Evidence Technician - I

Job Description:

Evidence Technician - I

Description

Introduction

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Placer County Sheriff's Office is currently accepting applications for Evidence Technician - I and Evidence Technician - II. Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications.

To participate in the recruitment at the I level, the II level, or both levels, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To perform a variety of tasks associated with the collection, maintenance, and preservation of evidence; in a non-sworn technical capacity, to perform field and laboratory photographic and technical evidence work; and to maintain criminal identification records and evidence as part of the investigation and prosecution work of the Sheriff's Office.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the entry level class in the Evidence Technician series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives immediate supervision from supervisory and/or management staff of the Sheriff's Office.

May receive technical or functional supervision from the Evidence Technician II.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee the preparation, identification, and maintenance of assigned evidence and found property.
  
• Perform field forensic work under the direction of sworn staff; search for and collect physical evidence; photograph and video record crime scenes; make diagrams and log items collected from each location; process and send out blood and urine samples to be analyzed; conduct specialized tasks in photography, latent fingerprint development, and other evidence collection as required.
  
• Identify and preserve evidence; make evidence available for viewing and courtroom presentations; book property into and out of evidence to preserve the chain of evidence; maintain evidence rooms and storage areas in an organized and orderly fashion; maintain detailed filing systems and records on all booked property; destroy and release property; inventory monies and narcotics; generate reports and assist other members of the Sheriff's Office with investigations as required.
  
• Classify and identify fingerprints; assist in identification matters with Federal, State, and local authorities; prepare fingerprint displays for court; compare latent fingerprints to known and unknown suspects and victims; maintain and use files and computer systems to identify suspects; maintain and operate equipment for processing of fingerprints.
  
• Take official and personnel photographs for the purpose of identification and evidence; take photographs relating to evidence in support of criminal investigations in the field, at autopsies, and in-house; enlarge crime scene photographs to be utilized as courtroom exhibits; maintain files of photographs.
  
• Cooperate and work closely with other law enforcement agencies in identification matters as required.
  
• Requisition materials and supplies as necessary; assist supervisory personnel and other staff in identifying future budgetary needs.
  
• Instruct and assist officers in the proper use of photographic and fingerprint equipment.
  
• Prepare various written reports as necessary.
  
• Provide testimony in court as directed.
  
• Provide adequate staff coverage/availability outside of normal business hours, as needed.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. Incumbents are exposed to a variety of environmental factors related to the collection of evidence and field forensic work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One (1) year of clerical or administrative experience. Related work experience in a law enforcement setting is preferred.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Basic law enforcement terminology and operations.
  
• Basic police reports.
  
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; analyze crime scenes; develop evidence to be processed; understand and recall principles of evidence collection and analysis; identify, interpret, explain, and enforce evidentiary and other law enforcement procedures; observe while in the field; review and interpret case reports; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks; maintain awareness of safety at all times.
  
• On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk or in a vehicle for extended periods of time; walk and stand for long periods of time; push, pull, grasp, bend, twist, squat, stoop, kneel, reach, climb, crouch, and crawl to access office and field work equipment and to perform field duties; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; occasionally lift heavy weight.
  
• Learn modern criminal identification techniques, emphasizing photography and fingerprinting.
  
• Learn to operate equipment and materials used in photographic and fingerprint work, including sophisticated computer programs and equipment.
  
• Learn to take photographs with some degree of sophistication.
  
• Learn to perform fingerprint comparisons and analyses.
  
• Learn to perform more sophisticated field forensics.
  
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
  
• Work odd or unusual hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and/or overtime.
  
• Work in close proximity to human remains in various stages of decomposition, which may include odors, biological/chemical agents, and communicable disease.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please email PCHRDSRFRecruit@Placer.ca.gov.

Closing Date/Time: 4/1/2025 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$28.03 - $34.99/hour; $4,858.53 - $6,064.93/month; $58,302.40 - $72,779.20/year