Police Services Technician

THE POSITION 
Under general supervision of the Police Sergeant, the Police Services Technician will perform a wide variety of technical field, and administrative or regulatory law enforcement work which does not require peace officer status, supporting sworn personnel by taking police reports and statements, conducting crime scene investigations, vehicle abatement, parking enforcement, zoning code enforcement (enforce sign, landscaping and other land use regulations) testifying in court, conducting crime prevention meetings with the public and other work as assigned. This position is represented by the San Pablo Police Employees' Association.

WORK SETTING & RELATIONSHIPS
A Sergeant of Police provides general supervision. A Police Officer, or other senior technical or staff personnel may provide functional supervision. This position can supervise civilian employees and volunteers.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 
This position is distinguished from the Police Services Assistant by the more complex, responsible and sensitive duties related to evidence processing, traffic investigation and public contact. Incumbents must be capable of working independently and as a member of a team, conduct crime scene investigations sorting through information to determine what needs to be collected, recreating a crime scene, and providing a reasonable explanation of what occurred based on the evidence to a crime scene.

When assigned to perform vehicle abatement, parking enforcement and other zoning code enforcement responsibilities, incumbents must have knowledge of applicable State Law and Municipals Codes exercising independent judgment and making technical decisions without immediate supervision and be capable of explaining those actions at Planning Commission, City Council and any other subsequent legal processing.EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential:

• Process crime scene; photograph crime scenes; conduct latent fingerprint searches; collect evidence; write reports; prepare sketches of crime scene as required.
• Determine findings in comparing physical evidence; conduct firearms examination; prepare and deliver evidence for analysis and processing by others.
• Prepare, collect, and safeguard evidence, exhibits and reports and as required, give testimony in court on test results and findings.
• Process sex registrants including use of the automated fingerprint and booking photograph computers; complete necessary paperwork associated with the registration including an interview of the registrant.
• Perform a variety of routine follow-up investigative work in lieu of sworn personnel; conduct interviews; take statements and gather evidence.
• Receive and process abandoned vehicle notices, maintaining control of status of reported vehicles; coordinate the removal of vehicles and notification to registered owners. Resolve related complaints and conflicts.
• Serve as a parking enforcement officer, patrol City streets and enforce laws and regulations applicable to non-moving vehicles; write citations for overtime parking and illegal parking; assist in identifying and removing abandoned vehicles; assist in directing traffic.
• Serve as a code enforcement officer to enforce sign and landscaping regulations and other land use regulations; patrol City's Commercial, Industrial and Residential Districts, identify violations and send violations letters to the property owners and occupants.  Additionally, the hired individual will initiate amortization procedures as per zoning code requirements as needed.
• Ensure that landscaping in Commercial District complies with the City's landscaping regulations and conditions of approval.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, ability to interpret zoning code, municipal code and conditions of approval.
• Investigate complaints for violations of State Law and the Municipal Code and take remedial action; collect and safe guard evidence of violations to be presented in court and testify in court as required.
• Prepare concise and accurate police reports; maintain files and records, statistical data and progress of work.
• Operate a computer terminal and printer, to type, enter, modify and retrieve a wide variety of police reports and records, memoranda, letters, and other material.
• Serve as a training manager; stays abreast of POST training requirements and regulations, plans and schedules training, processes training requests including reimbursements to employees and reimbursements from POST, organizes in-house trainings and obtains POST certifications.
• Serve as a CLETS coordinator; coordinates CLETS issues, conducts audits and ensures DOJ compliance by departmental personnel.
• Serve as a volunteer coordinator; schedules part-time personnel and volunteers and completes performance evaluations.

Important Duties:
Perform related duties as assigned.QUALIFICATIONS 
Knowledge of:

• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; basic principles of report preparation
• Computer software for word processing, statistical reports, and power point presentations
• Crime scene search principles and crime scene photography using SLR, digital, and video cameras
• Collection and preservation techniques of micro and biological evidence
• Firearms and firearms safety
• Dusting, fuming, and Ninhydrin techniques.
• Safety precautions related to assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Effective public contact methods.

Ability to:

• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and written
• Enforce provisions of the municipal code with firmness, tract and impartiality
• Write code compliance letters and contact business owners and explain regulations and outline procedures
• Respond to public requests for information and explain violations
• Conduct surveys and studies by gathering, compiling information, tabulating and reporting data
• Work with planning division to investigate, regulate and enforce all relevant codes and coordinate code enforcement activities
• Undertake code enforcement assignments as assigned
• Maintain a log of violations and follow-through to ensure that violations are rectified
• Produce accurate hand drawn and computerized crime scene diagrams
• Effectively utilize a personal computer, using common computer programs
• Determine, diagram, explain and photograph bullet trajectory
• Collect, document, and preserve latent and visible fingerprints including bloody prints from a variety of surfaces
• Process a homicide or sexual assault victim or suspect for evidence in the appropriate manner
• Render a firearm safe and preserve and process the firearm for evidence
• Effectively use spreadsheet and database software for case management; prepare concise and accurate police reports
• Accurately and effectively testify in a Court of Law
• Assist in coordinating code enforcement activities among the city departments and interdepartmental divisions
• Handle more than one situation at a time, make decisions and act promptly without immediate supervision.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any equivalent combination of experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Three years of work experience in a law enforcement agency with duties in the technical tasks associated with the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence, involving exposure to the public and interpretation of laws, rules and procedures. Some supervisory experience.

Education:
Equivalent to an Associates of Arts degree from an accredited college or university in Administration of Justice, Police Science, Public or Business Administration or a closely related field. (Or a combination of experience and certified technical training.)

Salary : $7,421 - $9,021