Property and Evidence Officer

Job Description Summary

Under the supervision of the Property and Evidence Supervisor, the Property and Evidence Officer perform clerical and technical tasks related to the receipt, storage and disposal of property and evidence in the Goodyear Police Department.

The ideal candidate brings a minimum of two years of experience in property and evidence management in a law enforcement environment. They will have a proven track record of attention to detail, understanding of evidence storage in accordance with Arizona Statutes and industry standards. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential and a certificate from the International Association of Property and Evidence is preferred.

• Property & Evidence Operations: Performs complex duties related to receiving, maintaining, and releasing property and evidence recovered by the police department.
• Compliance & Accountability: Performs audits, inventories, and inspections across all storage locations to ensure proper handling, security, and accurate accounting of property and evidence; performs destruction of sensitive items and preparation for public auction.
• Critical Processes & Support Functions: Performs evidence viewing and release and responds to callouts as needed, provides excellent customer support to officers, public and court.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Only a limited number of the most highly qualified applicants meeting the City's requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will include a panel Interview and may include a written assessment.

All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as messages will come from a system generated source.

Essential Functions

• Receives items of evidence collected by police officers, checks inventories and logs of evidence to store all items in an orderly manner for quick retrieval, preserving the chain of custody and evidentiary integrity.
• Maintains the integrity of evidence by documenting the chain of evidence properly and storing and preserving evidence by department and court standards, testifies in court as necessary regarding the chain of evidence and integrity of property storage/retrieval.
• Prepares paperwork and transports property to other agencies and crime labs by responsibly driving city vehicles; lifting and loading property to maintain integrity and prevent damage; and being familiar with outlying facilities and analysis labs.
• Processes firearms entering and leaving the evidence room with appropriate agencies, including but not limited to Alcohol Tabaco and Firearms (ATF), and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
• Prepares distribution of property by obtaining proper disposition through the courts or city policy, determining if property can be sold at auction or needs to be destroyed, and releases and transports property to appropriate destruction sites or approved auction locations.
• Packages evidence including: tagging and marking property received and entering into the computerized property inventory; packaging property/evidence properly based on state and department guidelines, including receiving, storing, and logging money, narcotics, and firearms and other items of a sensitive nature in an appropriate manner to ensure security and preserve integrity.
• Responds to inquiries regarding property in a professional and polite manner including: responding to officers upon request for property or evidence in person or by computer; responding to citizens regarding property in department custody; following proper procedures when releasing property to maintain chain of evidence and document property return. Answers/responds to citizen inquiries and complaints over the telephone and in person regarding the release and/or disposition of property.
• Testify in court as necessary

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires knowledge of a specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature that may be obtained with six-months/one year of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency. Community college, vocational, business, and technical or correspondence schools are likely sources. Appropriate certification may be awarded upon satisfactory completion of advanced study or training.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years’ experience the property and evidence field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver’s License, International Association of Property and Evidence certificate within 12 months of hire.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read literature, books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write reports, proposals, worksheets, and letters.
• Managerial: Semi-complex - Work requires the occasional direction of helpers, assistants, seasonal employees, interns, or temporary employees.
• Policy/Decision Making: Moderate - The employee normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. More complex work as well as decisions with more significant impacts may be reviewed prior to being finalized
• Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application - Work requires the use of standard technical skills appropriate to the work environment of the organization. Limited analysis and independent thinking is utilized.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: Moderate - Interactions may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. Contacts may also involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions.

12 Month Objectives

3 Months

• Complete mandatory training as required by the City and Police Department
• Review and understand the Police Department and City’s organizational structure
• Become familiar with Section 4 of the Goodyear City Code, pertaining to Property & Evidence
• Demonstrate understanding of intake and release procedures

6 Months

• Demonstrate the understanding dispositions, purging and transport
• Assist in audit
• Obtain a Level B Terminal Operator Certificate (TOC)
• Achieve and maintain 100% compliance with evidence intake, labeling, and chain of custody procedures with no procedural exceptions during an audit
• Identify two workflow improvements (e.g., new labeling system, digital documentation enhancements, improved disposal workflow) and implement them with supervisor approval.

12 Months

• Obtain the IAPE Certification from the International Association of Property & Evidence
• Completion of all internal training as related to the position
• Complete a full inventory reconciliation of one major storage section (e.g., narcotics, firearms, general property) with documentation of discrepancies and corrective actions.
• Achieve proficiency in the property and evidence system, reporting, and audit function.