What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forensic Specialist I position at City of Salinas?
Tentative Recruitment Schedule:
Recruitment closes: March 14, 2025
Written exam: Week of March 31, 2025
Department interview: Week of April 7, 2025
Please note that these are tentative dates and are subject to change. The written exam is proctored in-person.
Summary of Duties: Under the direct supervision of the Criminalist, performs examinations of physical evidence to determine origin and significance in a criminal investigation. Prepares reports of findings, assists in criminal investigations, present expert testimony in court and perform related duties as required.
Forensic Specialist I: This is an entry-level position in the Forensic Specialist series. Incumbents in this class receive training in order to perform assigned duties and perform work that is observed and reviewed both during performance and upon completion.
Examples of ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Retrieves evidence from property control, Medical Examiner's Office or from other custodians following established chain of custody procedures.
- Obtains and preserves physical evidence at crime scenes.
- Conducts crime scene investigations to recover, document and collect all relevant physical and biological evidence.
- Photographs crime scene, evidence and related subject matter and identification photos.
- Performs laboratory analysis of physical evidence in one or more of the specialty labs.
- Processes and collects fingerprints as evidence.
- Operates the Automated Fingerprint Identification System to identify possible suspects.
- Operates Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) equipment.
- Examine and test firearms, examines ballistic evidence for unique characteristics.
- Operates crime scene mapping equipment.
- Prepares physical evidence for court.
- Searches files for a wide variety of police information.
- Complete reports on the results of physical evidence investigations.
- Assists in maintenance of criminal records, fingerprints, and related records.
- Subject to a schedule that may include, call back, on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.
- Provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge of:
- Basic report writing, basic photography and fingerprint processing
- Physical evidence, detection methods and techniques
- Methods and equipment for analyzing and preserving various types of physical evidence
- Laws and rulings regarding presentation of physical evidence
- Modern police record systems
- Basic police department organizational structure, functions, procedures and operations
- Policies, procedures and techniques for assisting the public
- Customer service best practices
- Safe and effective work methods as related to assigned duties
Skill in:
- Writing comprehensive investigative reports
- Modern and related computer software
- Taking forensic photographs
- Lifting and classifying fingerprints
- Reading, writing and communicating at an appropriate level
Ability to:
- Interpret and apply laws and regulations of the City and State
- Perform complex latent fingerprint recovery and classification work
- Respond to crime scenes and search for, collect and preserve physical evidence
- Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing
- Testify effectively in court as an expert in the field of fingerprint analysis and photography
- Prepare physical evidence for court
- Operate a City vehicle
- Learn and utilize law enforcement telecommunications, databases, and other applications
- Practice appropriate standards of confidentiality
- Maintain an efficient record keeping system
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
- Provide effective customer service
Education and Experience:
Forensic Specialist I:
- High School Diploma/GED and two years in evidence collection, public safety, code enforcement, inspection or related public contact experience or
- Associate degree or a completion of 60 college units from an accredited college in a related field and one year of experience in evidence collection, public safety, code enforcement, inspection, or related public contact experience.
License or Certificate: A California State Driver’s License. Obtain an approved P.O.S.T. Basic Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction certificate within twelve months of appointment. An 832 P.C. certificate is desirable. Must maintain all required certification during term of employment.
Other Requirements:
Positions within the Police Department require an extensive background investigation and criminal background check. Employment offers are contingent upon passing the above requirements.
Physical, mental and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, type, use telephone, two-way radio, computer, examination and control of firearms; see well enough to drive vehicles, read small print on documents and maps, detect subtle shades of color; hearing sufficient to conduct in person and telephone and two-way radio conversations; speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard at fifty feet of distance, on the telephone and in addressing groups; physical agility to push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop, reach overhead, climb over obstacles. Physical mobility sufficient to move in and out of a vehicle. Occasionally lift more than 50 pounds, repetitively lift up to 30 pounds; physical stamina sufficient to sit and drive for prolonged periods of time, to carry 20 pounds of equipment worn on the body for ten hour shifts and to repetitively move in and out of a vehicle several times per shift; mental acuity and alertness to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw rapid valid conclusions, make rapid valid judgments and decisions.
Working Conditions:
A combination of outdoor work, moving in and out of a vehicle for an entire shift. Subject to various weather conditions, heat, rain, fog evening and day shifts. Exposure to strong unpleasant odors, infectious biohazardous materials such as blood, urine and semen that may cause chronic disease or death; dust, pollens, chemical irritants and toxic substances. Business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk or standing at a counter for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing/pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer terminal. Handle firearms either loaded or unloaded in the in the field and lab and test firing of firearms in the firing range. May be subjected to verbal and physical abusive behavior, threats, insults, and be in contact with persons that carry weapons and communicable diseases. Will be required to drive a variety of vehicles, which may include patrol cars, crime scene support vehicles and mobile command post. Subject to a schedule that may include, call back, on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.
Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.
Salary : $5,523 - $7,049
