The City of Topeka’s Police Department is seeking three (3) highly motivated and detail-oriented individuals to serve as Crime Scene and Digital Evidence Specialists. As civilian members of the Police department, incumbents in this position play a critical role in supporting the department’s mission of reducing crime and enhancing public safety.

Crime Scene and Digital Evidence Specialists are responsible for the proper identification, documentation, collection, processing, and preservation of forensic and digital evidence. They are responsible for on-scene forensic response as well as the long-term management of digital and multimedia evidence.

This position operates twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. Incumbents are assigned to the first, second or third shift as required by the unit and must have the ability to work outside of regularly scheduled hours.

What you'll do:

• Report to and process crime scenes, including identifying, photographing, documenting, collecting, packaging and preserving physical and digital evidence.
• Collect, record, and process latent prints, DNA, trace evidence, and other forensic materials.
• Maintain accurate organizational structure, roles, and permissions within the Digital Evidence Management System.
• Review, store, and disseminate digital evidence such as body-worn cameras, surveillance videos, etc.
• Prepare evidence and reports for court presentation and provide expert testimony regarding collection, preservation and analysis procedures as required.

The ideal candidate has:

• Knowledge of forensic science principles, crime scene protocols, and investigative procedures.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships.
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• The ability to exercise sound judgment and adapt to rapidly changing situations in high-stress environments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or its equivalent is required.
• Demonstrated experience in law enforcement, crime scene investigations, forensic science or a related field is required.
  • A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in forensic science, criminal justice, or a related field may be substituted in lieu of experience.
• Certification, professional training or relevant coursework in forensic science, crime scene investigation, criminal justice, digital forensics, evidence collection or a required field is preferred.
• May be required to obtain forensic and/or digital evidence certifications through basic level Crime Scene Forensic classes as established by the Chief of Police.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Kansas driver’s license and city-insurable driving record.
• Must pass an extensive background check, including a Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) background check, KBI fingerprinting and polygraph.

Entry rate of pay: $26.14 - $29.80 per hour, depending on qualifications

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The City of Topeka offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Health/Dental Insurance
• Kansas Public Employee Retirement System which totals over 315,000 active, inactive and retired members and manages approximately $20 billion in assets for KPERS members' benefits.
• Generous paid vacation leave and separate paid sick leave, and one additional paid personal leave day each year
• Paid Life/Long Term Disability Insurance
• (457) Deferred Comp Savings Plan
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Free Onsite Health & Wellness Clinic
• Free in-house Wellness Center, a full-service fitness facility
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program.

The City of Topeka is an Equal Opportunity Employer