Crime Lab Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Compensation Range

$78,047.84 - $105,930.24

Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume. If interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Who We Are:

At the High Point Police Department, we are committed to protecting our city and building relationships with our community. Our team includes over 300 officers and professional staff who are passionate about serving others.

As a proactive, data-driven agency, we take pride in being nationally recognized for excellence. Our department offers some of the finest in-house training in the country, along with numerous opportunities for growth, development, and career advancement.

A rewarding career awaits you here. Join our team and play a vital role in keeping High Point a safe place to live, work, and visit.

What We Offer:

The High Point Police Department offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed monthly pension upon retirement, vested after 5 years of service

• 401K and 457B Retirement Plans

• Paid Vacation and Sick Time

• Paid Holidays

• Tuition Reimbursement Plan

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You'll Do:

Performs difficult technical and investigative police work, supervising personnel and managing the Crime Lab involved in the gathering and preservation of evidence; does related work as required.
The position reports to the Investigations Section Commander. Supervision is exercised over Police Crime Scene Supervisor, Police Crime Scene Technicians, Police Evidence Technician, Police Crime Lab, Latent Print Unit, Police Firearms and Ballistic Examiner, and the Property Room.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Directs, coordinates, assigns, observes, reviews, and evaluates the work of subordinate personnel
• Instructs and assists subordinates as to appropriate methods and procedures, departmental policies, and local, state, and federal laws
• Mentors, coaches, counsels, and resolves conflicts among unit members
• Completes performance evaluations for Evidence Technicians, Crime Scene Supervisor, Latent Print Examiner, and Firearms and Ballistic Examiner
• Oversees the department's NIBIN program
• Conducts inspections of equipment assigned to subordinates and the operation thereof
• Recommends and researches the purchase of new equipment and technology
• Researches and orders appropriate uniform and personal protective equipment for personnel
• Maintains all equipment and schedules regular inspections of such
• Orders and maintains all supplies, prepares requisitions, orders supplies and materials
• Conducts audit and inventory of Property Room
• Assists with preparation of budget, records expenditures during the year, anticipates new needs and makes notes for next budget
• Reconciles procurement card statements
• Assembles statistical performance data for Crime Lab, Latent Print Unit and Property Room for the Investigations Section Commander
• Reviews, verifies and/or edits reports
• Prepares and presents training both within the police department and to external agencies
• Takes charge of crime scene when necessary
• Completes scheduling and on-call rotation for personnel
• Investigates complaints filed against subordinates regarding misconduct;
• Operates a vehicle in varying degrees of light (including total darkness) in all types of weather
• Completes assorted handwritten/typed reports and notices;
• Testifies in court
• Performs 24 hours a day in all types of weather, under frequently hazardous and dangerous emergency conditions
• Is available on-call for major crime scenes
• Provides technical advice to officers, personnel and external agencies
• Presents a professional appearance as it applies to grooming and wearing of uniforms
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Forensic Science OR Fire Science
• Four years of experience as a Crime Lab or Forensic Manager, OR four years of experience in a related field (e.g., police evidence supervisor, senior forensic practitioner, crime scene investigator, arson investigator, or similar occupations).
• Possession of a valid, appropriate driver's license.
• Ability to work at crime scenes involving graphic violence.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, municipal ordinances, and departmental rules and regulations.
• Ability to assign, direct, and supervise the work of subordinate personnel.
• Ability to interact with the public courteously and firmly, and to maintain records and prepare reports.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate radio equipment, computers, and related devices.

SPECIFICATIONS:

1) Minimum Reasoning ability associated with this classification:

Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks, practical and suspicious situations and reason what evidence must be collected in each individual situation; comprehend and respond to a variety of circumstances in an expedient manner, possibly under emergency and dangerous conditions. Good judgment is essential, as often the Crime Lab & Forensic Manager must scan the crime scene, make decisions on evidence to be collected, and direct subordinates in the collection of evidence before it is distorted or destroyed through the moving of objects, bodies, etc.

2) Minimum Math ability usually associated with this classification:

Using Arithmetic: Ability to use basic arithmetic to figure distance measurements, keep up with time worked by subordinates, and write reports.

