Independent Police Auditor (Management Analyst IV)

Job Announcement

The purpose of this position is to provide independent oversight of internal affairs investigations and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) policies and practices, with a specific focus on use of force. Also ensures accountability, fairness, transparency and trust in the complaint system by providing independent review and oversight of internal affairs investigations of misconduct and the police department's policies and practices. The Independent Police Auditor is hired by and reports to the Director of the Office of Police Accountability (Director).

Specifically, this position is responsible for the following:

• Monitors and reviews internal investigations of Fairfax County Police Department officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and use of force cases in which an individual is killed or seriously injured, or which are subject to a public complaint.
• Monitors interviews of police officers to determine if further questioning is necessary.
• Requests further investigation if the auditor and director determine the internal investigation was deficient or conclusions were not supported by the evidence. Consults with the director concerning any disagreement with the investigation results.
• Assesses whether each internal investigation meets established standards. Evaluates adherence to FCPD policy and procedures.
• Drafts a public report for each reviewed internal investigation that outlines whether standards are met and develops recommendations on changes to policy and practice as needed.
• Presents findings and recommendations from reviews to the Police Civilian Review Panel (Panel), community members, and county officials (or the Board of Supervisors), at the direction of the director.
• Works with the director, police department, and community, in partnership, to ensure success of the position. Conducts public outreach to educate the community on the role of the Independent Police Auditor and the process and procedures for investigation of complaints against police officers.
• Works with the director and office staff to appropriately respond to public complaints of use of force. Participates in, and supports the office, in additional projects as assigned, and in developing other reports, such as the annual report and ad-hoc reports.
• Works with office staff on discreet projects and other reports, to include but not limited to trend analysis, other data projects, and development of the annual report.
• Maintains working knowledge of current Fairfax County Police General Orders, Virginia law, federal law, and applicable court decisions regarding use of force. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) on use of force for the office, panel, and others. Provides occasional training to police officers and recruits as requested.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list).

• Ability to foresee and plan for emerging trends in public safety
• Ability to build trust, and foster strong collaborative relationships
• Ability to work in partnerships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and to build and sustain those partnerships
• Expertise in conducting investigations, analyzing data, and making recommendations based on findings
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and ability to compose documents and present data in a clear and concise manner to diverse audiences
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Exceptional ability to listen and process a multitude of data points and develop plans of action;
• Knowledge of the organization, responsibilities, functions, policies, and procedures of local law enforcement
• Knowledge of the techniques of law enforcement training, instruction, and evaluation of work performance
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of criminal and administrative investigations including interviewing and interrogating principles and techniques
• Knowledge of current case law and statutes in the criminal law field and familiarity with penal and evidence codes and other related authorities
• Knowledge of legal research principles

NOTE: The assigned functional areas for the position are: law enforcement, internal/administrative investigations, criminal, constitutional, labor and/or civil rights law.
Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in fields related to the assigned functional areas; PLUS Five years of professional work experience within more than one of the assigned functional areas.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• The appointee must not have served as a sworn law enforcement officer (e.g., police officer, deputy sheriff, probation officer, patrol officer) with any local law enforcement agency in the Washington metropolitan area including Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax County Office of Sheriff, for at least ten years prior to appointment. This restriction does not apply to prior services with federal law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, Secret Service);
• The appointee must not have any immediate family members (spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent) who are sworn law enforcement officers with any local law enforcement agency in the Washington metropolitan area, including Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax County Office of Sheriff. This restriction does not apply to family members employed by federal law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, Secret Service).
• Will be required to work outside of regular business hours

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with instruction in, or investigation of, law enforcement use of force
• Extensive experience conducting criminal or employee investigations
• Experience drafting reports for publication or distribution to the public
• Experience conducting research or information gathering
• Strong communication skills with experience making presentations to public bodies or at public meetings and preparing correspondence for the public or external audiences
• Experience working with elected officials, boards and/or commissions
• Experience reviewing, handling, and protecting personnel and/or other confidential information
• Experience applying the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) requirements, federal Freedom of Information Act, or discovery as it relates to criminal and civil matters
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to lift up to 15 lbs. This position is primarily sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity to work on electronic equipment such as a computer monitor, typing on a keyboard, and are essential to this position. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY View phone number on click.appcast.io. View email address on click.appcast.io EEO/AA/TTY.

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