Crime Scene Technician

Forensic Investigator

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Description

Performs technical forensic work involving crime scene documentation and processing and the recognition, collection, preservation, and handling of physical evidence. Duties include forensic photography, latent fingerprint processing, evidence collection, chain of custody, investigative reporting, and courtroom testimony.

Work is performed with considerable independence and requires sound judgment, accuracy, initiative, and compliance with applicable laws, forensic standards, and agency policies and procedures.

Shift work is required. Employees may be assigned on-call periods and must be available for emergency call-out or recall on a 24-hour basis, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as operational needs require.

Work is performed in varied indoor and outdoor environments and may involve adverse weather, human remains, blood and bodily fluids, hazardous or infectious materials, chemicals, narcotics, and strong or unpleasant odors. Employees must properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE) and comply with established safety, exposure-control, and decontamination procedures.

Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds to crime scenes and other locations requiring forensic examination, documentation, evidence collection, or technical assistance.
• Conducts initial crime scene assessments and walk-throughs in coordination with investigators and other authorized personnel.
• Identifies, prioritizes, marks, protects, and processes potential evidence.
• Photographs crime scenes, evidence, injuries, vehicles, deceased persons, and other subjects or locations requiring forensic documentation.
• Documents crime scenes through photographs, written notes, measurements, sketches or diagrams, evidence placards, and other appropriate documentation methods.
• Identifies, collects, packages, labels, preserves, and transports physical evidence in accordance with established forensic practices, agency procedures, and applicable legal requirements.
• Processes crime scenes and items of evidence for latent fingerprints and/or DNA using appropriate physical, chemical, photographic, and other approved development and preservation techniques.
• Recognizes, documents, collects, preserves, and processes various forms of physical evidence, which may include blood and other biological material, trace evidence, footwear and tire impressions, firearms and ammunition, toolmarks, and other evidentiary material.
• Safely handles and operates firearms when necessary for forensic examination, documentation, collection, processing, or preservation in accordance with agency firearms-safety and evidence-handling procedures.
• Documents, photographs, and assists with the processing of deceased persons and associated evidence in coordination with investigators, medical examiner personnel, and other authorized personnel.
• Attends autopsies or other forensic examinations when required to photograph, document, collect, receive, or preserve evidence.
• Maintains the integrity and documented chain of custody of evidence from collection through submission, examination, transfer, storage, and authorized disposition.
• Prepares accurate, complete, objective, and timely forensic investigative reports and associated documentation.
• Communicates forensic findings and examination results to investigators and other authorized personnel.
• Assists with the seizure, impoundment, or documentation of vehicles, vessels, property, or other items when required as part of an investigation.
• Provides testimony in trials, hearings, grand jury proceedings, depositions, and other judicial proceedings concerning crime scene activities, evidence handling, forensic procedures, and findings.
• Properly selects, uses, removes, maintains, and disposes of PPE and follows applicable exposure-control, contamination-prevention, decontamination, and occupational safety procedures.
• Operates computers, agency information systems, digital imaging equipment, evidence-management systems, forensic equipment, vehicles, and standard office equipment necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Inspects, cleans, inventories, and performs routine maintenance of forensic equipment, cameras, vehicles, PPE, processing materials, and supplies; reports deficiencies and replenishes supplies as necessary.
• Maintains required training, certifications, competencies, and proficiency applicable to assigned forensic duties and remains knowledgeable regarding current forensic practices, technologies, legal requirements, and agency procedures.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance and reports for scheduled shifts, on-call assignments, emergency call-outs, and recalls as required.
• Maintains situational awareness and performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes employee, coworker, and public safety.
• Works cooperatively and professionally with coworkers, law enforcement personnel, criminal justice partners, medical personnel, victims, witnesses, and members of the public.
• Complies with applicable laws, agency directives, policies, procedures, safety requirements, and supervisory instructions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Evidence/Property Room Support

When assigned, provides support to Evidence/Property Room operations, including:

• Receives, documents, secures, stores, transfers, and releases evidence and property in accordance with agency procedures.
• Enters and updates evidence and property information within the agency's designated records or evidence-management system.
• Processes requests for laboratory examinations and prepares evidence for submission to authorized forensic laboratories.
• Transports or ships evidence to authorized laboratories and accurately documents transfers, submissions, and returns.
• Researches case status and applicable retention requirements to assist with the authorized release, destruction, donation, sale, or other lawful disposition of property.
• Releases evidence for court proceedings and other authorized purposes while maintaining documented chain of custody.
• Processes authorized requests to inspect or view evidence.
• Notifies property owners and releases found or recovered property when legally authorized.
• Receives, secures, documents, and stores firearms and other weapons submitted as evidence or property.
• Maintains required records associated with evidence and property.
• Maintains the security, integrity, accountability, and chain of custody of evidence and property.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Applicants must meet both the education and specialized work experience requirements below, as outlined in the substitution table:

Education Level - Required Specialized Work Experience

High school diploma or equivalent - 4 years

Associate's degree (in a related field)* - 2 years

Bachelor's degree (in a related field)* - 1 years

Master's degree or higher (in a related field)* - None

A related field includes Criminal Justice, Criminology, Police Science, Public Safety Administration, Forensic Science, Criminalistics, or a closely aligned discipline.

Specialized Work Experience must include professional-level responsibilities in one or more of the following areas:

• Independent crime scene processing Experience independently responding to and processing crime scenes, conducting systematic assessments and walkthroughs, identifying and prioritizing potential evidence, establishing appropriate scene controls, and coordinating effectively with investigators and other personnel.
• Forensic evidence handling and preservation Experience identifying, documenting, collecting, packaging, labeling, preserving, transporting, and maintaining the chain of custody for physical evidence in accordance with forensic standards, agency policies, and applicable legal requirements.
• Application of forensic examination techniques Experience using established forensic techniques to locate, develop, document, collect, and preserve latent fingerprints, DNA and other biological evidence, trace evidence, footwear and tire impressions, firearms and ammunition, toolmarks, and other physical evidence.
• Forensic documentation, reporting, and testimony Experience producing accurate, complete, objective, and legally defensible crime-scene photographs, notes, measurements, sketches, evidence records, and investigative reports, and communicating forensic findings to investigators and providing testimony regarding forensic activities and evidence handling.
• Safe and legally compliant forensic operations Experience performing forensic duties in environments involving biological hazards, firearms, deceased persons, hazardous conditions, and other operational risks while properly using PPE, following contamination-control and safety procedures, maintaining evidence integrity, operating specialized forensic equipment, and complying with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

Licenses and Other Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver license as required by the agency.
• Must successfully complete all required pre-employment screening and background requirements.
• Must maintain required agency training, certifications, competencies, and proficiency standards applicable to assigned duties.
• Must be able to safely handle firearms when required for forensic examination and evidence-processing purposes.
• Must be able to work assigned shifts and participate in on-call, emergency call-out, and recall assignments as required.

Standards to Perform Essential Job Functions

Knowledge