Digital Evidence Purge Specialist

Job Description:

SUMMARY

Working under the direction of the Supervisor- Digital Evidence Management Unit (DEMU)/Investigative Division, incumbent will assume a wide range of general duties within the Investigative Support Division. The incumbent is expected to exercise good judgment, independence, initiative, and professional expertise in conducting day-to-day operations. All work duties and activities must be performed in accordance with the City safety rules and operating regulations, policies and procedures as well as federal, state, and local regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the ability to interact with the public, City incumbents, and outside agencies with patience, tact, respect, and professionalism and the following.

• Reviews the various storage locations for Digital Evidence. Reviews case notes and determines the proper status of all digital evidence. (Determined by Level of Felony or Misdemeanor Status)
• Utilizes case reports, court records (MyCase) and other records to determine the possible status date for purging evidence.
• Must be able to understand terminology used in courts and by law enforcement officers to determine current status of case.
• Due diligence must be followed in determining future review dates and if case has reached purge status.
• Reaches out to the Detectives and /or Prosecutors Office assigned to cases to find current dispositions.

OTHER DUTIES RELATED TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE DEMU:

• Reviews and provides video duplication for investigation for use in court and converts digital video from DVD to digital video format;
• Digitizes video footage from various formats into hard drive;
• Transcodes files from one encoding source to another and performs digital media recovery as needed;
• Maintains an archive of media conversions;
• Follows proper chain of custody of all evidence;
• Follows rules and regulations with regard to the handling and preservation of evidence;
• Assists in maintaining divisional files and records;
• Provides technical and video support to various Police personnel, Allen County Prosecutor’s Office, City Attorney and Defense Attorneys;
• General office duties including preparation of typed office documents.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• May be required to testify in court as it pertains to their assigned duties within the Investigative Support Division;
• Performs other duties as required.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The incumbent is responsible to manage their performance in accordance with this job description and the performance expectations provided to them by management. If at any time the incumbent is unsure of their role or specific responsibilities, it is the incumbent’s responsibility to refer to their job description and ask for clarification from their supervisor. Management will work with the incumbent, as needed, to ensure performance expectations are clearly communicated and performance goals are achieved.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Incumbent does not supervise any staff in this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Formal education required is the completion of a high school diploma;
• Working understanding of the Microsoft Operating System and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and other office programs;
• Training in the preservation, storage and retrieval of evidence is desired;

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Incumbent has daily contact with Investigative Support Division supervisors and detectives, other police personnel, various criminal justice agencies, and the general public. This contact includes handling questions on evidence/property storage, returning items as necessary and rendering service as required. Incumbent may be required to testify in court.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Incumbent is responsible for providing coverage for the Investigative Support Division, which entails a wide range of duties and responsibilities and may vary from day to day. Must follow generally accepted guidelines, rules and regulations and policies and procedures of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the City of Fort Wayne. Work duties are broad in scope and may vary from day to day.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality;
• Ability to communicate effectively with police personnel, victims and citizens;
• Ability to utilize a personal computer;

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Indiana driver’s license if City vehicle is used.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here 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 functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent routinely works in normal office environment and evidence storage facility. Duties may entail being seated continuously for extended lengths of time and minimal physical assignments. Must have ability to climb a step-ladder to reach items on high shelves and ability to lift and carry those items. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.