What are the responsibilities and job description for the Criminalist/Senior Criminalist position at City of Westminster, CO?
CITY EQUITY STATEMENT
The City of Westminster welcomes diverse candidates from the broadest base possible. Our goal is to find the best candidate for the job—someone who belongs, not just fits. We value life and professional experiences, recognizing equivalent combinations of knowledge skills and education.
Aligned with our city SPIRIT values, the successful candidate will have a passion and commitment to serving a diverse population of residents and must respect and uphold the principles of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role, even if you believe you have a less traditional background than described we invite you to apply.
POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION
The Criminalist/Senior Criminalist position is a civilian position that works under the supervision of the Investigations Sergeant. Work involves responsibility for crime scene investigation, evidence collection, preservation, and analysis plus all phases of photography and photo processing. Work also includes providing for secure evidence storage and retrieval and working in a crime laboratory. This is a safety sensitive position.
The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES
The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).
This position supports the goals of the Police Department, which is "To Provide Law Enforcement Excellence in Community Safety and Service through Vigorous Policing, Professionalism, Leadership and Innovation." The Department is responsible for enforcement of State Laws and Westminster Municipal Ordinances pertaining to criminal and traffic issues and to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the State of Colorado, and the Charter of the City of Westminster. The Department is primarily focused on public safety, maintaining peace and order, prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminals.
GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Every employee is accountable to:
- Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
- Communicate with customers to ensure that where possible they are satisfied and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
- Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
- Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
- Demonstrate integrity and builds trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty and ethical behavior
- Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner.
- Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility and takes calculated risks when appropriate
- Participate in personal growth opportunities and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization.
- Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
- Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
- Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:
- Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
- Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses and target areas for personal self-development
- Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
- Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
- Achieve goals, handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
- Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
- Demonstrate accountability for work and take ownership in job performance
- Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product
Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:
- Be a team player, and to establish and maintain an effective and responsive working relationship with peers, supervisors, city officials, elected representatives, state, county and federal authorities, civic leaders and the public
- Demonstrate knowledge of police laboratory equipment and guidelines
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic rules of evidence
- Conduct a detailed and complete crime scene investigation by locating, collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting all types of physical evidence
- Collect thoughts and notes and transform them to a meaningful and complete report to be used as a permanent part of an investigation process and police file
- Perform certain laboratory tests and interpret the results
- Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively both orally and in writing
- Understand and carry out written and oral instructions
- Operate a SLR digital camera with special lenses and flash attachments
- Process latent fingerprints and make comparisons with known fingerprints
- Demonstrate safe operation of vehicles
- Demonstrate knowledge of personal computers
- Demonstrate knowledge of software programs used including Word, PhotoShop and CAD (computer aided drafting)
- Demonstrate skill in taking measurements at a crime scene to produce a scaled drawing
- Collect various forms of physical evidence including fingerprints, and provides for necessary identification and preservation for later use in a court of law
- Conduct certain laboratory testing processes on evidence obtained, or provide for transmittal of such evidence to a qualified lab
- Educate and train police personnel on standardized evidence collection protocols
Job Specific – Every employee in the Senior Criminalist position must be able to:
- All duties of a Criminalist
- Assist assigned Investigation Sergeant with section budget as needed
- Recommend equipment and supplies where needed
- Conduct advanced training to departmental staff on industry techniques and standards
JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Tasks
1. Conduct a complete and detailed crime scene investigation
- Collect various forms of physical evidence including fingerprints
- Provides necessary identification, preservation, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence for later use in a court of law
- Conducts laboratory testing processes on evidence obtained
- Utilizes a special crime investigation vehicle to respond to major crime scenes and conducts investigations as required
- Maintains all crime scene and laboratory evidence
- Log in all crime scene photographs on the computer to maintain accurate records for retrieval
- Must be able to respond within 30 minutes when called out for emergencies
2. Complete photographic collection and development
- Process photographic requests
- Utilize SLR digital camera to document evidence
- Coordinate photographic print requests
3. Responsible for acquisition, authentication, reconstruction, examination, and analysis of data stored on electronic media
- Collect electronic evidence from computer systems and other digital media
- Conduct best practices in seizing computer and digital media in a forensically sound manner
4. Communicates successfully and develops and maintains effective relationships
- Functioning effectively within the prescribed chain of command
- Preparing effective written reports, memos, activity logs, etc.
- Demonstrating effective oral communication skills with the public, other members of the department
- Demonstrating effective communication via the police radio and other portable devices
- Testifying in civil and criminal court on behalf of the Police Department
- Dealing with other department members as well as the City and public in a positive collaborative manner
5. Uses industry and departmental knowledge, including
- Demonstrating working knowledge of department policies, regulations and procedures
- Maintaining current knowledge of accepted best practices of crime scene processing and analysis
- Participating in all required training
- Adhering to an exemplary code of conduct while on or off duty
6. Safely and proficiently use required vehicles and equipment, including
- Maintaining all laboratory, camera and photographic equipment, crime scene processing equipment and all additional equipment
- Inspecting and maintaining special crime investigation vehicle and department vehicles
- Inspecting all equipment
- Using required personal protective equipment
- Maintaining a safe and clean working environment
8. Required to participate once annually in a resiliency health check with the department contracted phycologist
9. Maintains regular and punctual attendance
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City's discretionPOSITION REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS/PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses and Certifications
Required (for Criminalist):
- Graduation from high school or possession of a GED
- Minimum of two (2) years of college level course work in Forensic Chemistry, Police Science or Criminal Justice
Preferred:
- Basic Fingerprint certification
- Basic Blood Spatter Analysis certification
- Crime Scene Reconstruction certification
- Footwear / Tire Track Evidence certification
- Basic Crime Scene Photography certification
- Four-year college degree in a related field such as Forensic Chemistry or Police Science
- Actual experience in crime scene investigation while employed by a law enforcement agency
- Knowledge of current computer forensic techniques.
Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Consideration for Senior Criminalist appointment requires all of the requirements for Criminalist plus, three (3) years of experience in crime scene investigation and evidence collection while employed by a law enforcement agency. Plus, specialized training in at least two disciplines such as: advanced latent print examination with continued training such as Ridgeology, AFIS, etc.); advanced bloodstain pattern analysis; advanced photography training.
Physical Requirements
Work is physical in nature and requires sufficient physical strength and stamina for:
- Constant sitting to perform daily office and laboratory duties, standing, and walking through a multilevel facility and over all types of terrain in all weather conditions
- Occasional squatting, bending, and kneeling to perform investigations of crime scenes and vehicles involved in criminal activity
- Occasional crawling in confined spaces and occasional climbing on ladders
- Frequent reaching overhead and twisting; constant reaching below shoulder to collect and process evidence
- Constant light grasp and fine manipulation to perform office duties and handle evidence; frequent firm grasp and handling to safely use tools and equipment
- Occasional step up/down and actuate mechanism to safely operate and enter/exit vehicles
- Frequent near acuity to perform office and laboratory functions; occasional far acuity and constant hearing to communicate with public and staff
- Occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds from ground to shoulder to move evidence, equipment and tools; occasional pushing/pulling of up to 50 pounds to move carts, drag evidence and processing equipment
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is constantly performed indoor and outdoor with constant exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed year round in all weather conditions. Position will be exposed to laboratory chemical fumes and fumes from decomposing bodies. Position will come in contact with bodies of deceased victims, victims of assaults, sexual assaults, accidents, child abuse and domestic violence. Position will also come in contact with suspects for physical evidence processing. Position will come in contact with firearms and other weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, bloodstained and bio-hazardous materials. Position requires the ability to work on-call on a rotational basis, and respond to after hour's call-outs on crime scenes. Although subject to change, normal shifts are 10 (ten) hours in duration. Position requires the ability to work a day or evening shift on a rotational basis. Position requires the ability to discern between close shades of color.
Work is performed in the laboratory section of the police department Specialized Services Division. Position also requires travel to crime scenes, hospitals, coroner's offices, vehicle impound lots, courthouses, other police departments and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.).
Required Materials and Equipment
Must be able to operate crime scene related equipment including a crime scene special crime investigation vehicle, digital photo equipment with accessories, alternate light source, latent print kit, inked print kit, evidence vacuum, metal detector, measuring devices, flashlight, portable floodlights, ladder, hand tools and police radio, etc.
Must be able to operate crime laboratory related equipment including microscopes, magnifiers, optical comparators, scientific scales and laboratory fume hood. Will be exposed to fingerprint powders, fingerprint inks, fingerprint chemicals, laboratory chemicals and packaging materials.
Must be able to operate computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, telephones, and other standard office equipment.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Employment as a Criminalist/Senior Criminalist is conditional upon successful completion of an oral interview and/or assessment center, psychological examination, background investigation, polygraph or CVSA
- Additional testing may be required
- You must be able to pass a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background investigation and be fingerprinted for this job; afelony conviction is generally considered grounds for denial of CJIS access; outstanding arrest warrants can also lead to being disqualified from CJIS certification
- Drug screen
- Pre-employment physical
- Must be legally entitled to work in the United States and provide required documentation
The City of Westminster, Colorado, is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity and aims to have its workforce reflect the community.
The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package including:
- Health and Dental
- Flexible Spending
- Pension/Retirement Plans
- Term Life Insurance
- Long-term Disability
- Survivor Benefits
- Wellness Program
- Career Development Program
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Leave program that provides for vacation, holidays, sick leave, major illness, and on the job injury
For a more detailed overview of our General Non Exempt employee benefit package:
Benefit Package
The City of Westminster does not participate in the Social Security system. In lieu of Social Security contributions, the city contributes to a 401(a) defined contribution plan on your behalf.
401(a) Contribution Rates:
Employee Mandatory Contribution: 11.5% of your base pay. Contributions are pre-tax and fully vested.
Employer Contribution: 12% of your base pay.
Employer Contribution Vesting Schedule
The City of Westminster provides employees with innovative and practical ways to improve their commute through two key features, EcoPass and Commute Benefits powered by Commutrics. EcoPass provides unlimited trips on RTD's core transit services and Commute Rewards allows you to record your trips and get rewards based on your commute mode.
Benefit Package
The City of Westminster does not participate in the Social Security system. In lieu of Social Security contributions, the city contributes to a 401(a) defined contribution plan on your behalf.
401(a) Contribution Rates:
Employee Mandatory Contribution: 11.5% of your base pay. Contributions are pre-tax and fully vested.
Employer Contribution: 12% of your base pay.
Employer Contribution Vesting Schedule
- Less than 3 years - 0%
- 3 to 4 years - 60%
- 4 to 5 years - 80%
- Over 5 years - 100%
- For employees age 55 and older, the employer contributions are 100% vested
The City of Westminster provides employees with innovative and practical ways to improve their commute through two key features, EcoPass and Commute Benefits powered by Commutrics. EcoPass provides unlimited trips on RTD's core transit services and Commute Rewards allows you to record your trips and get rewards based on your commute mode.