Police Forensics Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are:

The San Francisco Police Department was established in 1849 and continues to evolve as an effective, inclusive, and modern police organization. We are focused on maintaining the trust of the people who live, work, and visit San Francisco by reviewing our initiatives, learning from best practices, and adapting to the changing needs of the City.

The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect for all. We are committed to just, transparent, unbiased, and responsive policing carried out with dignity and in partnership with the community. We collaborate with community members and City partners to promote safety, fairness, and trust across San Francisco, with an emphasis on strong relationships and support for the wellbeing of our neighborhoods.

The Department is dedicated to excellence in law enforcement and to the people, traditions, and diversity of San Francisco. Our mission is to keep the public safe by protecting life and property, preventing crime, and reducing the fear of crime. We provide service with understanding, respond with compassion, and perform with integrity as we continue to grow as a forwardthinking organization serving one of the most dynamic cities in the country.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: June 25, 2026. 
• Application Deadline: Apply immediately, announcement may close any time after two weeks from posting date.
• Class & Compensation: $197,592.37 - $289,851.18 
• Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt - This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.
• Work Location: SFPD Headquarters, 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158

Reporting to the Assistant Chief, the Chief Technology & Innovation Officer serves as SFPD's technology strategist and long range planning executive. This position is responsible for defining where the Department's technology is going and developing a multiyear vision that modernizes operations, strengthens public trust, and positions SFPD as a leader in responsible, effective public safety technology. This includes shaping the future of the Department's technology stack, such as computer aided dispatch and records management systems, digital evidence platforms, body worn and in car video, ALPR, drones, real time intelligence systems, AI enabled tools, and core IT infrastructure. 

The Chief Technology & Innovation Officer sets direction, builds the roadmap, and ensures the Department's technology investments are purposeful, coherent, and aligned with both operational priorities and community expectations. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Technology Vision and Strategy 

• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across infrastructure by leveraging emerging technologies, industry best practices, and data driven solutions, including appropriately scoped AI enabled decision support to improve performance, cybersecurity, scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to deliver strategic initiatives that strengthen investigations, crime analysis, real time intelligence, and public safety outcomes.
• Monitor portfolio health and system roadmaps to align with operational and investigative needs; advance infrastructure modernization, digital forensics capabilities, and emergency response efficiency.
• Establish and enforce enterprise IT governance, policy, and security protocols so technology investments support operations, mitigate risk, and comply with DOJ CJIS Security Policy and relevant law enforcement standards.

2. Privacy, Surveillance, and Data Governance 

• Set strategic direction and governance for privacy sensitive and surveillance technologies (ALPR, body worn cameras, drones, real time intelligence systems,).
• Develop a departmentwide data strategy to improve data quality, accessibility, and analytical capability, in coordination with the City's Chief Data Officer and DataSF.
• Establish policy and review processes that balance innovation with civil liberties, cybersecurity, and public accountability.

3. Operational Technology Ecosystem  

• Guide the responsible, effective integration of drones, ALPR, public safety cameras, intelligence platforms, and AI technologies through standards, training, and outcome metrics.
• Set continuity, security, and compliance baselines for systems supporting 24/7 real time operations; monitor SLAs and risk, and partner with operational teams to achieve targets.

4. Executive Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Advise the Chief of Police, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chiefs on technology direction, strategic risks, and investment priorities.
• Represent the Department before legislative bodies, oversight commissions, the Mayor's Office, and partner agencies on technology, data, and privacy matters.
• Lead outcomes based contracting and vendor performance management to ensure technology investments deliver measurable value. Negotiate contracts, oversee vendor performance, and enforce compliance to ensure delivery of secure, reliable, and highvalue outcomes.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with external vendors, technology providers, and lawenforcement agencies to support seamless integration of missioncritical solutions.

5. Organizational Management and Budget 

• Lead the IT Division at the executive level by setting clear goals and performance standards, coaching leaders, and instituting outcomes-based evaluations aligned with Department standards.
• Prepare and oversee the annual IT Division budget, allocating resources in alignment with Department priorities and strategic objectives.

Performs other related executive duties as required. 

This is not a routine IT administrative position. The CTIO is responsible for mission-critical systems central to public safety and law enforcement operations, with a high consequence of error. Strategic judgment, discretion, and an advanced understanding of the intersection between technology, privacy, operations, and community trust are essential. 

1. Education:Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably in Computer Science, Information Systems, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field., AND 
2. Experience:Six (6) years of progressively responsible verifiable full-time professional Information Technology experience, including six (6) years of supervisory experience within a large IT organization performing major management duties. 

• Experience must include significant responsibility in: 
  • Developing and executing multi-year technology strategies and/or innovation roadmaps in complex, high-stakes environments such as public safety, government, healthcare, or similar sectors. 
  • Leading large-scale IT projects and establishing division-wide goals, priorities, policies, and service levels. 
  • Navigation of enterprise procurement, contract, RFQ/RFP processes, and vendor management at scale. 
  • Advising senior executives or department heads on technology strategy, risks, and policy implications. 

Education Substitution:Additional years of experience as listed above may substitute for up to 2 years of the required degree on a year for year basis. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of privacy, surveillance technology governance, and emerging technologies including real-time analytics, AI/ML applications, and mobile workforce tools. 
• Experience translating organizational priorities into technology investment strategy, with the ability to communicate that strategy clearly to executive, legislative, and community audiences. 
• Demonstrated leadership building and developing technical teams through periods of change or modernization. 
• Familiarity with public sector technology governance including oversight bodies, compliance requirements, and community accountability frameworks. 
• Representing an organization before oversight authorities or governance bodies.

Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Verification of Education and Experience: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility or disqualification.

Background Investigation: Prior to employment with the San Francisco Police Department, a thorough background investigation will be conducted to determine the candidate's suitability for employment. The investigation may include, but not be limited to: criminal history records, driving records, drug/alcohol screening, and other related employment and personal history records. Reasons for rejection may include use of controlled substances and alcohol, felony conviction, repeated or serious violations of the law, inability to work with co-workers, inability to accept supervision, inability to follow rules and regulations or other relevant factors. Candidates may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening, and must clear Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprinting. Criminal records will be carefully reviewed; candidates who do not report their complete criminal records on their applications will be disqualified. Applicants will be fingerprinted.

Recruiter Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Recruitment Analyst, Danny Wan, at [email protected]

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

SFPD Recruitment: https://www.joinsfpd.com/

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.