Crime Scene Technician

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office; Shalimar (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is seeking a dedicated forensic professional to perform crime-scene documentation, evidence collection, chain-of-custody maintenance, and investigative reporting.

You will work with investigators, medical examiner personnel, and authorized personnel, provide testimony, use PPE, and handle hazardous materials in varied environments.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required as the baseline.
• Related-field degrees may substitute for experience per policy.
• Specialized experience in crime-scene processing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Responds to crime scenes requiring forensic examination and evidence collection.
• Photographs scenes, maintains chain of custody, and documents findings.
• Prepares forensic reports and may testify in legal proceedings.
• Operates forensic equipment and maintains safety and PPE protocols.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree (in a related field)

Bachelor’s degree (in a related field)

Master’s degree or higher (in a related field)

Job description

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION WAIVER

CJSTC-058-3-2025

Description

Performs technical forensic work involving crime scene documentation and processing and the recognition, collection, preservation, and handling of physical evidence. Duties include forensic photography, latent fingerprint processing, evidence collection, chain of custody, investigative reporting, and courtroom testimony.

Work is performed with considerable independence and requires sound judgment, accuracy, initiative, and compliance with applicable laws, forensic standards, and agency policies and procedures.

Shift work is required. Employees may be assigned on-call periods and must be available for emergency call-out or recall on a 24-hour basis, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as operational needs require.

Work is performed in varied indoor and outdoor environments and may involve adverse weather, human remains, blood and bodily fluids, hazardous or infectious materials, chemicals, narcotics, and strong or unpleasant odors. Employees must properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE) and comply with established safety, exposure-control, and decontamination procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds to crime scenes and other locations requiring forensic examination, documentation, evidence collection, or technical assistance.
• Conducts initial crime scene assessments and walk-throughs in coordination with investigators and other authorized personnel.
• Identifies, prioritizes, marks, protects, and processes potential evidence.
• Photographs crime scenes, evidence, injuries, vehicles, deceased persons, and other subjects or locations requiring forensic documentation.
• Documents crime scenes through photographs, written notes, measurements, sketches or diagrams, evidence placards, and other appropriate documentation methods.
• Identifies, collects, packages, labels, preserves, and transports physical evidence in accordance with established forensic practices, agency procedures, and applicable legal requirements.
• Processes crime scenes and items of evidence for latent fingerprints and/or DNA using appropriate physical, chemical, photographic, and other approved development and preservation techniques.
• Recognizes, documents, collects, preserves, and processes various forms of physical evidence, which may include blood and other biological material, trace evidence, footwear and tire impressions, firearms and ammunition, toolmarks, and other evidentiary material.
• Safely handles and operates firearms when necessary for forensic examination, documentation, collection, processing, or preservation in accordance with agency firearms-safety and evidence-handling procedures.
• Documents, photographs, and assists with the processing of deceased persons and associated evidence in coordination with investigators, medical examiner personnel, and other authorized personnel.
• Attends autopsies or other forensic examinations when required to photograph, document, collect, receive, or preserve evidence.
• Maintains the integrity and documented chain of custody of evidence from collection through submission, examination, transfer, storage, and authorized disposition.
• Prepares accurate, complete, objective, and timely forensic investigative reports and associated documentation.
• Communicates forensic findings and examination results to investigators and other authorized personnel.
• Assists with the seizure, impoundment, or documentation of vehicles, vessels, property, or other items when required as part of an investigation.
• Provides testimony in trials, hearings, grand jury proceedings, depositions, and other judicial proceedings concerning crime scene activities, evidence handling, forensic procedures, and findings.
• Properly selects, uses, removes, maintains, and disposes of PPE and follows applicable exposure-control, contamination-prevention, decontamination, and occupational safety procedures.
• Operates computers, agency information systems, digital imaging equipment, evidence-management systems, forensic equipment, vehicles, and standard office equipment necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Inspects, cleans, inventories, and performs routine maintenance of forensic equipment, cameras, vehicles, PPE, processing materials, and supplies; reports deficiencies and replenishes supplies as necessary.
• Maintains required training, certifications, competencies, and proficiency applicable to assigned forensic duties and remains knowledgeable regarding current forensic practices, technologies, legal requirements, and agency procedures.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance and reports for scheduled shifts, on-call assignments, emergency call-outs, and recalls as required.
• Maintains situational awareness and performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes employee, coworker, and public safety.
• Works cooperatively and professionally with coworkers, law enforcement personnel, criminal justice partners, medical personnel, victims, witnesses, and members of the public.
• Complies with applicable laws, agency directives, policies, procedures, safety requirements, and supervisory instructions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Evidence/Property Room Support

When assigned, provides support to Evidence/Property Room operations, including:

• Receives, documents, secures, stores, transfers, and releases evidence and property in accordance with agency procedures.
• Enters and updates evidence and property information within the agency's designated records or evidence-management system.
• Processes requests for laboratory examinations and prepares evidence for submission to authorized forensic laboratories.
• Transports or ships evidence to authorized laboratories and accurately documents transfers, submissions, and returns.
• Researches case status and applicable retention requirements to assist with the authorized release, destruction, donation, sale, or other lawful disposition of property.
• Releases evidence for court proceedings and other authorized purposes while maintaining documented chain of custody.
• Processes authorized requests to inspect or view evidence.
• Notifies property owners and releases found or recovered property when legally authorized.
• Receives, secures, documents, and stores firearms and other weapons submitted as evidence or property.
• Maintains required records associated with evidence and property.
• Maintains the security, integrity, accountability, and chain of custody of evidence and property.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet both the education and specialized work experience requirements below, as outlined in the substitution table:

• High school diploma or equivalent - 4 years
• Associate’s degree (in a related field)* - 2 years
• Bachelor’s degree (in a related field)* - 1 years
• Master’s degree or higher (in a related field)* - None

A related field includes Criminal Justice, Criminology, Police Science, Public Safety Administration, Forensic Science, Criminalistics, or a closely aligned discipline.

Specialized Work Experience must include professional-level responsibilities in one or more of the following areas:

• Independent crime scene processing
  Experience independently responding to and processing crime scenes, conducting systematic assessments and walkthroughs, identifying and prioritizing potential evidence, establishing appropriate scene controls, and coordinating effectively with investigators and other personnel.
• Forensic evidence handling and preservation
  Experience identifying, documenting, collecting, packaging, labeling, preserving, transporting, and maintaining the chain of custody for physical evidence in accordance with forensic standards, agency policies, and applicable legal requirements.
• Application of forensic examination techniques
  Experience using established forensic techniques to locate, develop, document, collect, and preserve latent fingerprints, DNA and other biological evidence, trace evidence, footwear and tire impressions, firearms and ammunition, toolmarks, and other physical evidence.
• Forensic documentation, reporting, and testimony
  Experience producing accurate, complete, objective, and legally defensible crime-scene photographs, notes, measurements, sketches, evidence records, and investigative reports, and communicating forensic findings to investigators and providing testimony regarding forensic activities and evidence handling.
• Safe and legally compliant forensic operations
  Experience performing forensic duties in environments involving biological hazards, firearms, deceased persons, hazardous conditions, and other operational risks while properly using PPE, following contamination-control and safety procedures, maintaining evidence integrity, operating specialized forensic equipment, and complying with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

Licenses and Other Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver license as required by the agency.
• Must successfully complete all required pre-employment screening and background requirements.
• Must maintain required agency training, certifications, competencies, and proficiency standards applicable to assigned duties.
• Must be able to safely handle firearms when required for forensic examination and evidence-processing purposes.
• Must be able to work assigned shifts and participate in on-call, emergency call-out, and recall assignments as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of crime scene processing, forensic investigative practices, and the recognition, collection, preservation, packaging, and documentation of physical evidence.
• Knowledge of forensic photography, latent fingerprint development and preservation, evidence integrity, contamination prevention, and chain-of-custody requirements.
• Knowledge of forensic occupational hazards, PPE requirements, and safety and exposure-control procedures involving bloodborne pathogens, biological hazards, chemicals, and other hazardous materials.
• Ability to recognize, evaluate, document, collect, preserve, and process various forms of physical evidence using appropriate forensic techniques.
• Ability to safely handle firearms, weapons, and other potentially hazardous evidence for forensic purposes.
• Ability to accurately document crime scenes using photography, measurements, sketches, diagrams, notes, evidence placards, and other approved methods.
• Ability to operate and learn applicable forensic equipment, digital imaging technology, computers, agency information systems, and evidence-management systems.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems, prioritize assignments, maintain attention to detail, and exercise sound independent judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, prepare accurate and objective investigative reports, and provide professional testimony regarding forensic procedures and findings.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and safeguard sensitive investigative, evidentiary, and criminal justice information.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and maintain professional composure in stressful, graphic, emotionally difficult, or time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to work independently, follow applicable laws, policies, procedures, and instructions, and recognize when supervisory guidance or investigative coordination is necessary.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to perform the physical activities necessary to investigate and process crime scenes and evidence. Duties may require prolonged standing, walking, or sitting and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, climbing, and working in confined, elevated, uneven, or otherwise difficult locations.

Employees must possess sufficient manual dexterity to handle evidence and operate cameras, computers, forensic instruments, tools, PPE, and other equipment. The position requires sufficient vision and hearing to observe, document, and safely operate within crime scenes and to communicate effectively in person and through electronic communication devices.

Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment and Occupational Exposure

Work is performed in office, laboratory, evidence-storage, vehicle, indoor crime scene, and outdoor environments. Employees may work during daylight or nighttime hours and in heat, cold, rain, high humidity, severe weather, low-light conditions, and other adverse environmental conditions.

Crime scene assignments may expose employees to uneven or slippery surfaces; ladders and elevated areas; broken glass; sharp objects; fire and accident debris; damaged structures; traffic hazards; loud noise; smoke; dust; dirt; insects; fumes; chemicals; narcotics or suspected controlled substances; firearms and other weapons; and other potentially hazardous materials or conditions.

Employees may encounter deceased or decomposing human or animal remains, traumatic injuries, blood, bodily fluids, biological material, and other potentially infectious substances. Assignments may include attendance at autopsies and response to scenes involving significant injury, death, decomposition, or substantial blood loss.

The position may involve occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other biological or chemical hazards. Employees are required to utilize appropriate PPE, follow established exposure-control and decontamination procedures, and comply with agency safety requirements.

Due to the nature of crime scene work, employees may be exposed to graphic, disturbing, or emotionally difficult scenes, circumstances, materials, and imagery.

Performance Expectations

Employees are expected to perform assigned duties accurately, objectively, safely, and professionally; protect the integrity and confidentiality of evidence and investigative information; maintain proper chain of custody; comply with established forensic and agency procedures; maintain required training and proficiency; and exercise sound judgment consistent with the responsibilities of the position.

Regular and predictable attendance, reliability during assigned on-call periods, professional conduct, attention to detail, and the ability to work cooperatively with others are essential expectations of the position.