Police Criminalist

Police Criminalist

Salary

$84,968.00 - $108,486.00 Annually

Location

Public Safety Building, Gresham, OR

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

27-10

Department

Police

Opening Date

09/25/2026

Closing Date

10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Overview

The City of Gresham is accepting applications for a Police Criminalist. This position will be required to collect evidence at crime scenes, process, store and categorize evidence and items taken for safe keeping. In addition, this position will work closely with uniformed patrol and the detective's division.

As Oregons fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve, and go one step beyond to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work, and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences, and cultural perspectives.

Come build the future with us.

Position Description

This position reports to a detective sergeant and will work with the Oregon State Crime Lab, Medical Examiner's Office, District Attorney's office, Public Defenders office, Multnomah County Courts, other law enforcement agencies. Routine duties include processing of evidence, taking photographs of crime scenes and traffic crashes, crime scene documentation and processing, assisting in the collection of evidence during search warrants, ridge detail identification and collection, latent processing and documentation, and DNA collection.

What you will get to do:

• Investigate crime scenes: search and process crime scenes for evidence; fingerprint suspects and other individuals; perform crime scene surveillance, evidence, and general department photography; process photos and maintain photo case files.
• Perform various evidence tests in the laboratory including developing latent fingerprints, narcotics testing, and others; compare, classify, and identify fingerprints using chemistry, photography, and electronic techniques; identify unknown subjects and substances utilizing technical laboratory skills.
• Research cases; analyze and evaluate evidence; prepare evidence for court exhibits; prepare and present a variety of records and related reports; testify in court.
• Perform general facilities, equipment, and other specialty duties, including ordering, receiving, and stocking supplies; maintain photography equipment, supplies, and files; maintain supplies needed for investigation and evidence analysis.
• Respond to and resolve confidential and sensitive inquiries; provide expert guidance to other departments, the general public, and/or outside agencies; provide training to staff on crime scene investigation, evidence, and related techniques; act as a representative on committees, interagency task forces, and special projects as assigned; conduct criminal and/or administrative investigations as assigned.
• Analyze and review federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to ensure compliance; conduct analysis on best practices and trends, and formulate recommendations.

Qualities we are looking for:

• Adaptable - someone who can quickly adjust to circumstances and intensive deadlines
• Critical thinker who exercises sound judgement and decision making - Someone who can analyze situations, data and information and apply critical thinking to resolve problems and decide on what actions and solutions to implement
• Customer focused - Someone who proactively identifies and/or anticipates the needs of internal and external stakeholders
• Initiative - Someone who can work independently with little supervision
• Detail-oriented and well organized - Someone who is thorough in accomplishing tasks with concern for all areas involved no matter how small; monitors and checks data or information and plans and organizes time and resources efficiently.
• Team player - Someone who collaborates with others in a small team environment while building and maintaining good working relationships
• Effective Communicator - Someone who listens and observes, then responds appropriately. Displays competence in communication verbally and in writing to relay information thoroughly and accurately while building and maintaining rapport.
• Conscientious - Someone who is honest; has integrity; accepts responsibility for their actions; has high ethical standards; earns the trust of others by consistently demonstrating sound moral principles; does the right thing; reliably fulfills commitments through self-discipline and sense of duty.

As a Police Criminalist, it is necessary to be available for call outs.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances affecting City and Police Department policies and operations
• City government administration, organization, functions, and services
• Practices, principles, procedures, regulations, and techniques as they relate to crime scene investigation, evidence identification and collection, storing and recording criminal evidence and personal property, analyzing and comparing physical evidence, and others;
• Techniques and use of photographic equipment, microscopes, and other scientific analytical instruments
• Rules of evidence in criminal law
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff
• Communication principles, practices, and techniques
• Modern office practices and methods, computer equipment, and software applications

Ability to:

• Exercise discretion in confidential and sensitive matters
• Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations
• Analyze criminal evidence; interpret and classify fingerprint patterns; manage and inventory property and evidence
• Work in and process violent crime scenes
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external contacts
• Operate office equipment and technology tools including microscopes, other analytical equipment, personal computers, laptop computers and printers, and presentation equipment
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; present information, proposals, recommendations, and evidence clearly and persuasively
• Physically perform the essential job functions

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. For this position, we require equivalency of 5-8 years of qualifying education, training, and/or experience.

• Associates degree -AND-
• Three (3) to six (6) years of experience
• OR-
• Bachelors degree -AND-
• One (1) to Four (4) years of experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• International Association for Identification Latent Print certification
• International Association for Identification Crime Scene Certification
• International Association for Identification Member with certifications and in good standing

Preference may be given to candidates who possess a four-year college degree as it would allow the Gresham CSI team to become a certified lab.

Selection Process

To Apply: Click the "Apply" button at the top of this job posting.

Required application materials include:

• Complete online application (do not put see resume in any fields)
• Detailed responses to supplemental questions
• Resume
• Cover letter (no longer than 1 page) describing your interest in the position and summarizing related experience

A review of application materials will be conducted to determine the most qualified candidates to be invited to an interview.

We will be communicating with all applicants through email. Some email providers have filters that block messages from our applicant portal. Be sure to check your governmentjobs.com portal inbox in addition to your regular email inbox for important updates related to this process.

If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability, please provide your request in writing to HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov.

Veterans Preference

The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with state law. Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veterans preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

Our Commitment

The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, Oregon, or local law.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a full background check. All applications will be screened. Applicants who move forward will be required to submit a completed Statement of Personal History (SPH). The SPH is a lengthy form, it is recommended that you begin filling it out now but do not submit it until requested. Applicants will be notified by email, with detailed instructions about the document and a specific deadline for returning it. The document can be found at www.GreshamOregon.gov/jobs under the "Guidelines for Applicants" tab. Please note that it will only open when using Internet Explorer as your internet browser.

Contact HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov with questions related to this recruitment.

For assistance with the online application please contact NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627.

The City provides full family, comprehensive medical and dental insurance. Vision and prescription coverages are included in the medical plans. Most limited term and regular status employees who work at least 30 hours per week pay nothing for their medical and dental coverage.

Medical Insurance Options:

• City of Gresham Core Plan- UnitedHealthcare Options PPO Network
• Kaiser Permanente Traditional HMO

Dental Insurance Options:

• Delta Dental PPO Plan
• Willamette Dental Insurance
• Kaiser Permanente.

Additional benefits include: life insurance, long term disability, a deferred compensation plan, flexible spending accounts (medical, child care, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement (City picks up the employees 6% contribution),an HRA/VEBA account, paid time off (PTO) and sick leave and nine paid holidays plus two paid floating holidays.

For more detailed information, please visit our Employee Benefits page at: https://greshamoregon.gov/benefits/

01

What best describes your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or Above
• None of the above

02

What best describes your related experience?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• More than one year but less than two years
• More than two years but less than three years
• More than three years but less than four years
• More than four years but less than five years
• More than five years but less than six years
• More than six years but less than seven years
• More than seven years but less than eight years
• 8 years or more

03

Based on your response to related experience, please describe when and where you acquired this experience and duties performed. If you do not have any related experience, please type N/A.

04

Are you a member of the International Association for Identification in good standing?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have an International Association for Identification Latent Print certification?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have an International Association for Identification Crime Scene Certification?

• Yes
• No

07

Please list all other applicable certifications (example: fingerprinting). If you do not have any other applicable certifications, type N/A.

Required Question

Employer City of Gresham

Address 1333 NW Eastman Parkway

Gresham, Oregon, 97030

Phone (503) 661-3000

Website http://greshamoregon.gov