Police Support Services Specialist - City of West University Place

The primary purpose of this position is to process, document, maintain, properly store, and dispose of evidence within the property room within statuary guidelines. Evidence management is one of the most important roles in the entire police operation as proper handling and chain of custody has significant implications on the successful prosecution of cases in court. It requires a technician to oversee the property function effectively, managers must understand the procedures, be aware of the liabilities, and continually look for ways to improve the system.

Additional duties to fulfill the responsibilities will include providing routine, entry level to semi-skilled clerical support activities. Typical duties may include data entry; billing setup; maintaining databases; reviewing documents for accuracy; monitoring alarm signals; word processing of routine documents; responding to records request in accordance with the law.

Essential Duties

- Maintains the police property room, property function, as well as systems for the maintenance and disposal of property. Reviews unlawful offense reports; entering information into the database; determining appropriate investigative division and district attorney's office for notifications or communications as well as responding to subpoenas.

- Creates, maintains, and/or updates databases, record management software, and other systems; work may involve entering/retrieving information into or from databases and related applications, extracting reports, setting up accounts, and communicating information to relevant departments/personnel.

- Prepares, edits, reviews, updates, and/or processes routine reports, files, records, and other documentation to ensure timely and accurate information reporting and documentation; ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

- Coordinates with the finance department, alarm technicians, and other internal/external parties, to facilitate department operations, including monitoring alarm signals and billing operations.

- Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Functional Specific Responsibilities

- Serve as Property Room Custodian by performing evidence management duties, to include preserving and maintaining items of evidence; preparing and placing evidence for storage and/or laboratory testing; and receiving, maintaining, and releasing custody of evidence. Work involves evaluating items; sealing, packaging, labeling evidence; and storing, transporting, and destroying evidence in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

- Reviews case dispositions, statutes of limitations, subpoenas, and other legal information; preparing and submitting unlawful and laboratory reports and records to appropriate personnel; and preparing videos and documents for the court.

- Coordinates departmental responses to Open Records Requests, Subpoenas, and District AttorneyRequests.

- Reviews, prepares, and conducts audits of reports, documents, evidence, and/or property according to policy.

- Monitoring and controlling entry into the property room storage area to prevent the alteration, unauthorized removal, theft, or other compromise of property.

Education and Experience

- High school diploma, GED or equivalent, and one (1) year of prior clerical experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Licensing Requirements

- Basic Property and Evidence Technician Certification (TAPEIT) and Basic Property Room Management Certification (TAPEIT) preferred, or the ability to obtain within one (1) year.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE:

• Evidence storage principles;
• Methods of safely handling weapons, narcotics, and related items;
• Evidence disposal principles;
• Administrative support principles;
• Recordkeeping principles;
• Customer service principles;
• Computers and applicable software;
• Departmental policy
• Texas Government Code, Title 5, Subtitle A. Open Government, Chapter 552 Public Information
• Texas Code of Crim. Procedure, Chapters 12, 18, 38, 47, 59, and 64
• Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481
• Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 103
• Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 13

SKILLS:

• Maintaining records;
• Using computers and applicable software;
• Maintaining police evidence;
• Providing customer service;
• Managing records;
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and others sufficient to exchange or convey information.

Physical Requirements

- Positions in this class typically require: climbing, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

- Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

- Incumbents may be exposed to atmospheric conditions, such as fumes, odors, gases, and poor ventilation; and hazardous materials, such as chemicals, blood, and other bodily fluids.

In order to be hired, applicants will need to pass a background check, a drug screen, physical exam, and a reference check.