Evidence Technician

Salary : $43,267.91 - $64,901.87 Annually

Location : Union County Sheriff's Office 3370 Presson Rd. Monroe, NC

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 5458-1

Department : EVIDENCE

Division : CRIME LAB

Opening Date : 01 / 29 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 5 / 2025 4 : 00 PM Eastern

Description

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.

Essential Job Functions

• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Additional Information

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.

INSURANCE PROGRAMS

HEALTH INSURANCE

All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period. Health Reimbursement Account Preventative Care Coverage Prescription Coverage Vision Coverage

DENTAL INSURANCE

All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period.

LIFE INSURANCE

Basic Term life Insurance in the amount of one times the annual salary is provided for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deduction for the employee and eligible dependents.

FINANCIAL PROGRAMS

RETIREMENT

Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System is a requirement for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have five (5) years of service, you are 100% vested in the NCLGERS.

NC401(k)

The NC401(k) supplemental retirement program is available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees. The County establishes this 401(k) account for each eligible employee and makes a five percent (5%) contribution based on biweekly earnings. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions through payroll deduction.

457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The 457 Deferred Compensation program is available to all employees through payroll deduction. Deferred compensation is a voluntary investment plan to supplement retirement income and to defer taxable income.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Options are available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. The Flex Debit Card program gives you instant access to your account funds.

Health Care Spending AccountSection 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses.

Dependent Care Spending AccountSection 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible dependent care expenses.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice.

CREDIT UNION

Local Government Federal Credit Union membership is available to all employees. Once you join, you can remain a member for as long as you choose. Immediate family members such as : spouse, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters and parents can all become members.

TRUIST

No Overdraft Fees

100 Negative Balance Buffer

Online and Mobile Banking with Bill Pay

LEAVE PROGRAMS

VACATION LEAVE

Vacation leave is accrued based on creditable years of service in the Local Government Employees Retirement System.

SICK LEAVE

For full-time County employees, sick leave accrues at eight (8.0) hours per month. Benefitted part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time rate. Your unused sick leave balance can be applied as creditable service toward a service retirement under the guidelines of the NCLGERS.

SICK LEAVE TRANSFER FROM OTHER AGENCIES

Unused sick leave earned from another North Carolina Governmental Agency and / or entity, will be accepted and transferred to the County as follows : twelve (12) sick leave days will be transferred and added to the employees active sick leave balance after completion of six (6) months of employment. The remaining balance of sick leave documented for transfer at the time of employment will be recorded in the employees permanent personnel file. On the fifth anniversary of employment with the County, the remaining balance of transferred sick leave will be added to the employees active sick leave balance.

HOLIDAYS

There are 12 County recognized holidays per year with 1 floating holiday available.

MILITARY LEAVE

Annual Training - 10 paid workdays granted.

Active Duty - 20 paid workdays granted.

CIVIL LEAVE

Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof.

FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Federal law provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events. These events can include birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

Parental Leave provides the employee paid leave for the first eight weeks of approved FML for the birth of a son or daughter, or placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Educational Leave is available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees when participating in a job-related, short course, such as an update, not to exceed ten (10) consecutive working days.

VOLUNTEER TIME OFF

Volunteer Time Off will provide employes with 16 hours of paid time per calender year to volunteer at approved Union County community partner agencies.

OTHER PROGRAMS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Employee Assistance Program is open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. EAP provides certified counselors who administer assessment and brief therapy to employees who want help with a variety of personal and work-related issues such as stress, parenting concerns, grief, alcohol / drug use, family problems, financial concerns, and work-related problems.

AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTER

We believe that staying healthy is more than just exercising regularly and eating well. Individual and family discount membership and monthly dues are available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees through payroll deduction.

NATIONAL COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM

The National College Savings Program is open to all employees. The Program is designed to provide certain tax advantages, encourage and facilitate saving to pay the costs of attending eligible institutions.

Salary : $43,268 - $64,902