Evidence Technician

The Evidence Technician, under general supervision, receives, records, stores, preserves, and maintains chain of custody for all property and evidence submitted by agency personnel.  Employee is expected to be well skilled and trained in the operation of computers.  Employee must have excellent oral and written communication and customer service skills; exercise initiative and independent judgment in completing assigned tasks; exercise discretion when dealing with confidential information; exercise tact, courtesy, and firmness in frequent contact with the public.  The employee is subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work.

• Receives, records, stores, preserves, and maintains chain of custody for property and evidence (P/E) submitted by agency personnel including weapons, drugs, currency, clothing, papers, and biological samples, in order to maintain the legal integrity of the evidence.    
• Review the P/E as vouchered for accuracy, completeness, and packaged in a manner that promotes integrity.
• Stores property submitted according to type of material, temperature, handling regulations, requirements, and standard operating procedures with the Property and Evidence Room.
• Reject P/E vouchers as appropriate; follow up with the submitting entity to ensure P/E and voucher will be resubmitted meeting evidence best packaging practices and that the P/E has been made safe (Primarily Sharps & Firearms).
• Familiar with a variety of firearms (including BB guns and Black powder) – Need to ensure that firearms have been made safe.
• Verify serial numbers on firearms when possible; Run through NCIC to verify that the firearm has been cleared from NCIC as lost/stolen or is currently not entered into NCIC as lost/stolen.
• Prepares and arranges for the destruction or release of evidence as instructed by court order. 
• Request the assigned deputy/console to send a HIT Request if a match through NCIC has not been completed; Contact originating agency if a HIT has been confirmed but still remains uncleared.
• Update and maintain the database to accurately reflect the chain of custody for each item ensuring the completeness of property records.
• Record Chain of Custodies for all P/E leaving the evidence room with at least 2 signatures.  
• Research cases in order to request court ordered dispositions (most time consuming task within the evidence room).  Must also obtain the assigned officer’s permission to send up a disposition request in some cases.  
• Gather, verify, and account for all items being sent and received back from the SBI. This includes going through all paperwork to ensure it matches what was sent back from the SBI along with accounting for all paperwork for the items that CSI transported to the State Crime Lab. 
• Destroy narcotics under dual control at the UCSO Animal Shelter as court ordered. 
• Return P/E back to the rightful owner as ordered by a court disposition; Includes scheduling appointments with the public, running criminal background checks through NCIC for all firearm/ammo dispositions, request proof of ownership when applicable.
• Facilitate firearm trades as permitted by law.
• Conduct P/E inventories throughout the year to ensure correct placement, presence, and detect any packaging integrity issues.
• Participate in P/E audits for both internal and external as applicable.
• Court appearances for evidence testimony as subpoenaed and for all civil 50B firearm/ammunition disposition requests regarding evidence integrity.
• Thoroughly research all Sheriff’s Motions prior to being sent to the Clerk of Court.  
• Notify the public advising that the Sheriff’s Office intends to seek a court ordered disposition in regards to the P/E that seized with a known rightful owner’s name/address.
• Assist with auction of found or unclaimed property as necessary.
• Follow up with the public as permissible in regards to any court ordered disposition in regards to their property. 
• Turn over money to the Department of Revenue with the appropriate NCDOR representative as served by tax warrant.
• Obtain/maintain Evidence Technician Certification (IAPE). 
• Ability to follow/adhere to standard precautions when dealing with items marked biohazard and narcotics that are transdermal via exposure (fentanyl).
• Professionally communicate with a wide range of law enforcement agencies, the public, government agencies.
• Mail P/E to the rightful owner/other law enforcement agencies as appropriate while meeting all mailing requirements.
• Receive P/E from other law enforcement agencies in hopes of returning back to the rightful owner.
• Generate reports for P/E sent to our agency by another law enforcement agency and follow up with case supplements as applicable.
• Secure evidence room completely whenever exiting (including at the end of shift or any time during a work shift when an Evidence Tech will not be within the Evidence Room).

• Routinely scan and upload appropriate documents into the RMS Evidence Control Module. This includes all paperwork from Lab runs, any physically signed chain of custodies, proof of rightful ownership, identification where appropriate, court orders, etc.  
• Maintains filing system for previous and current years of cataloging property released to owner, sold at auction, destroyed, or maintained in case files.
• Notify direct supervisor of any potential P/E integrity issues and if possible provide a solution to improve the situation.
• Housekeeping (sweeping, dusting, trash, etc.) as only a few authorized persons are permitted within the evidence room.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Requires a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED).  A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university and two (2) years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

Licenses or Certifications:

Certified Evidence Technician (must obtain after one year on the job).

DCI/NCIC Certification (obtainable after receiving position).

Possession of a valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of crime scene/law enforcement equipment including cameras, two-way radios, mobile phones, computers, fax machines, mobile command centers, etc.  Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle.  Physical demands are in excess of those of sedentary work.   Work involves walking, standing, running, climbing, reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, and jumping for varying periods of time.  Must be physically able to occasionally and/or frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to fifty (50) pounds.   Physical demand requirements are for those of medium work.   

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

Equal employment opportunities are allowed without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, age, non-disqualifying handicap, or uniformed service.

Salary : $43,268 - $64,902