County Detective

JOB SUMMARY

A County Detective has full police authority with county-wide jurisdiction and may conduct investigations, prosecute violations of the law and assist outside law enforcement agencies with the investigation of violations of federal, state and local laws including but not limited to narcotics, firearms, child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, fraud, white-collar crime, drug-related / major crime, tobacco control enforcement, DUI enforcement, fugitive apprehension, intelligence gathering functions, etc.

Start rate negotiable based on experience*

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports via chain of command to the District Attorney of Lancaster County (or his / her designee) and the Chief County Detective and / or the Deputy Chief County Detective.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

A County Detective must be competent to perform an array of investigative skills and make arrests, if appropriate, of perpetrators of all Pennsylvania Crimes Code Violations, Vehicle Code Violations, Pennsylvania Drug Device and Cosmetic Act violations, and other laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its sub-divisions.

County Detectives are expected to :

• Question witnesses / suspects and prepare them to give testimony, or take statements from witnesses and suspects.
• Conduct surveillances on suspects and locations used for criminal activity from vehicles, public areas, and

private property.

• Seize and maintain physical evidence for court and property for forfeiture.
• Prepare and execute arrest / search warrants and court orders.
• Use force, including deadly force, to overcome resistance or defend himself (herself) or another from bodily

harm.

• Gather investigative information, materials and evidence, and prepare written reports in relation to violations and criminal activities that can include, but are not limited to : alleged criminal misconduct by law enforcement officers;
• referrals from another law enforcement agency where a conflict of interest is present; crimes committed by or against County employees;
• threats made against Judges in the Court of Common Pleas; bomb threats to County facilities; allegations of perjury and / or false statements;
• bad checks issued to the Courts; private criminal complaints pursuant to Rule of Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure;
• determining fugitive wanted status of Lancaster County Prison inmates to be released; investigate allegations of Correctional Officers of assaults on them by inmates at Lancaster County Prison and allegations of inmates of assaults on them by Correctional Officers;
• review the use of force on inmates by Correctional Officers at the Lancaster County Prison for legality; investigation of Child Abuse cases and working with the Lancaster County Children and Youth Agencey(CYA) and the Lancaster County Children's Alliance(LCCA) in these investigations;

investigate alleged violations of the Bingo and Local Option Small Games of Chance statutes and enforcement of little known or obscure laws.

• Prepare court papers and other documentation, including precise reports on all activities on appropriate forms and distribute to appropriate agencies.
• Provide testimony and present physical evidence in court proceedings.
• Conduct pre-appointment background investigations for Constables, Deputy Constables and for licensing of

Private Detectives.

• Conduct background investigations of all employees of the District Attorney's Office, inlcuding but not limited to the hiring of County Detectives, Assistant District Attorneys and all clerical / support personnel as directed.
• Direct the usage of surveillance equipment and maintain surveillance over suspects.
• Respond to calls as needed.
• Travel, as necessary, to perform duties of the job.
• Maintain legally mandated certifications and applicable skill training annually.
• Interact with internal county departments and outside local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on a

daily basis to perform job duties.

• Represent the District Attorney, the Chief County Detective and / or Deputy Chief County Detective at meetings of law enforcement personnel.
• Provide technical or any other assistance as needed to officers in the region or anywhere deemed appropriate.
• Perform as a member of an investigative team or in a special assignment, which could include but is not be limited

to : the Domestic Violence Unit, Lancaster County Drug Task Force, County Criminal Intelligence Officer,

Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), Lancaster County Major Crimes Unit & Crime Scene Forensic Unit, Lancaster County Mutual Aid Computer Crimes Task Force- Lancaster County Digital Forensics Unit, Lancaster County Auto Theft Task Force, Lancaster County Crash Team, Training Officer, Evidence Custodian, Polygraphist, and prepare cases for Project Safe Neighborhood or other prosecution in federal court.

