- Salary
- $93k – $120k/yr
- Location
- Town of Los Gatos, CA, CA
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- IT
- Education
- High School
- Clearance
- Required
- Closing date
- Today
- Source
- GovernmentJobs
Description
The Property and Evidence Technician is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of police property and evidence. This role oversees the safe intake, proper classification, secure physical storage, meticulous chain-of-custody tracking, and legal disposition of thousands of items annually ranging from small biological samples and narcotics to firearms, currency, bicycles, and impounded vehicles
No Two Days Are The Same
As the Department's Property and Evidence Specialist, you will serve as the essential link between police investigations, legal proceedings, and the community, ensuring every piece of property and evidence is meticulously cataloged, securely stored, and lawfully tracked.
Key responsibilities include:
- Evidence Intake & Control: Receive, identify, classify, and securely store property, evidence, narcotics, weapons, and found items taken into police custody in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
- Chain of Custody: Maintain meticulous digital and physical logs to track the movement and status of all items, ensuring complete security against loss, theft, or contamination.
- Disposal & Destruction: Coordinate and conduct the legal disposition, auction, or scheduled destruction of obsolete, unclaimed, or forfeited property, narcotics, and firearms in compliance with statutory guidelines.
- Professionalism & Confidentiality: Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
- Exceptional Communication Skills: Clear, concise writing and confident interpersonal communication.
- Strong Organizational Skills: Skilled at managing multiple priorities and deadlines with thoroughness and accuracy.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: Thrives in a dynamic, fast-changing environment with competing demands and changing priorities and needs.
- Political Acumen: Understands the importance of tact, diplomacy, and relationship management.
- Commitment to Public Service: A passion for serving the community and supporting effective local government.
- Decision Making/Independent Judgement: Exhibits strong independent judgment when evaluating options and determining optimal solutions.
- Releases & Court Support: Release property to authorized owners, law enforcement, or forensic labs; prepare evidence for court presentation and provide testimony as required.
- Facility Maintenance: Ensure the evidence room and related storage facilities are secure, orderly, and compliant with safety standards.
Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a candidate that is detail-oriented, organized, and proactive with experience in government administration and financial processes, preferably within a law enforcement or public safety agency. They have a working knowledge of public-sector financial and procurement procedures, including invoice processing, budget monitoring, purchasing and purchase orders, agreement and contract administration, and grant coordination and management.
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Receives, inspects, records, categorizes, labels, and stores evidence, found property, and property held for safekeeping; verifies documentation and packaging and identifies and resolves discrepancies in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintains accurate chain-of-custody records and other property and evidence records in electronic and physical systems; safeguards the integrity, security, location, and accountability of items in the Town’s custody.
- Determines appropriate storage requirements and securely stores firearms, controlled substances, money, biological materials, chemicals, hazardous or potentially contaminated materials, and other evidence and property to prevent loss, contamination, deterioration, or unauthorized access.
- Retrieves, releases, and transfers evidence and property to authorized personnel, owners, courts, laboratories, and other agencies; prepares required documentation and maintains chain-of-custody records for each transfer.
- Reviews case status and applicable records; researches ownership and legal requirements; determines when property and evidence are eligible for release, return, destruction, auction, or other authorized disposition, and obtains required authorization.
- Coordinates and carries out the disposition of property and evidence, including return to owners, destruction, disposal, or auction, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and departmental policies and procedures.
- Conducts periodic inventories, audits, and inspections of property and evidence and storage areas; researches and reconciles discrepancies and maintains accurate inventory and disposition records.
- Coordinates with officers, investigators, prosecutors, courts, laboratories, other law enforcement agencies, and members of the public regarding evidence handling, discovery-related requests, release, transfer, and disposition of property and evidence.
- Prepares and maintains reports, correspondence, logs, charts, forms, and other records related to property and evidence operations; maintains confidential and sensitive information in accordance with legal and departmental requirements.
- Maintains the organization, cleanliness, security, and operational readiness of property and evidence facilities; maintains inventories of packaging materials and supplies required for the proper handling and storage of property and evidence.
- Applies applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and safety requirements related to property and evidence; identifies procedural, interpretation or compliance issues and refers unusual or sensitive matters to supervisory personnel as appropriate.
- Provides instruction and guidance to Police Department personnel regarding evidence packaging, submission, documentation, and handling procedures.
- Testifies in court regarding the receipt, custody, storage, handling, transfer, and disposition of property and evidence and related records.
- Performs assigned administrative support activities, which may include conducting background investigations associated with concealed carry weapon permit processing and coordinating secondhand dealer license processing.
- May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
- Principles, practices, methods, and procedures used in receiving, documenting, packaging, handling, storing, securing, inventorying, releasing, and disposing of property and evidence.
- Chain-of-custody requirements and recordkeeping practices necessary to preserve the integrity and accountability of evidence.
- Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing the custody, storage, release, and disposition of property and evidence.
- Safety practices and precautions related to the handling and storage of firearms, controlled substances, hazardous materials, biological materials, and other potentially dangerous or contaminated evidence.
- General law enforcement terminology, practices, procedures, and criminal justice processes as they relate to property and evidence functions.
- Inventory control, records management, and basic auditing practices.
- Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment, and relevant software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and records management systems.
- Principles and practices of effective customer service and professional communication.
- English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
Ability to:
Independently organize, prioritize, and perform the day-to-day work of a property and evidence function within established policies and procedures.
- Receive, inspect, document, store, safeguard, retrieve, transfer, release, and dispose of a wide variety of property and evidence while maintaining strict chain of custody and accountability.
- Apply and explain applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and technical requirements.
- Research, analyze, and evaluate records and case information to determine appropriate disposition of inventoried property and evidence.
- Maintain complete, accurate, and detailed electronic and physical records and reconcile inventory discrepancies.
- Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and maintain the security of restricted areas, records, and property.
- Recognize safety hazards and use appropriate precautions and personal protective equipment when handling hazardous, contaminated, or potentially dangerous items.
- Exercise sound judgment and initiative within established legal and procedural requirements; identify and resolve routine operational and procedural issues and refer unusual matters appropriately.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Police Department personnel, prosecutors, courts, laboratories, other agencies, property owners, and the public, including individuals who may be upset or difficult.
- Use computer systems and software applications accurately and efficiently.
- Work independently, manage competing priorities, and maintain accuracy during high-volume or time-sensitive periods.
- Communicate effectively in person, over the telephone, and in writing, and testify accurately and professionally in court.
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Any combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate plus two (2) years of experience performing property and evidence, records management, inventory control, or other closely related duties, preferably in a law enforcement environment.
License and Certification:
A California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record are conditions of initial and continued employment.
Certification or specialized training in property and evidence management is desirable.
The selected candidate must pass an extensive background investigation, including criminal history, credit check, drug screening, medical clearance, psychological evaluation, polygraph, fingerprinting, professional reference check, and other security vetting, and maintain all required clearances as condition of employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and property/evidence storage environment; use standard office equipment, including a computer; operate a motor vehicle to transport property and evidence; and access storage areas. The position primarily involves sitting, with occasional walking and standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation. Employees may occasionally use a step stool, ladder, or rolling platform to access stored items. Vision, hearing, and speech are required to perform assigned duties and communicate effectively. Employee must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
Climbing | Rarely | Balancing | Occasionally | Stooping | Occasionally |
Kneeling | Occasionally | Lifting | 20 lbs. | Standing | Frequently |
Crawling | Rarely | Reaching | Occasionally | Walking | Occasionally |
Talking | Frequently | Grasping | Frequently | Pushing | 20 lbs. |
Hearing | Frequently | Feeling | Occasionally | Carry | 20 lbs. |
Crouching | Occasionally | Running | Rarely | Pulling | 20 lbs. |
Seeing | Frequently |
ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS
Employees work primarily indoors in an office and secured property/evidence storage environment, with occasional work in outdoor storage areas and travel to courts, laboratories, or other locations. The work may involve exposure to firearms, controlled substances, chemicals, toxic or hazardous materials, blood or other bodily fluids, dust, fumes, allergens, unpleasant odors, insects or vermin, and property that may be contaminated or improperly packaged. Employees are required to use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow established safety procedures. The position may involve contact with members of the public who are upset, difficult, hostile, or unreasonable.
WORKING CONDITIONS
May be required to work a varied schedule of hours, which may include early mornings and evenings.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of a background investigation and other pre-employment requirements applicable to Police Department personnel may be required by the Town.
PROPERTY INTERESTThis is a TEA, FLSA non-exempt position.
Due to the large number of applications anticipated, we are unable to respond to specific inquiries about the status of an application.
AI and the Hiring Process: We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.
The Town of Los Gatos is an Equal Opportunity and does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, medical, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by law. Qualified individuals with a disability will receive reasonable accommodation, as required by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, during any phase of the selection process, providing such request is made to Human Resources at least five working days in advance. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation. Under federal law, all job applicants must prove authorization to work in the United States at the time of job offer.