Evidence Custodian - Dallas Area Rapid Transit

General Summary:

Ensures all evidentiary items, including hazardous materials, are appropriately handled, correctly and adequately packaged, identified, contained, stored, transported, tested, and legally and safely disposed of, according to laws and department policies. Receives, stores, logs, retrieves, transports, releases, and disposes of hazardous and non-hazardous evidence and non-evidential property while ensuring security and preserving the chain of custody in accordance with federal and state laws and department procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide for the Property Room's maintenance, safety, and day-to-day operational needs.
• Receives, reviews, sorts, catalogs, marks, documents, and securely stores submitted property and evidence (including, but not limited to, weapons, bodily fluids, narcotics, volatile chemicals, money, large and/or heavy items) in a manner such that the individual items are secure from theft, loss, or contamination, and safeguards the integrity of the chain-of-custody.
• Ensures all evidentiary items, including hazardous materials, are appropriately handled, correctly and adequately packaged, identified, contained, stored, transported, tested, and legally and safely disposed of, according to laws and department policies. Provides technical guidance and training to department personnel regarding the handling, preparing, and booking evidence and property.
• Evaluate the worth of adjudicated evidence and unclaimed property in preparation for legal disposal and dispersal and properly dispose of such items.
• Releases evidentiary items to authorized law enforcement personnel and/or property owners per laws and department policies.
• Reviews security controls of property storage locations. Conducts needs assessments; updates and implements various guidelines, procedures, and formats required to accommodate legislative changes and/or crime lab procedural changes impacting submission or release of evidence and property.
• Participates in periodic inventories of property/evidence storage locations.
• Responds to subpoenas to bring evidence to court and to testify as needed.
• Organizes, verifies, prepares, and transports evidence to crime labs for analysis and picks up and returns evidence after analysis is completed, ensuring interim releases and returns are documented.
• Corresponds with various sources, including suspects, victims, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel, regarding evidence and property, to include preparing and sending legally correct notifications to property owners.
• Compiles and maintains various electronic and paper files documenting all property/evidence transfers, releases, and dispositions; assembles and organizes data; and prepares necessary reports.
• Stays up-to-date on federal, state, and local property/evidence handling, storage, and disposal laws and recommends appropriate changes.
• Operate and maintain knowledge of property management software information systems and other software associated with property room management, including all standard operating procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Note: An equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted for the below stated minimums, excluding High School Diploma, GED, Licenses, or Certifications.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, Criminalistics, or related field.
• Four (4) years experience as a certified police officer or technical experience in law enforcement support work handling evidence and non-evidence property according to professional evidence inventory procedures.
• Knowledge of Texas Rules of Criminal Procedure and Texas Criminal Court System.
• Successful completion of the selection process, including but not limited to polygraph exam, psychological evaluation, and background investigation.
• Must successfully complete Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced certification requirements as set forth by the Texas Association of Professional Evidence Inventory Technicians (TAPEIT).
• Valid Texas Class A, B, or C driver license, no Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction within the last sixty (60) consecutive months, not more than one (1) DWI on driving record, and not more than three (3) convictions of moving violations within the last thirty-six (36) consecutive months on driving record to operate DART non-revenue vehicles.
• May be subject to call-back, including weekends and holidays, to address unexpected or immediate issues related to Property Room operations.
• Proficiency in using a personal computer (PC) and software applications, including Windows, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Ability to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles. Can get messages across that have the desired effect.
• Analytical skills to find solutions to professional, technical, and administrative problems.
• Ability to be dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. Gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services. Acts with customers in mind. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
• Ability to demonstrate a fiduciary obligation to section, division, department, and DART in handling materials and information of a confidential nature.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Works in an environment where there is exposure to dust, noise, or temperature. May be exposed to unpleasant working conditions to include dust, noise, temperature, weather, petroleum products, and chemicals, assuming the incumbent is observing all policies and procedures, safety precautions and regulations, and using all protective clothing and devices provided.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may perform other duties as assigned.

DART is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity in the workplace. M/F/D/V

DART is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity in the workplace. M/F/D/V

Open until adequate supply is obtained.