What are the responsibilities and job description for the Police Property and Evidence Specialist position at City of Santa Cruz, CA?
The Position
The current vacancy for Police Property and Evidence Specialist is in the Police Department. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other Police Property and Evidence Specialist vacancies during the life of the list. The eligibility list established from this recruitment is valid for up to one year from the date established unless the list is extended or abolished by the Human Resources Director.
Under general supervision, to receive, load, transport, verify, store, record, safeguard, release and dispose of evidence and other property booked into Police Department and maintain related property records.
The Police Property and Evidence Specialist is a non-peace officer classification that handles a broad range of confidential and sensitive records, maintains the integrity and security of criminal evidence, including the handling of hazardous and bio-hazardous substances in a variety of containers and packaging.
Ideal Candidates: The Santa Cruz Police Department is seeking highly organized, meticulous, and trustworthy candidates for the position of Property and Evidence Specialist. The ideal candidate would possess a strong sense of integrity as they will be responsible for maintaining the chain of custody and handling sensitive materials. The role requires physical capability to safely lift and manage evidence along with ability to work independently while adhering to established protocols. A thorough understanding of legal procedures rules of evidence and law enforcement standards although not required is a desired qualification. If you are someone who thrives in a precise, meticulous responsible environment and it is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards we encourage you to apply.
Recruitment #25-PD-10
CANDIDATE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
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On Thursday 03/13/25: recruitment will close. Online application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5:00 pm. To apply, submit:
- Application - online application only. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out the application form completely. Click the Apply button to begin the online application process.
- Response to supplemental questions - will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Be thorough with your answer. Incomplete answers such as "See resume" will disqualify you from the process. Any work experience described in your answers to the supplemental questions should also be included in the employment history on the main application.
- Week of 03/17 and 03/24/25: Applications will be competitively screened and ranked based on the minimum qualifications for this position. Answers to the supplemental questions will be utilized to help determine which candidates move forward in the process. All applicants will be notified of their status after thorough screening of all applications has been completed.
- Week of 03/31/25: Request for Personal History Statement:. Top-ranked candidates will be requested via email to submit a Non-Sworn Personal History Statement form (NS-PHS). To view this PHS form and the questions asked Click Here You must wait until requested to submit the NS-PHS, but you may review the form and reasons for disqualification in advance.
- Personal History Statement Review: Candidates who submit their PHS forms by the requested deadline will undergo a PHS review by Santa Cruz Police Department. Candidates who do not pass the PHS review will be notified they are not moving forward in the recruitment.
- Selection interview: Candidates who pass the PHS review will be invited to selection interviews. The selection interview may include a practical in-office exam.
- Candidates passing the selection interview process will continue on to a thorough background investigation including polygraph examination.
- Internal candidates who are current regular SCPD employees who have already undergone and passed the background investigation will not be required to submit the PHS and go through the background check again.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLICY REGARDING ILLEGAL USEOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS
The following types of drug use or possession will be considered towards the disqualification of candidates in the pre-employment selection process for all police department applicants:
A) Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven (7) years prior to application for employment. (LSD, PCP, XTC, And other designer drugs)
B) Chronic or habitual abuse of marijuana or derivative.
C) Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug listed below in the designated time frame prior to application for employment.
Cocaine 7 Years
Amphetamines 7 Years
Meth amphetamines 7 Years
Heroin 7 Years
D) Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in the capacity of a police officer, licensed security officer, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses of/or related to the criminal justice field.
E) As an adult, any illegal manufacturing or cultivating of a drug.
F) Failure to divulge to the Police Department during the background investigation any information about personal use or possession of drugs.
The disqualification of a police department candidate for the following types of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual: Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the considered disqualifiers specified above; e.g., illegal usage of prescribed or non-prescribed medication or any illegal substance used by the means of injection (Steroids will be considered on a case by case basis only if the above timeline restrictions outlined in section one above has been met).
Typical Duties
(May include, but are not limited to, those duties listed below.)
- Receives, records, classifies, stores, safeguards and releases/returns money and property, including evidence, recovered, found, and safekeeping received from department staff.
- Receives, records, and processes narcotics, including legal disposal.
- Transports and delivers illegal and nuisance weapons for destruction.
- Operates standard office equipment and police computer systems to extract criminal case information.
- Maintains confidential files and records regarding property in custody and its disposition.
- Follows up with detectives regarding release and disposal of evidential and recovered property.
- Clears property/evidence for release/disposal independently or by coordinating with the investigating officer and prepares appropriate documentation, including reports and court orders.
- Maintains chain-of-evidence records of evidential property and testifies in court concerning same.
- Responds to citizen property related inquiries collected by department staff.
- Hand delivers various types of evidence, including weapons, narcotics and biological samples to allied laboratories or experts for appropriate analysis.
- Researches, clears, and makes appropriate disposition of unclaimed and nonreturnable items.
- Coordinates and prepares usable unclaimed property for auction as pursuant to State Penal Code provisions.
- Transports property to and from a warehouse and other storage locations on or offsite.
- Drives police vehicles on occasion as required.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with fellow employees, representatives from other Law Enforcement Agencies and the general public.
- Transports and delivers equipment and supplies as required.
- Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching and reaching above and at shoulder length, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, walking on uneven surfaces and stooping and climbing a ladder and stairs in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires far and near vision when reading and using a computer and the ability to distinguish colors. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. The need to lift, drag and push and pull files, boxes and property weighing up to 50 pounds is also required. Position requires the ability to drive motorized vehicles.
Exposure to variable temperatures, confined workspaces and heights; strong unpleasant odors, infectious bio-hazardous materials such as blood, urine and semen; dust, pollens, chemical irritants; toxic substances; individuals who may be hostile and abusive; evidence that may be disturbing such as homicide evidence.
Minimum Qualifications
The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the following:
Education and Experience:
- High school graduation or tested equivalent; and
- One (1) year of experience that has included substantial filing and recordkeeping responsibilities.
Knowledge:
- Basic office practices and methods, and computer equipment and applications.
- Filing and record-keeping systems.
Abilities:
- Follow written and verbal instructions.
- Willingness and ability to perform call back or emergency work as required.
- Work quickly and accurately on multiple tasks.
- Effectively communicate with various people contacted as part of the assigned job.
- Use common office software and applicable specialized law enforcement software for word processing and information storage and retrieval.
- Properly handle large sums of currency, narcotics, hazardous materials, firearms, biohazards and unusual property items.
- Maintain current knowledge of evidence and property storage and release procedures.
- Maintain neat and accurate confidential records.
- Read, interpret and understand standard official legal documents.
- Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
- Maintain a clean and orderly storage facility.
- Pass a background investigation.
- Safely handle firearms, narcotics and hazardous materials.
- Learn and follow all City and departmental rules and regulations.
- Maturity and stability to be able to handle a variety of properties including narcotics, valuable goods and merchandise, weapons and related.
Licenses and Certificates
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- General knowledge of Police work preferably supplemented by successful completion of college level courses in Police Science.
- Rules of evidence and basic criminal law.
- Knowledge of safe methods of handling, storing and safeguarding of property and materials, including hazardous materials.
- Knowledge of computer terminal operations pertaining to police property and evidence.
- Legal terminology and legal process.
Career Ladder
- Police Property and Evidence Supervisor
- Senior Police Property and Evidence Specialist
- Police Property and Evidence Specialist
