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Crime Scene Technician

City of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA$73.3k/yrvia City of Pittsburgh
The Crime Scene Technician is a crime scene investigative professional within the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The Crime Scene Technician is responsible for identifying, collecting, recording, and preserving both physical and photographic evidence for laboratory examination and court presentation. Maintains fingerprint records, compares latent fingerprints, and identifies persons through finger and palm prints. 

Department: Public Safety/Bureau of Police

Salary:  $73,258 per year

Posting Type: Announcement

Union:  None.  This is a non-union position.

Civil Service Classification:  Non-Competitive


General Requirements:

You must submit or show proof of all the following at the time of filing your application (unless otherwise indicated below), or your application will be disqualified.  

Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal. 

  • Applicants must submit a complete application, including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable), and completed supplemental questions.
  • A current, valid Pennsylvania Class C Driver's License is required prior to appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. Written requests for accommodation based on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act will be considered by the Department of Human Resources & Civil Service on an individual basis. 
  • Applicants must become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain residents throughout employment. 

  • Click here to view a map of City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.  

NOTEThe City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions.  The background investigation includes, but is not limited to, criminal background, driver's license, and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments.  Candidates may be disqualified from consideration based on the results of their background investigation, as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered.   

NOTECandidates being considered for employment must submit official transcripts verifying post-secondary education (college/university, trade school, etc.) prior to hire.    

Qualifying Requirements:

Your work experience and education/training will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifying eligibility requirements listed below for this position. You will receive notice of your eligibility status.

  • WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show one (1) year of full-time experience of relevant experience identifying, collecting, recording, and preserving physical evidence at crime scenes. Advanced education in a forensic field may be substituted for the required work experience. 

  • EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Forensic Sciences, Chemistry, Biology or a related physical or natural science field. An advanced Crime Scene Certification may be a substitute for the required education. 

  • EQUIVALENCY:  Education/training and/or work experience may be substituted on a year for year basis if the application clearly shows the required number of years to meet the Total Qualifying Requirement for this position (based on the sum of work experience and education/training listed above).  The Total Qualifying Requirement is three (3) years.  (See NOTE under the General Application Requirements Section above regarding the verification of education/training)
If you meet the qualifying requirements listed above, you will receive a letter of admission (when applicable) for the following examination(s). You must pass the written and/or performance examination(s) to have your name placed on the official Civil Service eligibility list for this position. Candidates receiving job offers must pass a medical examination (when applicable) before the date of hire.
  • Written: None required for this position.
  • Performance: None required for this position.
  • Medical: Required.
  • Exemplifies the Bureau rules and regulations, both on and off duty.
  • Conducts a thorough search of all crime scenes to identify, document, collect and preserve any physical evidence.
  • Documents scenes by utilizing photography, video, or diagramming the condition of the crime scene and evidence found therein. 
  • Takes detailed measurements.
  • Conducts latent fingerprint collection/processing. 
  • Manages DNA collection. 
  • Analyzes blood patterns.
  • Processes all evidence collected at the scene as well as received from all departmental branches prior to submittal to the Crime Lab or Property Room.                    
  • Maintains proper storage of evidence and test items in accordance with established protocol.  
  • Appears in court to testify as to the procedures followed during collection, receipt, storage, processing and transfer of evidence.
  • Works with a variety of hazardous items, including weapons, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, toxins, body fluids, flammable and explosive materials, and unsanitary materials.
  • Maintains manual and computerized records, including evidence custody documents, chain of custody documents, property receipts, property control files, and related reports.
  • Archives, maintains, stores, and organizes case folders.
  • Retains automated and manual logs, records, and files as required.
  • Attends training as required to maintain proficiency in the most advanced techniques for evidence collection/processing.
  • Performs other related duties as required or requested. 

Click here to view the full job description, including knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions for this position. Locate and click on the position title to view the complete job description.