Property and Evidence Custodian

Description

The Property/Evidence Custodian is responsible for taking custodial control and maintaining security over all items stored in the Police Department's evidence rooms, safes, or other storage facilities. This entails receiving evidence or property and ensuring adherence to proper procedures to safeguard the integrity of the chain of custody. The custodian will also prepare relevant written reports and, when required, provide testimony in court to establish the legal chain of evidentiary custody.

 The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Receives, records, labels, and stores property and evidence; follows chain-of-custody procedures; maintains strict inventory and records of all evidence processed.
• Maintains evidence in evidence vault or other storage areas.
• Performs safety inspections of all firearms submitted as evidence.
• Transports evidence to and from crime laboratories and off-site storage; maintains and operates a city vehicle for the transportation of evidence.
• Testifies in court trials to validate the chain-of-custody of evidence.
• Participates in regular and unannounced audits.
• Provides evidentiary copies of evidence to investigators, court personnel, prosecutors, and defense attorneys.
• Monitors all transactions of evidence.
• Facilitates the return of items to their owners upon the finalization of dispositions; implements the disposition of court orders to include auction, destruction, donation, or transfer of ownership; maintains related documentation.
• Stores, maintains, logs and verifies the weight of narcotics used of K-9 training.
• Maintains supplies used for the packaging and storage of evidence; makes purchases as needed.
• Operates department vehicle in performance of duties.
• Performs other related duties as required or

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required by the Position

• Knowledge of chain-of-custody laws.
• Knowledge evidence storage and security principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of the preservation and documentation of physical evidence.
• Skill in planning, organizing, analyzing, decision making, and problem solving.
• Skill in the storage and processing of evidence.
• Skill in the maintenance of files and records.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in the use of office equipment, including a computer, calculator, and office software applications.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in use of GCIC-NCIC terminal network.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive material.
• Ability to understand and carry out complex verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with employees and the general public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage stressful situations.
• Ability to operate photographic
• Ability to operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and associated software.

Physical Demands

Effective audio and visual discrimination and perception needed to make observations; read and write; drive safely and simultaneously operate emergency lights, siren, radio, and computer; speak clearly and concisely, free from speech impediments; hear and understand radio, telephone, and normal range of verbal communications, discern color differences; identify and distinguish smells of different materials; ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (25-50 pounds); work efficiently for long periods of time; function effectively under stress; ability to deal effectively with the morbid, the repugnant, the abnormal, the morse, the psychotic, the neurotic, and otherwise unpleasant and unusual facets or results of human behavior.

Work Environment

Work is performed either in an office environment or in a variety of field and office settings and may require exposure to dangerous and life-threatening situations; willing to work any hour of the day or night (shift work), overtime, weekends on call and holidays; work at any location in the city and travel in specific assignments.