County Detective

Starting Compensation:

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Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

• A County Detective assigned to the Lancaster County Drug Task Force primarily investigates violations of the various drug and controlled substance laws working in a task force setting with other County Detectives, Municipal Police Officers and other State and federal drug law enforcement investigators.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• This employee reports to the Sargeant of the Drug Task Force through the chain of command to the Chief County Detective and/or the Deputy Chief County Detective.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• A County Detective Assigned to the Lancaster County Drug Task Force (DTF) will have the following specific duties and responsibilities:

• Investigating violations of the Drug Act by making purchases of drugs and controlled substances either in an undercover capacity or by developing and managing confidential informants and utilizing electronic surveillance technology and techniques pursuant to the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (Pennsylvania Act). 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 5701 et seq.

• Develop skills in and engage in physical surveillance of suspects.

• Actively work to cultivate cooperative working relationships with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and share criminal intelligence with other law enforcement agencies where appropriate and lawful.

• Serve as a resource to Assistant District Attorneys when expert witness testimony is needed in the area of current trends in drug use, drug culture, and drug law enforcement.

• In addition to the general duties and responsibilities a County Detective Assigned to the Lancaster County Drug Task Force (DTF) as outlined above, the DTF Evidence Custodian Detective is a unique position in DTF and as such will have the following specific duties and responsibilities. These duties and responsibilities are primary to and the focus of this specific position. These duties and responsiblities include but are not limited to:

• Assisting the Case Detective with and being responsible for evidence photography, packaging and documentation in the field and office.

• Conducting all phases of the evidence process, to include the collection, handling, storage, control, processing and documentation of all evidence related items, including when necessary, the processing of evidence for potential latent fingerprints, DNA etc..., and disposing of evidence using accepted methods consistent with law and policy.

• Utilizing the BEAST Evidence Barcoding System to document, store and maintain the chain of custody of all evidence.

• Transporting evidence to and from the Pa. State Police Crime Laboratory or other laboratories or locations as directed and transporting and storing evidence at the DTF Evidence Warehouse and other locations, using accepted methods consistent with law and policy.

• Overseeing the county-wide used medication drug take back program to include gathering and tracking data related to the program and ensuring proper destruction of medications recovered.

• Provide drug education sessions to secondary and post-secondary schools on an as needed/requested basis.

• Testifying in court in all areas of the investigative process, including the collection, handling, storage, control, processing, documentation and chain of custody of all evidence.

• Assisting the DTF Supervisors with auction responsibilities, which includes but is not limited to: Maintaining custody of all asset seizures, returning non-forfeited property to the rightful owner using accepted methods consistent with law and policy and maintaining a list of all forfeited property that has been put in service by DTF for audit purposes.

• Working as part of the Lancaster County Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Team in assisting with the search and processing of Crime Scenes of all types, including Homicides and other Major Crimes; participating in all phases of the crime scene search process; acting as an Evidence Technician/Specialist/Custodian with respect to criminal investigations, using all crime scene processing equipment.

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

• Assist the Lancaster County Detective Unit on an as needed basis to:

• Question witnesses and prepare them to give testimony, take statements from witnesses and suspects, conduct surveillance, seize and maintains physical evidence for court and property for forfeiture, prepare and execute arrest and search warrants.

• Gather investigative information, materials and evidence, and prepares written reports in relation to violations and criminal activities that can include, but are not limited to: alleged criminal misconduct by law enforcement officers; referral from another law enforcement agency where a conflict of interest is present; crimes committed by or against County employees; threats made against Judges in the Court of Common Pleas; bomb threats to County facilities; allegations of perjury; bad checks issued to the Courts; private criminal complaints pursuant to Rule 506 of Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure; determining fugitive wanted status of Lancaster County Prison inmates to be released; investigate allegations of Correctional Officers of assaults on them by inmates at Lancaster County Prison and allegations of inmates of assaults on them by Correctional Officers; review the use of force on inmates by Correctional Officers at the Lancaster County Prison for legality; investigate alleged violations of the Bingo and Local Option Small Games of Chance statutes and enforcement of little known or obscure laws.

