Criminal Investigative Technician I-II (Ventura Police Department)

Applications are accepted exclusively through the City of Ventura Career Site:
www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs. Submissions through other websites or methods will not be accepted.

Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted until Monday, October 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Pay & Benefits

• Criminal Investigative Technician I - $33.55 - $40.78 Hourly (DOQ)

• Criminal Investigative Technician II - $36.89 - $44.84 Hourly (DOQ)
• Benefits
  • Medical Insurance options include HMO, PPO,
  • City Paid Dental and Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Vacation & Holiday Compensation
  • Deferred Compensation
  • CalPERS Retirement
  • Tuition Reimbursement & Bilingual Pay

About the Opportunity

The City of Ventura has an exciting opportunity to join our Police Department as a Criminal Investigative Technician I/II.

This non-sworn position plays a critical role in supporting public safety operations by performing specialized investigative liaison duties related to enforcing municipal, state, and federal criminal laws in support of the Police Department's investigative functions. The Criminal Investigative Technician conducts criminal investigations under the direction of sworn personnel and assists sworn detectives in preparing cases by completing administrative and research functions.

This position is flexibly staffed and may be filled at either level, depending on the qualifications, experience, and demonstrated skills of the incumbent, as well as the staffing needs of the City. This position may be required to work evenings and/ or weekends.

Key responsibilities include:

• Investigating a variety of crimes in support of the enforcement of municipal, state, and federal criminal laws. These crimes may include but are not limited to violent and non-violent crimes as well as sex offenses and missing person's investigations.
• Determining appropriate analytical methods and information-gathering processes that are relevant to the particular cases.
• Interviewing victims, witnesses, and involved parties in order to understand the nature of the crime, probable causes, motives, and potential violations of criminal and civil law.
• Assisting investigators with data mining social media sites related to known criminal offenders, intelligence gathering, and researching social media sites of known suspects.
• Preparing preservation letters to ensure the custodians of certain documents and electronically stored information preserve potentially relevant evidence.
• Analyzing material returned from social media companies, video surveillance, data recovery, and electronic storage devices (i.e. cell phones, computers, etc.).
• Accessing county, state, interstate, and national law enforcement records and information systems for the purpose of retrieving data.
• Writing police reports to document findings, including supplemental reports, crime reports, and property reports. Preparing comprehensive reports to document findings, including observations, actions taken, and conclusions.
• Testifying in court and subject to emergency call-outs as necessary. Assisting with obtaining and executing search warrants. Assisting with other technical analysis as needed.
• Performing other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Criminal Investigative Technician I: This is the entry-level classification in the job series. Under general supervision, incumbents perform a variety of routine investigative liaison duties. Positions are flexibly staffed, and incumbents are expected to advance to the Criminal Investigative Technician II classification upon obtaining the required experience.

Criminal Investigative Technician II: This is the journey-level classification in the job series and is distinguished from Criminal Investigative Technician I by assignment of more complex and difficult investigative liaison duties. Incumbents perform the full range of duties assigned in an independent manner within established guidelines.

The Ideal Candidate – Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position is organized, detail-oriented, and excels as a team player. This person is highly proficient in the latest criminal analysis and investigative techniques and possesses excellent computer, report-writing, and oral presentation skills. The ideal candidate has proven interview skills and responds diplomatically and tactfully to people of diverse backgrounds in adverse situations. 

Minimum Qualifications – Required

A combination of education, training, and experience equivalent to:

Criminal Investigative Technician I: Two years of college coursework in criminal justice, political science, sociology, or a closely related field and one year of experience in investigative work or other related work within the law enforcement field.

Criminal Investigative Technician II: Two years of college coursework in criminal justice, political science, sociology, or a closely related field and three years of varied analytical and technical experience in law enforcement investigative work.

License: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driving record are required.

As a condition of employment, selected candidates will be required to complete a PD background screening process.

How to Apply

Submit an online City job application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline

• It is important that your city job application show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess. Resumes, CVs, and cover letters may be attached to your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application or supplemental questionnaire. Submitting an incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire may disqualify you from further consideration in the recruitment process.
• After you apply, all future correspondence from the city will be via E-Mail.  Please check your messages regularly and keep your contact information up to date using your on-line application.

Selection Process

• All applications and supplemental questionnaires submitted will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed, and only those candidates determined to be most qualified based on experience, training, and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Candidates will be notified about their status after the filing deadline.

• Those candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position will be invited to a qualifying panel interview process. Candidates will be notified of specifics after the examination process has been completed. Initial panel interviews may be conducted in-person. Candidates will be notified of specifics at the appropriate time.

Eligibility List

The Eligibility List established for this classification may be used to fill other regular and temporary vacancies at the discretion of the City.

THE SCHEDULE

The timeline dates are subject to change. Candidates will be notified as necessary.

• Monday, October 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – Application Deadline. Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be submitted by this date to be considered for the position.
• Week of October 26, 2026 - Candidates will be notified by email of their status by this date.
• Week of November 9, 2026 - Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled for this date. Qualifying candidates will be notified by email if they are invited to the panel interview process.
• Department Selection Interviews will be scheduled promptly after the panel interviews have been completed.
• November 2026 – Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the interview by this date.

Additional Information

For additional information on the duties and responsibilities of the position, refer to the job descriptions located on the City’s Career Page at  City of Ventura Jobs or by viewing here Criminal Investigative Technician I-II.

Questions? Contact the Recruitment Team:

[email protected]

(805) 654-7802