Criminalist I (Promotional)

THE AGENCY

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is a full-service law enforcement agency accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the American Correctional Association (ACA). Additionally, the agency's health care provider, Prison Health Services, has dual accreditation through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and the California Medical Association (CMA).  Together these form what is referred to as the "Triple Crown" of accreditation (ACA, NCCHC/CMA and CALEA) awarded by the National Sheriff's Association.  Additionally, the Sheriff's Office Crime Lab is nationally accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).  The Sheriff's Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit has also been awarded national accreditation through the Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board.

The Sheriff's Office has a current adjusted net budget of approximately $363 million and has over 1600 authorized positions, including in excess of 1000 sworn personnel. The agency's Chief Executive Officer is Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern, who is assisted in the operation of the agency by Undersheriff Richard T. Lucia, Assistant Sheriff's Brett Keteles and Casey Nice.

The Sheriff of Alameda County is responsible for a vast array of tasks and duties, including the following:

• Providing security to the Consolidated Superior Courts
• Operating the Coroner's Bureau
• Operating a full service Criminalistics Laboratory
• Performing Civil Process
• Operating a County Jail (Santa Rita)
• Operating the County Office of Emergency Services
• Providing patrol and investigative services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County
• Pursuant to contractual agreements, providing patrol and investigative services to the City of Dublin, Peralta Community College District, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum complex, Oakland International Airport, Highland County Hospital, Social Services, and to the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
• Conducting a basic academy pursuant to Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) requirements.
• Providing Fish and Game enforcement
• Project Director of the Narcotics Task Force
• Serving as the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force
• Operating a Marine Patrol Unit in the San Francisco Bay waters.

For additional information, you may visit the Sheriff's Office website at:  http://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/ 

THE POSITION  

Criminalists investigate and identify materials used as evidence by performing chemical, physical and microscopic analyses in the criminalistics laboratory and in the field. They interpret the results of findings to law enforcement officers, prepare materials for presentation in court, may appear in court as expert witnesses and perform related work as required. All positions are located in the Sheriff's Office.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Criminalist I is an entry-level classification in which the incumbent works under close supervision. Incumbents handle the more routine cases and receive a substantial amount of on-the-job training, working closely with senior staff members in a tutorial/intern atmosphere. After gaining experience in several areas of laboratory investigation and expanding their expertise, they are expected to qualify for promotion to Criminalist II.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the entry-level Criminalist I may perform in all areas of the lab and will, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, possess the following critical attributes:  

• Excels in technical knowledge and skill - keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
• Approaches change positively - Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment.
• Learns and assimilates job related information - Applies new job-related information in a timely manner.
• Identifies issues and develops solutions - Identifies and understands problems and opportunities; takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and consequences.
• Operates with integrity - Interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.
• Maintains focus under pressure - Exhibits stable performance under stress or opposition.
• Maintains an exceptional level of quality - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, accurately checks processes and tasks.
• Communicates effectively - Clearly conveys information and ideas.

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Makes chemical and biological tests to identify and analyze body fluids and tissues.

2 Examines trace physical evidence such as hair, fiber, soil, and glass by microscopic and photographic methods.

3. Examines questioned documents for the presence of alterations and erasures by means of physical and chemical tests; analyzes handwriting, typewriting and printed material for comparability to exemplars.

4. Conducts firearms and tool mark examinations to identify bullets, cartridges, types of weapons, and tools used in the commission of crimes.

5. Examines drugs, narcotics, poisons, and other toxic substances for purposes of identification and quantization.

6. Prepares materials for presentation in court; appears as an expert witness and interprets results of laboratory findings to law enforcement officers, attorneys and the courts.

7. Prepares reports and maintains records of laboratory findings.

8. Conducts crime scene investigations for the recovery of evidence and interpretation of the crime scene.

9. Assists in determining the interrelationship of various pieces of evidence.

10. Assists in the training and evaluation of the performance of lower level laboratory personnel. May serve as lead person for lower-level Criminalists and Crime Laboratory Technicians.

11. May conduct training for law enforcement personnel in methods of collecting and preserving evidence or in using breath/alcohol testing equipment.

12. Under direction, an incumbent develops the abilities and skills of a "Forensic Alcohol Trainee," "Forensic Alcohol Analyst" or "Forensic Alcohol Supervisor" (as prescribed by the State Department of Health) in order to assist in conducting the countywide Breath Alcohol Analysis program.

Education:

Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biology, Criminalistics or a closely related physical science field.

License:

Candidates for all three classes must possess a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

Special Requirements:

1) Candidate for all three classes must be found to be free of uncorrected colorblindness at the time of the County pre-employment physical examination.

2) A thorough background investigation will be conducted of all prospective Criminalists to ensure they are suitable for law enforcement related work.

3) Criminalists may be required to work day, evening, night, rotating shifts, or on-call shifts including weekends and holidays.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

· The principles of forensic science, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, photography and natural sciences as related to criminalistics.
· Modern criminal investigation and identification techniques and procedures.
· Recent developments, current literature and sources of information in the field of criminalistics.
· Basic laboratory safety procedures.

Ability to:

• Conduct chemical, physical and microscopic examination as required.
• Conduct on-the-scene investigations of crime.
• Relate pieces of evidence to each other and draw logical conclusions.
• Present evidence clearly and accurately in court when called on as an expert witness.
• Prepare clear and concise reports of findings.
• Operate advanced laboratory instrumentation, such as spectrophotometers, gas chromatographs, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-Ray, GC-MS, laboratory information systems.
• Provide training and assist in evaluating work of others.
• Maintain an exceptional level of quality.
• Approach change positively.
• Learn and assimilate information in a timely manner.
• Identify issues and develop solutions.
• Maintain focus under pressure.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. 2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. 3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

      CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:  

 TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN: 

Deadline for Filing	5:00pm, Monday, September 14, 2015
Review of Minimum Qualification	September 24, 2015
Supplemental Questionnaire Review for Best Qualified	October 5, 2015
Oral Interview Exam	October 27-28, 2015

     *WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*  

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Revised: HC:ab 9/85
Old doc: 0799h
New doc: 8523-8524-8525.doc
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CSC Date: 9/25/85
ID:pf Rev. 10/3/01
Csc Date: 1/16/02
ID:pf 10/16/02
CSC Date: 11/6/02
DS:cs Revised 5/27/10
CSC Date: 6/16/10

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you.

All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page. Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Human Resources Analyst II
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda 
510-272-6468   Nicole.Lewis-Bolton@acgov.org