CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR, Sheriff's Office

Full Job Description

Performs basic and intermediate-level professional investigative duties on a daily basis to achieve the goals of the Sheriff’s Office that may include activities such as conducting investigations in conjunction with ongoing criminal investigations, collecting evidence, and recording the proper chain of custody.

Requirements

1. Gathers information and data and performs professional crime scene analysis that may involve any or all of the following activities: receiving initial call notifying Crime Scene of an incident and initiating investigations, determining TCSO jurisdiction, gathering and processing physical evidence, taking photographs, and sketching crime scene.

May assume control of and direct other personnel at crime scenes or other locations.

Communicates extensively with uniformed and investigative officers to determine the nature and extent of the crime and exchanges information with the investigating offices as well as other public agencies when necessary.

2. Transports evidence to crime labs and picks up photos and negatives from photo labs while maintaining chain of custody.
3. Lists and receipts personal property and evidence; arranges for removal of bodies to the morgue; recognizes and preserves physical evidence, drugs, medical devices, related paraphernalia, and trace evidence; and coordinates handling, collection, and examination of the same with departmental criminalists and officers or professionals of other agencies.
4. Performs a variety of complex laboratory tests, analyses, classifications, and comparisons of all types of physical evidence from crime scenes with emphasis on and expertise in the collection and comparison of latent fingerprints and use of the AFIS system.
5. Documents, maintains, and updates required records, files, and statistics; enters data into computerized records management system; prepares investigation and case supplements of circumstances, pertinent data, and evidence for filling with the appropriate agencies including law enforcement, district attorney, hospitals, etc.

Communicates with staff or citizens and establishes rapport through interviews with or assisting citizens or parties of interest.

Interviews witnesses, friends, relatives, or suspects to obtain information about crimes.

Provides information to and collects information from other law enforcement and criminal justice entities for follow-up investigations.

6. Provides written reports and testifies in court proceedings or under deposition regarding the findings of an investigation of the circumstances of crime. Prepares reports leading to search/seizure or arrest warrants, subpoenas, or other civil process documents.
7. Provides technical assistance and instruction on lab procedures to law enforcement agencies. Provides information regarding state laws and codes as well as departmental policy and procedures.
8. Performs routine preventive maintenance on equipment and quality control procedures.
9. Trains and assists newly assigned investigators or staff. May recommend actions or participate in implementation of departmental programs, policies, procedures, or other professional activities.
10. Ensures compliance with any or all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and policies and may update staff or work group on applicable changes.
11. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in criminal justice, forensic science, or physical sciences required.

• One (1) full-time year of work experience required, preferably in crime scene or forensics related fields.

• Must obtain International Association for Identification (IAI) certification within one (1) year of hire.

• Must obtain Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) certification within one (1) year of hire. Must maintain a valid Texas driver license.

• Must possess knowledge of physical evidence capabilities, identification procedures, criminological and related techniques, fingerprint classification methods.

• Must follow federal, state, local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and applicable crime scene standards and procedures including legal chain of custody procedures.

• Must be proficient in business letter writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To be considered for this position, your application must be complete and clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications.

Please ensure that all sections of the application are fully completed, including Education (specifying the type of degree, field of study, and graduation status), Experience, and Certifications/Licenses.

Resumes alone will not substitute for a completed application.

Incomplete applications will result in disqualification, as eligibility for minimum qualifications cannot be confirmed without full documentation.

If selected for hire, you will be required to provide proof of educational attainment during the onboarding process.

Tarrant County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudication in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records and educational attainment.

A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Additional Information

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to stoop, sit, walk, run on occasion, strenuously climb stairs or ladders and lift up to 100 lbs.

Must be able to exert physical force when necessary, lift to pick up evidence, and twist.

May have to sit at the computer for prolonged periods of time typing, using the computer, writing or using the telephone. Exposure to communicable diseases.

There is exposure to household type cleaning agents (such as diluted bleach, alcohol based window cleaner, chlorine based cleanser); and occasional exposure to pesticides.

There is occasional exposure to inmate control devices that emit pepper agents via aerosol spray, gel or foam. There is the potential of exposure to toxic smoke.