Criminalist

If YOU are looking for a rewarding career in a place where you and your ideas matter - a place where the results of your hard work are reflected throughout your community and on the faces of your neighbors - this is your home. What are you waiting for?
APPLY TODAY
!

This is the entry-level of the Criminalist series and provides for progression within the series. The ideal candidate for this position will receive supervised training in crime scene investigations (including photography, documentation, collection and processing of evidence, and latent prints processing), perform supervised assignments in the field and in a laboratory setting, author reports, and testify in court in accordance with the Police Department policies and procedures.

We currently have one vacancy in the Reno Police Department in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur.

This is an open competitive opportunity for all qualified applicants.

The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

• Performs detailed investigations in conjunction with law enforcement agencies regarding a wide variety of crime / death scenes for the presence of all types of evidence such as biological fluids (i.e., blood, etc.), DNA, hairs / fibers, control substance, latent prints, gunshot residue (GSR), shoe and tire impressions, firearms / weapons, clothing, etc.
• Maintain accurate documentation of observations and actions taken while investigating a crime / death scene.
• Photograph crime / death scenes, victims, autopsies, traffic accidents, property damage, stolen property, arson sites, and arrestees, in accordance with prescribed procedures.
• Perform forensic photography of victims, suspects, crime scenes, items of evidence, latent prints and other items and objects.
• Measure location and relational distances of victims, suspects and other individuals, evidence, objects, building, vehicles and other items using manual and automated equipment and prepare diagrammatic material depicting those measurements and locations as found at crime scenes.
• Collect and preserve evidence using clean collection techniques.
• Maintain the integrity and the chain of custody of all evidence from collection, logging into the computer system, and distribution to the appropriate law enforcement or judicial agency.
• Attend autopsies to document, collect and preserve evidence involved in a death investigation.
• Examine and process items of evidence, both at crime / death scenes and in the laboratory, for the presence of latent prints. In accordance with prescribed processes, lift and preserve prints for use in comparisons / eliminations.
• Develop latent fingerprints with powders, chemicals, or other approved methods, both in the field and in an evidence laboratory, on a variety of objects and surfaces and perform related specialized photography.
• Evaluate developed latent prints and compare them to inked prints from known subjects.
• Complete measurements, rough sketches and computer aided diagrams of crime / death scenes for investigation and court purposes.
• Document findings and compose investigative reports for submission to law enforcement agencies and courts.
• Provide other forensic services based on education and training.
• Provide expert witness testimony citing involvement in a particular case, observations and information obtained through the course of attending crime / death scenes, autopsies or latent print processing results.
• Participate in criminal pre-trial investigations regarding violent and non-violent cases.
• May perform other general duties including updating computerized records, filing, maintaining and storing an appropriate inventory of supplies, and maintaining laboratory equipment.
• Perform related duties as required.

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application.

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited…