City and County of San Francisco

Under direction, supervises, trains and evaluates a group of criminalists engaged in the scientific examination and evaluation of physical evidence in criminal investigations, and/or performs the more complex identifications, analyses, and interpretations of criminal evidence, and serves as a technical expert in one or more of the specialty areas. The San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory is divided into three areas, General Criminalistics (narcotics and chemical analysis, firearms, impression evidence, and trace evidence), Forensic Document Examination, and Forensic Biology (DNA).

This class serves as a first-level supervisor over employees in class 8259 Criminalist I and class 8260 Criminalist II. It is distinguished from class 8260 Criminalist II in that the latter performs journey-level criminalist work and reports to class 8262. Additionally, class 8262 Criminalist III performs the more complex criminalist work and may serve as a technical expert in a particular scientific area.

Supervises a team of criminalists.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the duties assigned to this class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Develops and updates written procedures for evidence analysis, data interpretation, case note composition, and maintenance.

2. Reviews requests for laboratory services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.

3. Assigns cases based on factors such as available personnel, specialties of personnel and caseload.

4. Conducts administrative and technical reviews of all case files and reports.

5. Develops and implements quality control and safety procedures in the laboratory.

6. Develops a documented evidence control system to ensure the integrity of physical evidence.

7. Establishes and implements a documented program to ensure that instruments and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.

8. Administers proficiency testing, reviews results and recommends remedial action as necessary.

9. Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.

10. Researches technical journals, textbooks, and proprietary publications to determine the best methods of performing tests.

11. Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence.

12. Schedules training for staff in the use of highly technical instruments and microscopes.

13. Approves vacation requests, overtime, and intermittent absences by taking into account rules and regulations, and needs of the unit.

14. Evaluates performance of subordinates by completing civil service performance appraisals report forms.

15. Maintains training and proficiency test records of all subordinates, case examinations and service records for scientific instruments in the laboratory.

16. Prepares written budget requests for presentation to superiors of unit need, including equipment upgrade, staff training or other budget increases.

17. Confers with Inspectors and District Attorneys to discuss case priorities.

18. Serves as an instructor on evidence collection and crime laboratory procedure for Police Academy and for Advanced Officer training courses.

19. Attends professional meetings to maintain communication with other agencies, and to keep abreast of innovations that may be useful to the Unit.

20. Performs related duties as assigned.

When Assigned to General Criminalistics:

21. Identifies controlled substances such as cocaine, heroin, and pharmaceuticals through chemical analysis.

22. Examines impression evidence found at crime scene to identify them as to a source and to compare them with recovered evidence or evidence from similar cases.

23. Identifies firearm involved in an incident by examining the markings on recovered bullets and cartridge cases under a microscope.

24. Scans bullets and cartridge cases into the NIBIN database to determine if they match evidence from other cases.

25. Restores obliterated serial numbers on guns, vehicles or other items through chemical etching process.

26. Determines the presence and/or type of flammable substance in debris sample recovered from fire scenes.

27. Monitors the forensic breath alcohol program by downloading breath test results and maintaining the accuracy and calibration records.

When Assigned to Forensic Document Examination:

28. Responsible for evaluation of all methods used by the unit and for proposing new or modified procedures.

29. Responsible for technical problem solving and oversight of quality assurance program for the unit.

30. May perform analysis of questioned documents.

When Assigned to Forensic Biology (DNA):

31. Manages technical operations in the DNA Unit.

32. Responsible for evaluation of all methods used by the unit and for proposing new or modified procedures.

33. Responsible for technical problem solving and oversight of quality assurance program for the unit.

34. May perform analysis of biological material such as blood, semen, and saliva.

Ability to:  perform routine and complex analytical procedures; interpret data generated by laboratory tests, and draw appropriate conclusions and inferences; interpret and apply federal, state and local regulations; present key facts, points, or inferences orally, in a clear, organized and concise format; prepare comprehensive clear written reports; use proper English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and structure in written communications; provide fair and impartial court testimony as an expert witness; set schedule for self and others so that all priority activities are carried out in a timely manner; identify what constitutes acceptable and effective performance and/or levels of productivity, take appropriate action when subordinates fail to follow procedures or deviate from expected performance; ability to assess training needs of subordinate personnel; give appropriate and timely feedback to subordinates; state and explain policies and procedures in such a way as to enlist support and compliance by subordinates; and establish and maintain courteous, cooperative, business-like relationships with subordinates, peers, superiors, and personnel from other departments.

Skill to:  handle, assess, and manipulate items of physical, biological or chemical evidence.

For General Criminalistics (narcotics and chemical analysis, firearms, impression evidence, trace evidence, and questioned documents):
Knowledge of:  Current principles, methods, and materials needed to examine items of physical evidence; principles of chemistry and statistics as they relate to forensic sciences; technical writing as related to criminalistics; and basic principles of photography as related to criminalistics; and basic and advanced laboratory procedures, and equipment and apparatuses used in a laboratory setting including various types of microscopes.

For Forensic Document Examination:
Knowledge of:  Current principles, methods and materials needed for the examination of questioned documents; technical writing as relates to questioned documents; basic and advanced laboratory procedures and equipment used in the examination of questioned documents; current legal rulings concerning the admissibility of questioned document evidence.

For Forensic Biology (DNA) Specialty:
Knowledge of:  Current principles, methods and materials needed to examine items of biological evidence; principles of chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, and statistics as they relate to forensic science; technical writing as related to criminalistics; basic and advanced laboratory procedures, and equipment and apparatuses used in a chemical or biological laboratory setting; procedures used to validate internal DNA testing methodology prior to laboratory implementation; and quality assurance standards for forensic testing laboratories prepared by the DNA advisory board (DAB).

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related physical science field; AND
2. Four years (4) of experience working in a laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City's 8260 Criminalist II).  See notes below.

Notes:
1. For positions assigned to General Criminalistics, course work must include 8 semester units of chemistry with lab, 8 semester units of organic chemistry with lab, and 4 semester units of quantitative analysis with lab.

2. For positions assigned to Forensic Document Examination, four (4) years of verifiable journey-level experience as a forensic document examiner in a recognized crime laboratory for a large public jurisdiction performing detailed and complex examinations of questioned documents are required.  Experience must have included expert witness testimony as a forensic examiner in a court of law. 

3. For positions assigned to Forensic Biology (DNA), course work must include the subject areas of forensic science, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, or other subjects that provide a basic understanding of the foundation of forensic DNA analysis; AND four (4) years of forensic DNA laboratory experience which may include computer database management.

Substitution:  Postgraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Note:  One Criminalist III in the DNA Unit must meet the applicable federally mandated DNA Advisory Board requirements for a technical leader/manager.

Possession of a valid driver's license.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.