Forensic Scientist II – Denver Police Department

About Our Job

The City and County of Denver is currently seeking a Forensic Scientist Associate (Forensic Scientist II) for the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory. This is the second level in the Forensic Scientist classification series.  This class performs specialized, professional level forensic work including applying the physical sciences to the investigation of crimes, conducting scientific laboratory analysis on physical evidence, providing scientific consultation, and testifying as expert witness in courts of law.

The Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory is an ISO 17025: 2017 accredited laboratory that actively assists numerous investigative units within the Denver Police Department by providing high quality forensic analysis for criminal cases.

The current schedule for this position is Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm.  

The selection process may include experience/technical questions, a practical assessment, and a formal panel interview.
 

Job responsibilities include:

• Conducts independent analysis and chemical processing of evidence and interprets results for use in criminal investigations.

• Maintains chain-of-custody for evidence by recording description of evidence, laboratory identification numbers, dates, times, tests performed, techniques used, and other pertinent information.

• Prepares a detailed, technical report for each case which records findings and interpretation of results and consults with colleagues, investigators, and attorneys about findings and interpretation of results.

• Performs all work in conformance with ISO 17025: 2017 standards in addition to ANAB AR 3125 standards.

• Prepares court testimony that links findings with conclusions to withstand scrutiny by adversarial experts, assists with the establishment the scientific soundness of analytical methods, and communicates cases effectively to jurors.

• Under the guidance of a Forensic Scientist III or Forensic Supervisor provides training to law enforcement personnel, subordinates, colleagues, medical personnel and interns in the collection, handling and examination of evidence, the theory of laboratory instrumentation, techniques to link evidence with other findings, and the principles of effective courtroom presentations.

• Operates and performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs on state-of-the-art laboratory and analytical instruments and equipment.

• Performs research or supports validation projects under the direction of a Forensic Scientist III or Forensic Supervisor, to develop and implement new techniques and recommends acquisition of state-of-the-art instrumentation.

• By position, visits crime scenes to independently identify, collect, and preserve physical evidence.

• By position provides input to, work plans, methods, procedures, and work priorities.

• Resolves problems encountered during daily operations and determines appropriate solutions with escalation to Supervisor when needed. 

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other City agencies to support core functions of the City during a City-wide emergency declared by the Mayor.

• Any one position may not include all duties listed. However, the allocation of positions will be determined by the amount of time spent in performing the essential duties listed above.

The Ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated experience and technical competence in the following areas:

• Use of a laboratory information management system (LIMS).

• Use of a digital information management system (DIMS).

• Ability to recognize appropriate workflow of evidence examination in a full-service laboratory.

• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills that demonstrate collaboration with customers, peers, and employees.  

• Values quality work products and will encourage team members to do the same.

• Problem solving skills to use sound reasoning, to find alternative solutions to complex problems, and to make logical judgments. 

• Ability to work extended hours with minimal notice as public safety needs arise.

• Qualified applicants must pass background which includes polygraph, drug test, and criminal background check.

Below are the minimum requirements used to determine eligibility for this position:

• Education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, or a directly related natural science.
  Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of professional criminalist and forensic analysis experience in toxicology, forensic biology/DNA, drug chemistry, trace-evidence, or other forensic discipline including a demonstrated competence in using job specific analytical instrumentation.
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of professional criminalist and forensic analysis experience in toxicology, forensic biology/DNA, drug chemistry, trace-evidence, or other forensic discipline including a demonstrated competence in using job specific analytical instrumentation.
• Education & Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• Licensure & Certifications: By position, requires a valid Driver’s License at the time of application.
• By position, possession of Certification by the International Association of Identification (IAI). Certified Latent Print Examiner is preferred and if not received at time of employment must be obtained within the twenty four (24) months of employment as a forensic scientist II in the Latent Print Unit.
• The Denver Crime Laboratory is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory system. An individual certification with the (IAI) is required of individuals hired in this class (equal to or exceeding forensic scientist II) to enable this individual to train and mentor other latent print examiners within the unit. The National Academy of Science has recommended in its 2009 report that individual certification of forensic science professionals should be mandatory, and all forensic science professionals should have access to an individual certification process especially in the pattern recognition sciences such as latent print examiners. In determining appropriate standards for accreditation and certification, all forensic laboratories should take into account established and recognized international standards, such as those published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). No person (public or private) should be allowed to practice in a forensic science discipline or testify as a forensic science professional without certification and that approach is supported by the Denver Crime Laboratory for all of its units utilizing pattern recognition methodologies.
• It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CE0412 Forensic Scientist Associate

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$76,426.00 – $126,103.00

Starting Pay

Based on education and experience

Agency

Denver Police Department

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

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