Department of Public Safety Evidence Technician (DPS #10114939)

Posting Details

The New Mexico State Police District 4 Uniform Bureau, based in Las Cruces, is responsible for handling a wide range of criminal cases throughout the district. Officers routinely collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies on investigations. District 4 is home to several specialized units, including: Uniform Bureau, Investigations Bureau, Specialty Teams Bureau Crisis Negotiations Team, Fugitive Apprehension Unit and Training and Recruiting Section. Officers and agents collect various types of evidence during investigations. This evidence must be properly documented, packaged, stored, and, when necessary, submitted to appropriate laboratories (NMSP Forensic Laboratory, FBI Laboratory, DEA labs, or other accredited facilities) for scientific analysis and testing.

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.
Why does the job exist?

The Evidence Technician position exists to ensure the New Mexico State Police District 4 operates efficiently, effectively, and in full legal compliance while managing all evidence from serious felony investigations to misdemeanor charges.
How does it get done?

Maintains an unbroken, court-defensible chain of custody for all physical evidence, firearms, narcotics, currency, biohazards, and other seized property. Ensures full compliance with state and federal laws, accreditation standards (CALEA), court rules, laboratory submission requirements, and agency policies regarding evidence handling, storage, retention, and disposition. Processes, packages, documents, stores, tracks, and disposes of diverse and often hazardous evidence (drugs, loaded weapons, explosives, sexual assault kits, blood evidence, large cash seizures, etc.) so sworn officers and detectives are not taken off patrol or investigative duties for hours at a time. Supports prosecutors, defense counsel, and investigators by quickly locating and producing evidence for court, lab testing, or case review, preventing delays that could jeopardize prosecutions. Protects the department from civil liability, loss of accreditation, and suppression of evidence due to mishandling or chain-of-custody violations.
Who are the customers?

The Evidence Technician is essential to keeping District 4's criminal cases legally sound, officers available for public safety duties, and the entire agency in compliance with the complex legal and procedural mandates that govern evidence management in modern law enforcement.
Ideal Candidate

The Evidence Technician is essential to keeping District 4's criminal cases legally sound, officers available for public safety duties, and the entire agency in compliance with the complex legal and procedural mandates that govern evidence management in modern law enforcement.
Minimum Qualification

High School diploma or Equivalency and two (2) years of experience related to the purpose of the position. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling two (2) years may substitute for the required experience.
Employment Requirements

Employment is subject to a pre-employment background investigation and fingerprinting in accordance with all terms and conditions of federal and state law, rules and regulations; and is conditional pending results. Continued employment is contingent upon remaining felony free, per Section 5.12.1.1 of the Criminal Justice Information Systems Security Policy.

In addition, the selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and obtain a Defensive Driving Certificate from the State of New Mexico.
Working Conditions

The working conditions for an Evidence Technician position involve primarily indoor work in a controlled, climate-controlled evidence vault and office environment. Where the majority of time, typically 50-70%, is spent at a computer performing tasks such as data entry into evidence management software, generating chain-of-custody reports, scanning barcodes, and responding to requests from detectives and prosecutors. Moderate physical demands, including regularly lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling items weighing 25-50 pounds. Travel is a regular requirement, involving day trips in an agency vehicle from Las Cruces to surrounding evidence vaults (e.g., Alamogordo, Deming) and to the New Mexico DPS Forensic Laboratory in Santa Fe for evidence submissions. Overall, the position operates on standard weekday business hours.
Supplemental Information

Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here

Agency Contact Information: Lieutenant Raymond White, (505) 490-2359, Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.