Job Summary
Are you interested in a career with the Salem Police Department? Do you have education and/or experience working in a forensic crime lab?
The Salem Police Department is seeking a dedicated and motivated professional to join our team as a Criminalist. At Salem PD, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We are committed to fostering a supportive, collaborative, and professional work environment where every team member contributes to our mission of serving the community with excellence. We take pride in the integrity and dedication of our staff, and we’re looking for an individual who upholds the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
Make an impact: Play a vital role in solving crimes and supporting justice by providing expert forensic analysis that directly influences investigations and court proceedings.
Learn and grow: Expand your knowledge in forensic science through hands-on fieldwork, advanced lab techniques, and opportunities to earn professional certifications and incentive pay.
What you will do: Criminalist performs work in the operation of a laboratory and/or in the field at crime scenes. The work involves processing evidence and investigating minor to major crime scenes, using established physical, technical, and/or chemical techniques and recording results by means of notes, photographs and lift cards. This position will also provide clerical and administrative assistance in the office or field settings. We are looking for candidates with a strong skill set in writing detailed reports based on actions and findings that are legible, accurate, comprehensive, and intelligent. Must be eligible to be certified by Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) as a user.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Conducting forensic analysis and testing on physical evidence.
- Collecting, preserving, and comparing latent fingerprints to known prints for identification purposes.
- Classifying, indexing, and maintaining fingerprint records.
- Gathering and preserving various types of evidence during field investigations, such as fingerprints, biological samples, and ballistic materials.
- Preparing detailed forensic reports for use in investigations and court proceedings.
- Providing expert testimony in court regarding forensic test results and procedures.
- Test firing of firearms for ballistic analysis.
- Respond to crime scenes for evidence collection and processing.
- Use of chemicals, instruments and electronic equipment for evidence collection and analysis to include but not limited to laser light devices and lidar 3D scanning devices.
What can we offer you for all your hard work?
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
- Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
- Competitive pay.
- Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
- Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
- Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
- Voluntary long-term care.
- Employee wellness program.
- Employee assistance program.
- Employee health clinic.
- Free, secure parking.
- Department gym available for employee use.
- Work schedule is generally Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:00pm. Criminalists work in both the field and laboratory settings and may respond outside of work hours to process crime scenes. This position is not eligible for remote work.
- The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.
Additional incentive pay may be available based on the following:
Criminalist (Police Laboratory Technicians) Can Receive a Maximum Pay Incentive Of Ten Percent (10%) Based On The Employee’s Current Salary By Qualifying In The Following Categories
- A two percent (2%) pay incentive based upon the employee’s current salary, can be obtained if the employee holds a bachelor’s degree based on four (4) years of acceptable college level work as determined by DPSST.
Or,
- A four percent (4%) pay incentive based upon the employee’s current salary can be obtained if the employee holds a master’s degree based on four (4) years of acceptable college level work as determined by DPSST.
And,
- A two- and one-half percent (2.5%) pay incentive based upon the employee’s current salary can be obtained by acquiring each of the following relevant certifications (maximum of 5%):
- Latent Print Certification from International Association for identification (or similar certification as approved by the City of Salem).
- Crime Scene Certification from International Association for identification (or similar certification as approved by the City of Salem)
What are the minimum qualifications?
- Must pass the pre-employment drug test and pre-employment police background check.
- Must have Oregon Class C driver's license and a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.
- Associate's degree in criminalistics, police science or a related field with completion of a minimum 8 units of photography, crime scene investigation, fingerprinting or criminalistics; and two years of professional relevant work experience detecting, lifting, retrieving and comparing latent prints from crime scenes, or providing direct assistance to forensic identification specialists or other law enforcement investigation professionals conducting field investigations; or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the examples of work.
Preferred Qualifications
- Possession of a current Latent Print Certification from the International Association for Identification
- Possession of a current Crime Scene Certification from the International Association for Identification
- Has received formal training in latent print and or crime scene processing which would go towards pre-requisites for certification.
- Crime Scene Evidence Collection and Processing Experience
- Experience writing Police or Crime Lab reports
- Experience working in a Crime Lab
- Experience or training in courtroom testimony
- Lab chemical or electronic equipment for evidence collection/processing experience
Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.
About Us
Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.
The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.
The Salem Police Department is the fourth largest agency in Oregon. We are a full-service department with myriad special teams and career advancement opportunities. In November 2020, the department moved into a modern 104,000-square-foot facility with many amenities for employees, featuring purposeful efficiency design for operations and amenities that promote employee wellness.
Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Police Lab Tech.
How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.
The listed work examples are illustrative of the classification level and not intended to list all duties typically assigned to this classification. Employees may do all or some of the listed duties, or other related duties. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned this classification. It is as well intended to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
How to Apply
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.