Evidence Technician, Sheriff's Department

Evidence Technician

Part-time position (up to 30 hours/week). Responsible for the receipt, storage, safekeeping, release and disposal of all property or evidence that comes under the control of the Alamosa Sheriff's Office, performs work with minimum supervision.

Essential Job Functions:

• Received property and evidence, documents the receipt, maintains the physical integrity and control and the chain of custody, and physically stores property and evidence in the designated property and evidence locations.
• Prepares evidence for submittal to outside agencies or labs for analysis, including packaging, securing, and preserving evidence items, preparing required forms, and submitting forms with evidence to labs.
• Coordinates with crime laboratories: determines and justifies which evidence to refer; prepares and transports evidence including weapons, narcotics, and biological specimens for analysis and processing by others.
• Releases and purges property and evidence following appropriate federal, state, and local laws and regulations; prepares evidence and property for auction and/or disposal upon completion of court proceedings.
• Initiates, organizes, updates, maintains, and controls access to complex filing systems and records, including highly sensitive case files.
• May serve as an expert witness in court proceedings; prepares evidence for officers and investigators for court proceedings; maintains records and tracks such actions.
• Releases property to the public; prepares the proper paperwork and prepares evidence for pick-up; completes the necessary reports and documentation of the release.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, forms, receipts and specialized documents, such as letters to investigators, and property claim letters to citizens.
• Provides training and technical assistance to co-workers, including providing instruction on proper evidence collection and maintenance techniques.
• Show up for work on time and be ready to work
• Other duties as assigned
• Ability to work schedule to meet all the obligation of the position
• Ability to work independently or in a team
• Ability to follow the policies and procedures of the County and the Sheriff's Department
• Ability to meet the physical requirements listed below

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of law enforcement procedures
• Knowledge of evidence collection and maintenance techniques
• Computer skills adequate to perform work tasks
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Attention to detail
• Effective verbal and listening communications skills in English
• Effective written communication skills
• Time management skills to meet required deadlines

Abilities:

• Ability to take initiative to accomplishing all tasks assigned
• Ability to work alone and unsupervised
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations
• Ability to read and comprehend simple to complex instructions, correspondence and memos
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to adjust to changing priorities
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Supplemental coursework in criminology or related field is preferred
• 2 years of work experience in Law Enforcement or administrative work experience in a public safety setting
• Valid Colorado Driver's License required
• Must be able to pass a detailed background investigation
• Must be able to successfully complete IAPE (International Association of Property & Evidence) training course within one year of appointment

Physical Requirements, Work Conditions and Environment:

Rotating shifts, nights, weekends and holidays can be expected. Ability to maneuver uneven terrain for calls. Duties performed in all types of weather conditions, extreme cold, hot temperatures, high winds. Position requires the ability to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment at efficient speed. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms.

The position is required to stand, sit for long periods of time, talk and hear. Hearing and vision correctable to normal ranges; close-up vision and the ability to adjust focus across an audience. Occasionally, the position may stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, carry, twist and push and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight. The employee is required to communicate both orally and in writing.

Employee must be able to reach and manipulate objects, tools or controls, drive, and lift up to 25 pounds. The noise level may be very quiet to noisy depending on the situation. Employee must be able to work in a variety of environments wherever victims of crimes may be found.