Leading, supervising and working as part of the Lancaster County Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Forensic Unit in assisting with the all aspects of the investigation, to include searching and processing of Crime Scenes of all types, including Homicides and other Major Crimes;

participating in all phases of the investigative process, including the crime scnene search process; acting as an Evidence Technician / Specialist / Custodian with respect to criminal investigations and using all crime scene processing equipment.

• Actively work to cultivate cooperative working relationships with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Act as (CLEAN) and J-NET Tac Officer.
• Utilize the BEAST Evidence Barcoding System to document, store and maintain the chain of custody of all evidence.
• Transport evidence to and from PA State Police Crime Laboratory or other laboratories or locations as directed.
• Testify in court with respect to all areas of the crime scene investigation process, including the collection, handling, storage, control, processing, documentation and chain of custody of all evidence.
• Dispose of evidence using accepted methods consistant with law and policy.

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief County Detective, the Deputy Chief County Detective or other Supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High School graduate or possession of a G.E.D.

Associate Degree or Bachelor’s degree is desirable.

Possess a minimum of years experience as a criminal investigator for a law enforcement agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of police investigative methods.

Knowledge of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Federal Statutes, local ordinances, and the Pennsylvania

Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Knowledge, skill and ability to make instantaneous sound decisions and judgments, and react to life threatening situations within the scope of Federal, State and Local laws.

Knowledge, skill and ability to conduct complex criminal investigations and implement new and various investigative skills and techniques as situations demand.

Basic computer skills, including competence in using Word, Access, and Excel.

Good oral and written communication skills and ability to present accurate and convincing testimony in Court.

Knowledge, skill and ability to process, photograph and document crime scenes, including bodies and all evidence.

Knowlegde, skill and ability to attend autopsies and assist a forensic pathologist / county coroner at autopsies in any way requested.

Knowledge, skill and ability to document / process crimes scenes, through measurements and descriptions in written form for all types of evidence, including but not limited to fingerprints, DNA, bodily fluids, hairs, fibers, etc.

REQUIRED LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS / CLEARANCES

Be free of a criminal record.

Pass a background investigation.

Pass a psychological evaluation.

Pass a polygraph examination.

Possess or must be willing to obtain and maintain appropriate certification(s) as deemed necessary by the Chief Lancaster County Detective and / or the Deputy Chief Lancaster County Detective.

• Possess or must have the ability and be willing to obtain a current Pennsylvania Act Certification as a police officer and attend all training required by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education & Training Commission and the Office of the District Attorney in order to maintain that certification at all times while employed by the Office of the District Attorney;
• Possess a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License and maintain a valid Pennsylvania Driver's License at all times while employed by the Office of the District Attorney;

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

Ability to conduct surveillance for several hours at a time sitting inside the cramped confines of a vehicle.

Ability to engage in physical exertion at any given moment, in response to an emergency situation during the execution of a search warrant or during the apprehension or subduing of a resisting suspect.

Ability to lift and move items weighing up to lbs. on a regular basis.

Stamina to avoid health related issues, the ability to deal with stress related issues on a daily basis, and the ability to maintain control during the integration of work related stress and the daily stress encountered outside the work place.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT :

The office has a high volume of work on a daily basis.

The position may require evening, overnight and weekend work, including Holidays.

The position will require being available after hours, as well as on weekends and holidays, to receive phone calls and / or to respond for criminal invesitgatons and other duties.

The position requires periodically working beyond an 8-hour day, with little or no prior notice.

Work outside the normal office environment at locations classified as being in an unhealthy environment (garbage, human waste, animal waste and varmin or insect infested buildings).

The position may require working within hazardous conditions, low light conditions, rain, snow, ice and / or hot and cold tempuratures.

The position may require dealing with individuals (prostitutes, drug addicts, informants, etc) in a high-risk communicable disease category (AIDS, hepatitis, etc).

The position may require viewing of deceased individuals including men, women and children from criminal acts or natural causes.

The position requires carrying a firearm daily, and other defensive weapons, and wearing a ballistic vest, helmet, and rubber gloves when circumstances require such equipment.

There is the ever-present danger of personal injury or death from contact with violent criminals.