• Prepare court papers, etc, including precise reports on all activities on appropriate forms and distributes to appropriate agencies, and provide testimony and present physical evidence in court proceedings.

• Conduct pre-appointment background investigations for Constables, Deputy Constables and for licensing of Private Detectives.

• Respond to calls as needed, and travel, as necessary, to perform duties of the job.

• Maintain legally mandated certifications and applicable skill training annually.

• Interact with internal county departments and outside local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on a daily basis to perform job duties and represent the District Attorney and or Chief County Detective at meetings of law enforcement personnel.

• Provides technical assistance as needed to officers in the region.

• Perform as a member of an investigative team or in a special assignment, which could include but is not limited to: the Domestic Violence Unit, Lancaster County Drug Task Force, County Criminal Intelligence Officer, Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), Lancaster County Major Crimes Unit & Forensics Team, Lancaster County Computer Crimes Task Force-Digital Forensics Unit, Lancaster County Auto Theft Task Force, Training Officer, Evidence Custodian.

• Act as (CLEAN) and J-NET Tac Officer.

• Be prepared to uses force, including deadly force, to overcome resistance or defend himself (herself) or another from bodily harm. Perform other duties as assigned by the DA, Chief County Detective or Sgt. of the DTF in carrying out the missions of the DTF and the Office of District Attorney.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School graduate or possession of a G.E.D.

• Associate degree or bachelor’s degree is desirable.

• Possess a minimum of 10 years experience as a criminal investigator for a law enforcement agency or have other equivalent and relevant experience. Prior evidence related experience and experience in conducting drug investigations is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of law enforcement operations and procedures, that includes evidence related knowledge/experience.

• Knowledge of police investigative methods.

• Knowledge of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Federal Statutes, local ordinances, and the Pennsylvania

• Knowledge, skill and ability to make instantaneous sound decisions and judgments, and react to life threatening situations within the scope of Federal, State and Local laws.

• Knowledge, skill and ability to conduct complex criminal investigations and implement new and various investigative skills and techniques as situations demand.

• Basic computer skills, including competence in using Word, Access, and Excel.

• Good oral and written communication skills and ability to present accurate and convincing testimony in Court.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

• Be free of a criminal record.

• Pass a background investigation, psychological evaluation and polygraph examination.

• Possess or must be willing to obtain and maintain appropriate certification(s) as deemed necessary by the Chief County Detective and/or the Deputy Chief County Detective.

• Possess or must have the ability and be willing to obtain a current Pennsylvania Act 120 Certification as a police officer and attend all training required by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education & Training Commission and the Office of the District Attorney in order to maintain that certification at all times while employed by the Office of the District Attorney;

• Possess a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License and maintain a valid Pennsylvania Driver's License at all times while employed by the Office of the District Attorney.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to conduct surveillance for several hours at a time sitting inside the cramped confines of a vehicle.

• Ability to engage in physical exertion at any given moment, in response to an emergency situation during the execution of a search warrant or during the apprehension or subduing of a resisting suspect.

• Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 50 lbs. on a regular basis.

• Stamina to avoid health related issues, the ability to deal with stress related issues on a daily basis, and the ability maintain control during the integration of work-related stress and the daily stress encountered outside the workplace.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• The office has a high volume of work on a daily basis.

• The position may require some evening and weekend work.

• The position requires periodically working beyond an 8-hour day, with little or no prior notice.

• Work outside the normal office environment at locations classified as being in an unhealthy environment (garbage, human waste, rat and roach infested buildings, and crack houses, etc).

• Dealing with individuals (prostitutes, drug addicts, informants, etc) in a high-risk communicable disease category (AIDS, hepatitis, etc).

• The position requires carrying a firearm and other defensive weapons, and wearing a ballistic vest, helmet, and rubber gloves at times.

• There is the ever-present danger of personal injury or death from contact with violent criminals.

The County of Lancaster offers comprehensive benefits to our employees. Read more about our benefits here .

Lancaster County Government provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information or disability. The County also observes all applicable laws regarding Veterans status. The County reflects this action in all areas of employment and compensation practices and policies. Employment with the County is based upon the ability to perform the job as well as dependability and reliability once an individual is hired.