Crime Scene Technician I presso Clay County Sheriff's Office (FL), FL

About the Department

A Crime Scene Technician I serves as an entry level role in documenting, processing, and preserving all manner of crime scenes, ensuring proper chain of custody for evidence, and furthering investigative leads through the processing of evidence at the CCSO Crime Lab while completing the core training requirements for CST II.

Position Duties

• Responds to various call types including property crimes and crimes against persons.
• Operates and maintains mobile crime unit and all equipment contained therein.
• Utilizes personal safety equipment such as respirators, dust masks, and gloves to avoid exposure to chemicals, biohazardous/radiological material, and contamination of other evidence. 
• Be trained to carefully and thoroughly process and maintain the integrity of the crime scene pursuant to applicable policies/procedures.
• Trains and shows positive progress in the use of photography and video equipment for the documentation of crime scenes. 
• Takes aerial photographs of crime scenes from aircrafts as required.
• Trains and becomes capable of photographing deceased persons, documenting state of decomposition, bodily trauma, and any other relative items of evidence.
• Trains and shows positive progress in the ability to document, process, and reconstruct blood spatter events and shooting events. 
• Trains and becomes capable of completing finished crime scene diagrams from measurements taken at the scene.
• Trains and becomes capable of utilizing the FARO 3D laser scanner and SCENE registration software to create 3D scene diagrams.
• Trains and shows positive progress in the ability to process different surface types for latent fingerprints. 
• Develops the ability to determine if latent prints meet the minimum criteria for comparative analysis purposes.
• Trains and shows positive progress in the ability to identify and collect sources of DNA, including wear and touch DNA.
• Completes physical evidence examination and processing requests in the CCSO Crime Lab, sending the completed requests to the appropriate personnel/agency in a timely manner.
• Assists CST II with the excavation of buried bodies/bones or surface skeletons.
• Assists CST II with the processing and documentation of high-profile cases, such as homicides. 
• Trains and shows positive progress in the ability to identify, mark, collect, package, and seal all evidence according to agency policy and consistent with standards of any state, local or federal lab conducting analysis.
• Documents and carefully maintains the security and control of all collected evidence, ensuring the integrity of the evidence and limited accessibility so the evidence may be presented and accepted by a court of law pursuant to state and federal statutes.
• Adheres to prescribed sterilization techniques for evidence collection tools and instruments to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
• Provides technical assistance to other law enforcement agencies as needed, consistent with agency policy and procedures.
• Possesses sufficient knowledge and correctly performs all the designated duties and assumes all responsibilities as required in the absence of the co-worker or during periods of work overload in accordance with agency policy, procedures, and supervisory direction. 
• Train and master the capability to complete, update, and submit or forward all required forms to the appropriate authority/personnel in a timely manner and in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Responds to incoming correspondence and action documents in a timely manner and in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Issues evidence supplies to patrol deputies, detectives, and public safety aides.
• Assists with catastrophic events such as hurricane disaster relief, documentation of county property damage, and other disaster recovery efforts. 
• Train and be capable of processing digital evidence submissions and requests, including generating a property/custody receipt for the items with all required information and writing digital images to CD/DVD when requested.
• Generates and submits forensic investigative reports detailing all pertinent forensic evidence, information, and activities in a clear and organized manner.
• Participates in a technical peer review process, ensuring reports are being completed accurately and with all necessary details. 
• Attends staff meetings or briefings as needed or required.
• Ensures that their work area is clean, organized, safe and presentable in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Operates a mobile laptop computer and the included programs.
• Processes applicable incoming and outgoing documents and/or files in a timely manner consistent with supervisory direction and/or agency policies/procedures.
• Participates in cross-training with other co-workers; assists those co-workers when the need arises and learns new tasks by working together as a team.
• Reports identified or potential maintenance, safety, and/or non-compliance findings, hazards, and incidents to the appropriate personnel and/or department. 
• Timely completes all assignments, special projects, and budgetary requirements (if applicable) as directed, adhering to applicable agency policies.
• Adheres to leave and attendance policies, including punctual arrival and completing full shifts. Informs the supervisor about illness or untimely incidents, reports overtime hours worked, and timely submits timesheet, attendance, and leave requests.
• Regularly checks assigned mailbox, phone calls, PowerDMS, and email messages, responding promptly and professionally. 
• Makes assigned chain of command aware of anything noteworthy. 
• Responds to supervision, guidance, direction, and feedback from executive staff and superiors in a receptive manner and in accordance with agency policies. 
• Conducts themselves in a polite, helpful, courteous, ethical, and professional manner, abiding by the established code of ethics, and demonstrates a courteous and professional image when engaged in any activity with the public. 
• Cultivates positive working relationships with colleagues and other agency units to enhance work area output and services in line with agency policies. 
• Demonstrates an understanding, consideration, and respect of cultural, religious, and gender differences when interacting with the public and coworkers.  
• Actively participate in job-specific training. 
• Operates and performs minor repairs for office equipment to manufacturer’s specifications and/or within the specified parameters pursuant to agency policies. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education, Experience and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, or a related field required, or equivalent work experience in accordance with FSS 112.219.
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proficient in Microsoft office products
• Speak and understand the English language
• The following items (or authorized equivalents) may be required at various steps in the application process: 
  1. Driver's License
  2. Birth Certificate
  3. Social Security Card
  4. Form DD214 for all periods served in the military
  5. GED or High School Diploma and Sealed Transcripts from the highest level of education
  6. FDLE Authority for Release (notarized)
• Successful completion of the Crime Scene Training and Evaluation Program (CSTEP), after hiring.
• Successful completion of the following classes, after hiring:
  1. Crime Scene Photography
  2. Crime Scene Processing
  3. Crime Scene Reconstruction
  4. Light Energy Applications for Law Enforcement 

Certification, Licenses and Registrations Requirements:

• None specified

Other Qualifications

Salary is negotiable for full-time positions prior to initial hire, if requested, based on verified experience up to step five (5) of the assigned pay grade. Current employee salary changes are determined based on internal methodology. Please contact Human Resources with any questions. 

Benefits for full time positions include Florida Retirement System, a full suite of very affordable health/life/dental/vision benefits, ancillary insurance policies, college reimbursement, and more. Benefits are effective the 1^st of the month after a full 30 days worked. For more information on benefits, please visit https://www.claycountygov.com/government/personnel-services/employee-benefits. 

The duration of the selection process may range from one (1) to three (3) months and may vary based on the number of applicants and/or urgency of filling the vacancy. 

Applicants are reminded to take note of the close date listed on this job posting. Interviews are not typically requested prior to this date.

If accommodations are required throughout any portion of the hiring process, please contact our Human Resources team at [email protected]. 

All positions at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office have testing requirements to determine eligibility. All selected candidates will complete a drug screening, polygraph examination and a comprehensive background investigation as a condition of employment. Sensitive and/or confidential aspects of candidates’ personal lives may be explored during this process (including driving, drug usage, criminal, employment, and residential histories). 

Any job qualifications or requirements listed in this job posting are susceptible to written and/or physical testing. This testing may be included in the competitive selection process.

Reapplication/Retesting of discontinued or disqualified applicants is available after 365 days.  

This posting has been reviewed by Human Resources and found to be job related and non-discriminatory. If you are interested in this position, please submit your electronic application at https://www.claysheriff.com/departments/employment/.