What are the responsibilities and job description for the Police Crime Scene Investigator position at St. Louis County, MO?
Duty Hours: Ten (10) hour days, ranging from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Rotating days off and potential for call back to duty, with flexibility to meet Department needs.
This is a non-commissioned investigator position. Per the Department's Collective Bargaining Agreement, newly hired employees who do not possess corresponding experience will start at the base starting pay listed in this posting.
Examples of Duties
- Assess and prioritize calls for service and give proper notification to supervisor according to established procedures.
- Collect and preserve all evidence by implementing scientific and technical methods.
- Ensure proper chain of custody for all evidence items seized.
- Utilize personal protective equipment and protect crime scenes from contamination.
- Document crime scenes using detailed worksheets, photographs, diagrams, and written reports.
- Perform technical and administrative reviews of worksheets, crime scene photographs, reports, and other documentation.
- Utilize body screens, when appropriate, on death scenes.
- Works with decomposing corpses, bodily fluids, contagious diseases, hazardous materials, heavy objects, equipment, and tools.
- Prepares ink rolled fingerprints from cadavers and amputated fingers.
- Examine and unload firearms.
- Investigate, validate, and implement new technologies.
- Successfully participate in proficiency testing, read relevant journals, and continue advancing skills through research, attendance at educational conferences and relevant courses or workshops.
- Provide expert testimony in depositions and in a court of law on crime scene processing techniques, evidence collection, and preservation methodology.
- Responsible for conducting daily and weekly vehicle and equipment inspections and ensuring that vehicles are properly stocked and cleaned. Ensure preventative maintenance is scheduled according to Department policy.
- Provides training and support to patrol and detective bureau.
- Perform related duties as required.
Note: The examples of duties should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of the job. Individuals may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.
Minimum Qualifications
- Knowledge of search/seizure case law.
- Strong communication, time management, writing, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Knowledge of St. Louis County Police Department written directives, Crime Scene Unit policies and procedures and accreditation requirements to assure quality of results and analysis. Failure of quality assurance requirements must be reported.
Physical/Environmental Requirements:
- Required to stand, kneel, and/or stoop for extended periods of time.
- Must have full use of all limbs.
- Ability to distinguish the full range of the color spectrum to visually examine and investigate all types of crime scenes and evidence.
- Position requires heavy lifting (5 to 50 pounds)
- Ability to carry and climb a ladder.
- Extended periods of walking may be required.
- Position will require work to be performed in both indoor and outdoor environments in all weather conditions.
Training and Experience:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate or advanced degree in the physical sciences and/or previous relevant experience is preferred but not required.
- Must be certified by the International Association of Identification (IAI) within two (2) years of appointment.
Special Requirements:
- Ability to work mandatory overtime, flexible hours, nights, weekends and/or holidays when necessary.
- The position will require the submission of a buccal swab to the local DNA database.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and the ability to operate a crime scene vehicle.
- There is a one-year probationary period for newly appointed Crime Scene Investigators. Employee must satisfactorily complete all required training and competency testing and is subject to dismissal for failing to complete probation. If the employee is successfully progressing in the job but has not completed training/competency testing, probation may be extended beyond two (2) years.
Additional Information
The St. Louis County Police Department offers tuition reimbursement and education incentives for professional staff employees who possess a degree of higher education from an accredited institution. The education pay incentive only applies if the degree is not a position requirement. They shall receive the following addition to their base rate of pay:
CITIZENSHIP: Citizen of the United States or valid work permit, and apply for citizenship when eligible.
AGE LIMITS: Eighteen (18) years of age at the time of appointment.
EDUCATION: Educational requirements and skills will be determined by the position classification.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG GUIDELINES: Any illegal adult use or possession of a controlled substance, including marijuana, within one year prior to employment. The word “drug” refers to any type of controlled substance for which you do not have a prescription; to include marijuana in all forms (edibles, gummies, or any other product containing THC).
TATTOO POLICY: Applicants and Department employees shall not display tattoos that are visible on the face, neck, head or hands. Visible tattoos on other areas of the body may be displayed with Department approval.
ARREST: Must be free from conviction of a felony or a Class "A" misdemeanor.
MILITARY: Must not have a "Dishonorable" discharge or "Bad Conduct" discharge if having served in the military. All "Other Than Honorable" discharges will be reviewed on an individual basis.
COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS
Under the regulations of the Police Department, all appointments to the St. Louis County Police Department are made on the basis of a continuously open, competitive hiring process conducted under the supervision of the Personnel Services Unit. Each applicant must successfully complete each stage of the selection process before becoming eligible to proceed to the next step.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The Board of Police Commissioners resolved that subject to all applicable State and Federal statutory or judicial exemptions, all qualified applicants for employment and/or advancement, whether commissioned or civilian, shall be given equal opportunity for consideration, selection, appointment and retention, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation.
St. Louis County offers its employees many excellent benefits with paid medical insurance, 20 days of PTO (paid time off) the first year and increasing with seniority, and 11-12 paid holidays. Employees hired for full time employment will participate in the St. Louis County retirement plan where they contribute 4% of their salary to the defined benefit plan with vesting after 7 years. Other benefits include: paid life insurance, a credit union, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, pre-tax premium pay plan, dependent care and medical expense reimbursement plans, and short and long term disability insurance.
In addition to these benefits, as of January 1, 2023, St. Louis County approved up to 480 hours of paid parental leave for eligible employees welcoming new children, either by birth or adoption. The employee can also take up to 80 hours of leave for prenatal care and up to 80 hours for care of the child within the first year.
Salary : $1,200 - $7,200
