City and County of San Francisco

Under general direction, administers the activities of a discrete investigative unit in the District Attorney’s Office requiring specialized knowledge; reviews and directs the work of subordinates including investigators engaged in conducting investigations of known and suspected violations of a specialized area of the law; participates in investigations of unusual complexity of a highly confidential or sensitive nature; and performs related duties as required.

This class receives direction from the Chief Criminal Investigator and the District Attorney and is in charge of the organization and administration of investigations for a specialized area of the law which receives funding for a specific program. It is distinguished by its responsibility for advice and policy development regarding changes to the District Attorney’s mandate, budget preparation, reporting and monitoring, and all other administrative tasks of a discrete unit within the Bureau of Investigations. 

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

1. Reviews and accepts, or rejects referrals for investigation; assigns accepted referrals to investigative staff; reviews periodically those cases being investigated; reviews and signs all completed investigations.

2. Delivers completed cases showing criminal evidence to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution, or refers to program staff for administrative action; refers criminal violations outside the unit’s jurisdiction to appropriate law enforcement agencies for follow up.

3. Supervises and participates in the recruitment and selection of personnel; organizes and coordinates personnel activities of the unit.

4. Represents the District Attorney’s Office to City governing boards in fiscal and policy matters as well as to outside agencies; assists in the development and monitoring of the unit’s annual budget.

5. Monitors state and federal legislation affecting mandates of respective special units; advises management and proposes and assists in the development of policies for implementing these mandates.

6. Monitors the dissemination of confidential information to law enforcement agencies and other public entities; serves as a liaison to police agencies and other public entities on matters related to the unit’s directive.

7. Locates, interviews, and interrogates suspects, victims, and witnesses; testifies in court as necessary.

8. Conducts all investigations, as assigned by the Chief Investigator including cases of a highly sensitive and complex nature; prepares detailed reports of investigative findings for oral and written presentation.

9. Analyzes reports of statistical data reflecting the activity of staff; prepares narrative and detailed reports for submission to state and/or federal agencies, as well as for departmental management review.

10. Coordinates unit activities with program staff, social workers, District Attorney’s Office, other investigative units or agencies, and criminal and civil court personnel.

Knowledge of:

Existing criminal codes and laws;

Investigative techniques and methods;

Information relating to preserving and presenting evidence.

The substantive and procedural civil and criminal law as it pertains to special areas such as child custody and visitation, or welfare fraud;

Financial record-keeping;

Methods of supervision and training.

Ability to:

Handle delicate, confidential investigations with tact, resourcefulness, and good judgment; direct program staff and other investigators performing investigative assignments;

Prepare important records and reports;

Plan and carry out extremely important investigations and surveillances;

Prepare important reports and records;

Analyze and interpret laws relating to welfare fraud, child custody and visitation, or other special areas.