incumbents are required to provide on-call services in a rotational basis.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a field and office setting; to travel to various locations to respond to non-emergency situations; to walk or sit for prolonged periods of time; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate assigned equipment and vehicle; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Must be willing to accept shift work, on-call assignments, and a non-standard work week.

Respiratory Protective Equipment: Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times. When assigned to such work, facial hair must be shaven when it interferes with the safe fitting of respiratory protective equipment.

Other Requirements

Local 39 Supervisory

R34

JD 12/2020

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