What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Police Property & Evidence Specialist (Internal Opportunity) position at City of Santa Cruz?
The current vacancy is for Senior Police Property and Evidence Specialist in the Police Department. This recruitment is open to current regular City employees and temporary employees who have accrued a minimum of 600 paid hours worked for the City of Santa Cruz and who have worked for the City within the previous twelve months. As an Internal recruitment, the list established from this recruitment is valid only for the current vacancy listed above.
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, acts as lead worker and performs the more technical work as required. The Police Property and Evidence Specialist 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.
Recruitment #25-PD-09
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.
- On Thursday, 02/20/25 recruitment will close. All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5:00 pm; postmarks are not accepted. To apply, submit:
- Application - online application preferred; paper application accepted. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out application form completely.
- Response to supplemental questions - will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Any work experience described here must also be included in your employment history on the main application.
- Week of 02/24/25: Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position.
- Week of 03/03 and/or 03/10/25: Candidates will be notified of their status in the recruitment and interviews will be tentatively scheduled.
(May include, but are not limited to, those duties listed below.)
- Acts as lead worker to assigned staff; assists with personnel training and prioritizing tasks.
- Interprets new laws relating to the handling, retention and disposal of evidence
- Drafts procedures and procedure updates for staff.
- Performs the more technical tasks of scheduling property releases and property destruction, posting found property to social media, managing and querying records keeping databases, and inventory management.
- Receives, records, classifies, stores, safeguards and releases/returns money and property, including evidence recovered, found and received from police officers.
- Receives, records, and processes narcotics, including legal disposal.
- Operates police computer terminals to extract criminal history information.
- Maintains 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 by coordinating with 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 inquiries on property collected by the police.
- Hand-carries evidence, narcotics and biological samples to a City-assigned vehicle and transports to the Department of Justice lab for analysis.
- Researches, clears, and makes appropriate disposition of unclaimed and nonreturnable items.
- Transports property to and from a warehouse and other storage locations.
- May drive police vehicles on occasion as required.
- Transports and delivers equipment and supplies as required.
- Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Exposure to variable temperatures, confined work spaces 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. Ability to lift and carry moderately heavy and bulky items. Position requires the ability to drive motorized vehicles.
The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the following:
Education and Experience
- High school graduation or tested equivalent; and
- Three years of experience as Police Property and Evidence Specialist or equivalent.
Knowledge:
- State laws, regulations and procedures governing the security and processing of police evidence and property.
- Basic office practices and methods, and computer equipment and applications.
- Filing and record-keeping systems.
Abilities:
- Communicate clearly and concisely; able to produce written reports.
- Effectively lead, teach and train assigned staff.
- Follow written and verbal instructions.
- Effectively communicate with various people contacted as part of the assigned job.
- Use computers for word processing and information storage and retrieval.
- Maintain neat and accurate records.
- Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
- Pass a background investigation.
Licenses and Certificates
- Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license and a safe driving record.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- General knowledge of Police work preferably supplemented by successful completion of college level courses in Police Science.
- 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.
- Willingness and ability to perform call back or emergency work as required.
- Maturity and stability to be able to handle a variety of properties including narcotics, valuable goods and merchandise, weapons and related.
- Police Property and Evidence Supervisor
- Senior Police Property and Evidence Specialist
- Police Property and Evidence Specialist
Salary : $58,356 - $82,104
