Police Forensic Digital Evidence Specialist bei City of Leesburg, FL

About the Department

The purpose of the class is to review, process and manage property and evidence, including both digital and physical evidence in accordance with Florida statute, established evidence rules and procedures, and Florida public records laws.   The class is also responsible for performing routine office tasks for the assigned area of responsibility.  The class works according to set procedures under direct supervision.

Position Duties

• Serve as the agency’s primary digital evidence technician.  Make copies, upload, download, redact (as required) and copy all agency requested digital audio and video evidence.
• Obtain digital evidence from businesses, residences, vehicles as needed and track and store in the Digital Evidence Management System.
• Serve as liaison to City I.T. department regarding the storage and security of digital evidence.
• Serve as point of contact with vendor and system administrator for the Police Department Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS).
• Serve as a point of contact with vendors and as a system administrator for the Police Department Dash-Cam and Body Camera system(s).
• Compile evidence and associated documents for dissemination to outside agencies or the public in accordance with established policies and procedures; performs routine computations, database searches in CAD and RMS, and maintains and updates records and logs.
• Sort, index, and file police property and evidence records; check reports, forms, and other data for clerical accuracy, completeness, and conformance with established policies and procedures.
• Conduct property and evidence audits and inventories in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Review police incident reports, identifies statutory exemptions, and redacts confidential and exempt information from digital evidence accordingly.
• Work with both state and private attorneys to respond to requests for digital evidence review in a prompt and timely manner in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Repackage and or transfer drug or biological evidence utilizing appropriate equipment and PPE for FLDE submissions.
• Manage and maintain property and evidence in accordance with established policies and procedures; to include updating computer databases, preserving chain of custody, and ensuring proper dissemination and disposition of property and evidence.
• Secure evidence and drive a department vehicle to FDLE lab in Orlando or Tampa approximately twice a month to deliver and pick up return evidence.
• Maintain and/or operates routine office equipment.
• Assist with special projects as directed and may perform specialized tasks when trained and so assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED. Requires two (2) years of responsible experience in the field of evidence/property management within a law enforcement agency. Two (2) additional years of responsible experience in areas with auditing and reconciliation processes such as stock control, loss prevention, shipping and receiving, or accounting preferred. Position also requires intermediate to advanced computer skills with the ability to learn to search databases and records management systems. Experience retrieving, copying, redacting digital video and audio evidence or experience managing and editing multimedia files is a plus. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel is a must. Position requires strict confidentiality of exempt criminal investigative or victim information.  
Must pass an intensive police background check, to include prior criminal incidents, driving history, and previous work history.   Emphasis is placed on integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Requires a valid State of Florida driver’s license and satisfactory driving record as a condition of initial and continued employment.
Must qualify for CJIS access and obtain NCIC/FCIC limited access certification within 90 days of employment.  In-house and online training is provided.
Must be able to obtain certifications from the Property and Evidence Association of Florida (PEAF) and the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE) within twenty-four (24) months of hire.  Must maintain the IAPE certification every five (5) years.