What are the responsibilities and job description for the Evidence Technician I position at City of Palm Bay, FL?
MINIMUM TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school and one (1) year of experience working with law enforcement, working with the preservation and custody of evidence, or working with electronic inventory control or record-keeping in a non-law enforcement setting. Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License and have and maintain an acceptable, safe driving record.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must obtain an IAPE (CPES) or PEAF (CES) certificate within two years from date of hire. Must be willing to attend a class related to Property & Evidence Management within a year of hire.
EMERGENCY DECLARATION STATUS
Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared emergency and/or declared emergency. On an incident-by-incident basis, the employee’s Department Head will make the determination as to who will be required to work.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, performs physical, technical, and administrative work, in support of City’s Police Department. Work involves customer service, ensuring that physical evidence and other property seized or found are protected from loss or damage and that the chain of evidence and property records are properly maintained. Agency custodian of forfeiture funds and abandoned property, submitting evidence for laboratory analysis, ensuring proper destruction or disposal of property and evidence, maintaining computer records of evidence holdings, and maintaining awareness of the status of various cases for which evidence is being held. Employee is also responsible for issuing evidence to police and court personnel, requesting criminal history inquiries, uploading, downloading, and transferring of digital files to and from secure servers, copying CD/DVD’s for SAO/Defense Attorney’s, handling and disposing of biohazard materials according to OSHA. Work also involves preparing evidence for personnel to present for court testimony concerning evidence, and training department personnel in evidence packaging techniques. Duties assigned to employees in the position may vary slightly according to specific needs of the department and/or allocation of workload. Responsible for leading and assisting any volunteers or employees who may be assigned to work or assist in these activities. Reports to their designated supervisor
SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Receives and maintains secure custody of evidence, ensuring property received matches associated records; assists Police Officers and other officials, as necessary, to ensure proper and timely completion of paperwork pertaining to evidence processing and storage; organizes and catalogs evidence and property, and prepares and maintains related computer records; prepares back-up computer records. Completes data entry tasks by utilizing a computer tracking system indicating receipt, inventory, disposition, and/or release information relative to evidence and other property at the station level. Operates money counting machine, counts and receives all monies submitted into Evidence. Maintains callouts nights, weekends and holidays.Prepares and submits evidence for laboratory analysis and preparing associated paperwork in compliance with the laboratories policies and procedures. Conducts routine pick-ups and deliveries of laboratory evidence at various government entities and inter-agency offices, and evidence returns to the police department.
Makes copies, uploads, downloads, and disposes of all agencies requested digital audio and video evidence. Stores and maintains the chain of custody of digital evidence within the digital evidence management system. Serves, in conjunction with the Supervisor, as point of contact with the digital evidence management system, in-car video system, and body worn cameras. Manages and maintains digital evidence in accordance with established policies and procedures; to include updating computer databases, preserving chain of custody, and ensuring proper dissemination and disposition of digital evidence.
Assists with training related to the digital evidence management system.
Signs out evidence to Department personnel, attorneys, court personnel, etc., as appropriate, and ensures proper and timely return.
Answers telephones and provides information pertaining to the booking and processing of evidence and other property, availability for release, dispositions, locations, police auctions, and other questions relating to these items.
Assists in the proper storage of and preparation for the disposal and destruction of controlled substances, hazardous or contraband substances, and items which include weapons, drugs and related paraphernalia, chemicals, bio-hazard and unknown materials and substances in accordance with Florida Statutes.
Maintains written and computer records cataloging items held as evidence, confiscated property, found property, or abandoned property.
Destroys and disposes of evidence by obtaining officer authorization; reviewing and tracking dispositions for disposal or release; locating owners of released property and evidence and requesting pick-up; preparing unclaimed property for disposal; and ensuring property being released is done under current policy and related statutory guidelines.
Processes firearms and other weapons to be forwarded to Brevard County Sheriff's Department, or property owners, as appropriate. Requests FCIC/NCIC wants/warrants and Criminal History checks prior to returning firearms to owner thru Department Communications Center. Will complete an eAgent search if owner is unable to be located. Completes background checks through FDLE Firearm Eligibility System.
Tags and records items for auction; prepares lists of property items for auction, including descriptions and serial numbers, and separates and processes disposable property according to Florida Statues. Coordinates with Property Room for transfer of items designated auction.
Assembles and organizes evidence for assigned officers or crime scene personnel presentation in court; may be requested to attend court and testimony pertaining to evidentiary process and procedures.
Ability to learn applicable federal, state, and local criminal and civil laws, codes, and regulations including knowledge of and use of Chapter 119 public records law; learn law enforcement, court systems, and criminal procedures relative to the processing, retention, and disposal of evidence; learn safety and security methods and practices involved in the handling and storage of firearms, weapons, narcotics, drugs, money, and dangerous devices.
Maintains storage areas, ensuring secure, proper and orderly storage of property and evidence according to established policies, procedures and filing systems. Place property/evidence items and inventory documents in both ascending and descending numerical and/or alphanumerical order. Verifies evidence storage freezers and refrigerators maintain required temperature; reports any variations to supervisor. Conducts in-service training sessions for department personnel in the handling and preservation of physical evidence.
ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Performs other related work as required.
This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary that are a logical assignment to the position.
This position is covered under the NAGE White Collective Bargaining Agreement
Health Insurance: Health care plan options include HDHP, OAPIN and OAP through Cigna.
Dental Insurance: Dental coverage is offered in three plans that include DHMO & PPO High/Low plans.
Vision Insurance: Vision coverage includes an annual eye exam, frames and lenses or contact lenses in lieu of eyeglasses.
Life Insurance: The City of Palm Bay provides each employee with life insurance in the amount of one time their annual base salary at no cost. Additional coverage is available at the employee's cost up to the Guaranteed Issue amount of $250,000.
Dependent/Spouse Life Insurance: The City of Palm Bay provides each employee with dependent/spouse life insurance in the amount of $5,000 per dependent at no cost. Additional coverage is available at the employee's cost.
Short Term Disability: Coverage pays 66 2/3% of employee's annual base salary during a short-term disability period not to exceed 26 weeks.
Long Term Disability: Coverage pays 66 2/3% of employee's salary at time of disability after a 180 consecutive day waiting period.
Defined Contribution Retirement Plan: City contributes a base of 3%. Employees may contribute up to 6% and the City will match the employees contribution.
Holidays: 10 holidays, 1 birthday holiday and 1 anniversary holiday.
Paid Leave: Accrue 96 hours of vacation per year, accrued hours increase after 10 years of service based on years of service. Accrue 96 hours of sick leave per year.
Tuition Reimbursement: Upon completion of the initial probationary period, employees are eligible for tuition and book reimbursement for college level courses for Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. (Currently frozen due to budget)
Salary : $250,000