3) Minimum Language ability is usually associated with this classification:

Read: Ability to read manuals, instructions, directions, report information, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, evaluations, street names and signs, and other documents relating to the job.

Write: Ability to write figures, reports, make notes on evidence collected (may refer to notes during court testimony), prepare labels for evidence, and perform other tasks related to evidence collection.

Speak: Ability to be conversant in voice and diction so as to participate in discussions with supervisor, subordinates, other employees, and the general public; to instruct investigating officers and subordinates; to ask questions in the gathering of evidence; to testify in court.

4) Amount of Training, either on-the-job or formal education, usually associated with this occupation in addition to the Reasoning, Math, and Language detailed above:

Bachelor's degree in forensic science OR fire science, AND four years of experience as a Crime Lab and Forensic Manager OR four years in a related occupational field (police evidence supervisor, senior forensic practitioner, crime scene investigator, arson investigator, and related occupations)

5) Degree of Physical Demands (Strength) usually associated with this classification:

Light to Medium: Exerting various amounts of force in moving and lifting equipment used in evidence gathering, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements vary with the different tasks. Work requires walking, standing, climbing, bending, stooping, reaching, lifting, carrying, balancing and sitting. There is significant use of hands, arms, feet and legs.

6) Type of Physical Demands usually associated with this classification:

Reaching, Handling, and Fingering: (Reaching - Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, but normally to the front or side). (Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands (fingering not involved). (Fingering - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily (rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling).

All are requirements of this job position.

Talking and/or Hearing: (Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word). (Hearing - Perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Both are requirements of this job position.

Must be able to hear at 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 decimal, an average of 40 htz in either ear as corrected.

Seeing: The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye. Recommended guidelines for vision are: 1. Acuity, far - Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see surrounding terrain, people, vehicles, buildings, etc. from a distance. Both eyes 20/22 - R 20/25 - L 20/25 corrected

2. Acuity, near - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see crime scene and various evidence, paperwork and documents near at hand. Both eyes 20/22 corrected

3. Depth Perception - Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are. Essential to the performance of duties.

Depth Perception - 5

4. Field of Vision - Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point.

Must be able to see activities going on around them while looking at a certain object/article/person.

5. Accommodation - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This item is especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from eye.

Important when gathering and securing evidence and eyes are focused at near point but it is necessary to look up and at a distance to observe other persons who may be approaching or may be involved in the investigation.

6. Color Vision - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Important in identifying people and vehicles.

7) Environmental Conditions (Physical Surroundings) are usually associated with this classification:

The Worker is subject to Inside and Outside Environmental Conditions: Exposed to the various weather conditions and temperatures. When crime scene is located outside, the worker is required to work in extremely hot weather and extremely cold weather as well as in rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, smoke and windstorms. The position is so specialized that the worker may not leave the scene until all evidence is collected. This may require the individual to wear the same clothing and continue work for a period of time to exceed the normal work schedule and sometimes as long as 24 hours.

8) Environmental Conditions (Hazards) are usually associated with this classification:

Hazards associated with the enforcement of local, state and federal laws in the protection of lives and property. Worker will be exposed to various chemicals and other substances used during photo processing and crime scene evidence collection including saline solutions, iodine, super glue, ninhydrin, silver nitrate and various fingerprint powders. Worker will be exposed to and/or working around the graphic violence or death, blood, dead bodies, people under the influence of drugs and alcohol and abused children, etc. Work is subject to final standards of OSHA on bloodborne pathogens.

9) Machines, Tools, Equipment, and Work Aids which may be representative, but not all inclusive, of those commonly associated with this type of work.

Motor vehicle, digital camera, video camera, ultraviolet light, computer, fingerprinting equipment, AFIS/IAFIS systems, various chemicals and other substances used in photo processing and crime scene collection, handheld two-way communications radio, telephone, copier, recording devices, pens, pencils, Personnel Resolution, manuals, rules and regulations and ordinances.

The work location of this job will be 1730 Westchester Dr High Point, North Carolina.

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