Police Records & Evidence Specialist

To view the full job announcement and to apply online visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sumnerwa

This position is a full–time, Fair Labor Standards Act non-exempt position. The regular work schedule for the Records & Evidence Specialist is Monday through Friday. Alternate work schedules may be authorized. Attendance at evening meetings or other off-duty events may be expected. The incumbent in this position is a Civil Service employee. This position is eligible for representation through the Police Guild representing Special Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Employees.

General Purpose
The Police Records & Evidence Specialist performs a variety of complex, specialized and technical duties in the police department. The Police Records & Evidence Specialist is primarily responsible for providing generalized administrative support to the police department. This position staffs the police department’s front desk area and handles a variety of internal and external customer contacts and inquiries and also serves as the department’s primary property and evidence custodian. Work performed by this position is typically independent, but will collaborate with other employees, departments, and leadership as necessary to accomplish objectives. This position receives management direction, resources, and performance evaluations from the Police Support Services Manager.

About Sumner:
The City of Sumner’s vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city. In working to achieve that vision, Sumner prioritizes and celebrates diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences. The City actively seeks and encourages people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics to apply and all come together with a goal of continuing to learn and improve to better serve the residents, businesses and visitors of our community.  Sumner remains a traditional city of just over 11,000 residents with agricultural roots, known for decades as the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World. At the same time, its compact, walkable layout aligns perfectly with progressive planning trends, as its classic Main Street becomes repurposed for boutiques, independent restaurants and daily services such as legal offices, financial advisors and doctors. While Sumner retains historic neighborhoods of Craftsman houses and an active high school right on Main Street, it also offers over 16,000 manufacturing and distribution jobs for companies such as REI, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Amazon.com, and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. With a downtown Sound Transit station with buses and trains, it is well connected to the Puget Sound region while striving to be a full service city with the largest YMCA facility in the state of Washington as well as a link trail system that will connect the Foothills and Interurban trails.  Like the community, the city government is large enough to be professional but small enough to be creative. The City has won a variety of awards from the Governor's Smart Planning Award to recognition at the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its groundbreaking police work on victims' assistance. With a strong mayor format, the City has just over 100 employees who operate a cemetery, wastewater treatment facility, accredited police department, animal shelter, parks, full service public works and administration.

 

About the Sumner Police Department:
The Sumner Police Department has 21 commissioned officers which include: Police Chief, Deputy Chief, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, two Detectives, one School Resource Officer,  and the remaining Patrol Officers.  Additional staff include four administrative support staff including records, evidence and one Community Service Officer.

The City contracts jail services with neighboring agencies and dispatch service is provided by South Sound 911.  The City also provides contracted animal control services to six other cities and maintains a shelter in the city of Puyallup.  The department participates in multi-agency teams for SWAT, Major Crimes, Civil Disturbance, Collision Investigations, and numerous traffic emphasis.

We are guided by our principles of professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and commitment. The department has been state accredited since 2005.  Our vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city police department.

About Metro Animal Services:
The City of Sumner manages Metro Animal Services.  Metro Animal Services is a regional animal care and control program serving the cities of Sumner, Puyallup, Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton and Pacific.  Metro Animal Services provides enforcement, sheltering and rehoming services to over 1000 animals annually.  The shelter is located on Puyallup's South Hill at 1200 39th Ave SE.

Examples of Duties

The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description in no way imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by a supervisor. While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty with proficiency.

Listed below are examples of typical duties:
 

• Serves as administrative support and front-desk representative, handling both internal and external customer contacts, requests, and inquiries via phone, email, or in person.
• Processes police and animal control case reports and provides case distribution to prosecutors, courts, and other law enforcement agencies.
• Works with Metro Animal Services staff to process animal licenses and renewals.
• Serves as the departments primary evidence and property custodian.
• Receives, records, and stores property and/or evidence coming into the Property Room and maintain a legally sufficient chain of evidence.
• Ensures all evidence and property bear appropriate case or tracking numbers, maintain a filing and tracking system database showing ownership, description, location, and related details.
• Submits evidence for requested forensic testing and document outcomes.
• Prepares reports and audits of all property and provide for disposition by sale, auction, donation, destruction, or release to owner in accordance with applicable rules and retention schedules.
• Assists members of the public with non-emergency requests for service which do not require a commissioned officer’s immediate presence or involvement.
• Receives, researches, and processes other records requests, such as employment-related record checks, clearance letters, or legal subpoenas for records.
• Provides assistance to the public in accessing and using the domestic violence kiosk computer to petition for a domestic violence protection order.
• Assists the public with utilizing the department’s prescription drug disposal bin. Coordinates with the disposal company to ensure the bin is emptied regularly.
• Provides investigative or operational support to commissioned officers. Creates general or supplemental police reports to provide documentation of actions for criminal and non-criminal cases. Submits items into evidence or property per policy.
• Assists with other Records Section duties as needed or directed.
• Performs other duties or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
 

• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Possession of, or ability to immediately obtain ACCESS Level I Certification.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in law enforcement records and/or evidence is highly desirable.
• Must possess a Washington State driver’s license with no serious or frequent driving violations.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
 

• Business English, spelling, grammar, and math.
• Criminal justice system operations and regulations.
• Public disclosure laws, including the WA Public Records Act and related statutes and exemptions.
• Municipal government (or related) operations.
• Laws, regulations, and policies governing the maintenance, retention and release of police records, property, and evidence.
• Use of modernized computer information systems and software such as computer aided dispatch, police records management systems, spreadsheets, MS Office products.

  Ability to:
 

• Work independently and/or collaboratively to make decisions of high legal importance and impact.
• Effectively prioritize workflows and decision-making with minimal direction.
• Routinely handle highly sensitive materials and information while maintaining confidentiality.
• Quickly and accurately understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Maintain a high level of accuracy.
• Work effectively with diverse groups and individuals, including public agencies, elected and appointed officials, and the general public.
• Work compassionately with crime victims and with others who may be in emotional or other distress.
• Exercise discretion, tact, courtesy, and patience with difficult internal and external customers.
• Simultaneously coordinate and manage various tasks and projects with rapidly changing priorities.
• Package, store, and document evidence and property in accordance with strict standards.
• Understand the relationship between court procedures and property retention and how and when to seek evidentiary releases.
• Properly dispose of property/evidence in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Learn and comprehend multiple bodies of law, specialized language, terms and office equipment.
• Use multiple technology systems and computer databases to enter, retrieve, or otherwise process information and data.
• Maintain reliable and dependable attendance.
• Contribute to the Department Mission.