Property & Evidence Technician

Job Announcement

This position receives, processes, stores (and is responsible for safekeeping of) property and evidence from law enforcement personnel to preserve all incoming property from contamination, theft, or loss. Maintains and updates property documentation with tracking information, commonly referred to as the “chain of custody." safeguards and maintains proper integrity and chain of evidence. Monitors the collection of evidence from police officers and rejects improperly collected evidence. Inspects and observes evidence received from officers to determine compliance with prescribed packaging standards and to ensure all items are accounted for; catalogs evidence and found property for storage and easy retrieval according to prescribed procedures and regulations. Conducts purges to destroy unwanted evidence as required by law or regulations and properly documents the final disposition on departmental forms or memorandums. Tracks and accounts for high valued items recovered by officers in assigned areas. Inventories and issues a variety of evidence supplies/materials. Responds to inquiries from both law enforcement personnel and community members concerning property in custody. Prepares and forwards property-related forms to requesting units and agencies. Serves as liaison between the department and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Complies with court subpoenas and testifies on the disposition of evidence when necessary. Ensures that all releases and dispositions of property are legal and properly documented. Arranges and documents interim releases and returns of property for court, crime lab analysis, or investigative use. Properly operates equipment such as forklifts, motor vehicles, hand carts, dollies and any other equipment needed to move, store, document or safeguard recovered evidence or property. Other duties as deemed necessary by the unit supervisor.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Oversees the processing of property and evidence from law enforcement personnel;
• Tracks and accounts for high valued items recovered by officers in assigned areas;
• Inventories and issues a variety of documents, forms and police equipment;
• Inspects and observes evidence received to determine compliance with prescribed packaging standards and to ensure all items are accounted for;
• Catalogs evidence and found property for storage and easy retrieval according to prescribed procedures and regulations;
• Oversees the collection of evidence from Police Department cadets and rejects improperly collected evidence;
• Conducts purges to destroy unwanted evidence as required by law or regulation;
• Preserves all incoming property from contamination, theft, or loss;
• Maintains and updates property documentation with tracking information, commonly referred to as the “chain of custody”;
• Safeguards and maintains proper integrity and chain of evidence;
• Ensures that all releases and dispositions of property are legal and properly documented;
• Arranges and documents interim releases and returns of property for court, crime lab analysis, or investigative use;
• Responds to inquires from both law enforcement personnel and citizens concerning property in custody;
• Enters information pertaining to property and evidence status into computer terminals for evidence tracking and management;
• Prepares and forwards property-related forms to requesting units and agencies;
• Serves as liaison between the department and other local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies;
• Provides for maintenance of the storage facility;
• Inventories property based on the policy demands of the department;
• Ensures that all efforts are taken to make the property room as safe as possible for employees as well as property;
• Prepares evidence and recovered property for Destruction, Auctions, Charitable Contributions or conversion to County Use;
• Audits station property rooms to ensure compliance with rules of evidence, state code and departmental regulations;
• Releases property and evidence to designated personnel following prescribed procedures;
• Performs physical inventories of the property and evidence;
• Collects, produces and maintains written documentation;
• Contacts vendors, coordinate deliveries and corrects shipment errors;
• Maintains computerized records on the disposition of evidence and other impounded property;
• Delivers evidence to courts and testifies on the disposition of evidence when necessary;
• May operate a forklift to move impounded property.

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.)

• Knowledge of Property Room procedures and polices;
• Knowledge of Federal, State and County criminal and civil codes and regulations;
• Knowledge of basic principles and practices of warehousing;
• Knowledge of computer terminal data input and retrieval processes;
• Knowledge of modern evidence storage practices;
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws related to property management and storage;
• Knowledge of State, County and Federal laws to ensure proper destruction methods are followed;
• Ability to understand and follow handling, retrieval and disposal procedures;
• Ability to conduct accurate inventories of all property and evidence;
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and the public;
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information, material or evidence;
• Ability to perform required tasks including lifting, stooping, bending and working in uncomfortable positions;
• Ability to operate a forklift;
• Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards;
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and be truthful at all times.

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)
High school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education; and two years' experience in warehouse operations such as receiving, issuing and storing materials, inventory/supply administration, storage and records management; OR handling and processing sensitive and confidential documents, material, or information.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Familiarity with police department policies and procedures.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Driver's License (Required)
• Forklift operator certificate must be obtained within one year of appointment to this position.