Police Services Clerk-Property

POLICE SERVICES CLERK – PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE SECTION

“Preserving the Past, while Innovating our Future!”

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia, Arlington County, and Fairfax County. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. Approximately one-quarter of the City’s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for the position of Police Services Clerk.

An Overview

The Alexandria Police Department is seeking a self-motivated and detail-oriented Police Services Clerk to support the Property & Evidence Section. The incumbent in this position is responsible for receiving, processing, documenting, storing, releasing, returning, destroying, and preparing property and evidence for auction in accordance with Department procedures. This position plays an important role in maintaining the chain of custody, security, and accurate documentation of all evidence and property received by the Property & Evidence Section. The work involves handling property and evidence recovered from or associated with police incidents, crime scenes, injured persons, trash, sewers, and other environments. Items may include controlled substances, weapons, currency, hazardous materials, blood-stained articles, and other sensitive or potentially hazardous property. The Police Services Clerk is responsible for entering and updating property and evidence records in computer-based tracking systems, assigning evidence numbers, scanning items into and out of the property facility, and assisting with inventories and property destructions.

The incumbent is also responsible for ordering, receiving, stocking, documenting, and issuing Police Department uniforms and equipment for sworn and civilian employees. Work includes maintaining an organized system for storing property, evidence, uniforms, and equipment, and ensuring adequate stock levels are maintained. Additional responsibilities include completing and mailing certified letters to owners of property or police-impounded vehicles eligible for return, processing special printing requests through the City print shop, retrieving property from local vendors, and performing related duties as assigned. The Property & Evidence Section operates Monday through Friday between 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Assigned shifts are 8 hours and may vary within this timeframe based on operational needs. Applicants must be able to work independently, take initiative, complete assigned tasks with limited supervision, and maintain accuracy while working in a fast-paced and highly sensitive environment.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have knowledge of general office practices, inventory control, records management, filing systems, and customer service. The candidate should be organized, detail-oriented, and able to accurately document, track, and maintain property, evidence, equipment, and records. The successful candidate should have strong computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office programs and computer-based or web-based tracking systems. The candidate must be able to communicate clearly, read and write effectively in English, follow written and oral instructions, and provide courteous and professional service to employees, officers, and members of the public. The ideal candidate should also be able to work in a physically active environment, which may require standing for extended periods of time, lifting or moving items, and handling sensitive, hazardous, or unpleasant materials. The successful candidate must be able to maintain confidentiality, work under pressure, adapt to varying workloads, and demonstrate a commitment to accuracy, professionalism, and excellent customer service.

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

Illustrative example of the Police Services Clerk responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receives, processes, documents, stores, releases, returns, destroys, and prepares property and evidence for auction in accordance with Department procedures.
• Maintains the chain of custody, security, and accurate documentation of all property and evidence received by the Property & Evidence Section.
• Enters, updates, and maintains property and evidence records in computer-based tracking systems, assigns evidence numbers, and scans property and evidence into and out of the property facility.
• Prepares evidence for pending court proceedings and assists with inventories and destruction of property and evidence.
• Handles hazardous materials, weapons, controlled substances, currency, and other sensitive or potentially hazardous property.
• Orders, receives, stocks, documents, issues, and maintains inventory levels for uniforms, equipment, clothing, weapons, and other issued items for sworn and civilian employees.
• Assists officers, employees, and citizens with equipment, uniforms, property, evidence-related requests, and the return of eligible property.
• Completes and mails certified letters to owners of property or police-impounded vehicles eligible for return.
• Answers routine telephone inquiries, refers calls as appropriate, and transcribes or enters information from reports into computer databases.
• Processes special printing requests through the City print shop, retrieves property from local vendors, and performs related work as required.

About the Department

The City of Alexandria Police Department is a nationally recognized and accredited law enforcement agency providing services to a diverse community. A group of talented professionals, the Alexandria Police Department is a dedicated team of people who, in partnership with the community, work to create and maintain a safe and secure environment for our residents, businesses, and visitors. We are a diverse organization, reflecting Alexandria’s various cultures and offering many different career and promotional opportunities.

High School Diploma or GED; at least three years of experience in office, inventory, records, or library work; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: The applicant must possess, at the time of appointment, a valid driver’s license issued by the state of their residence.

• Two to three years of experience in data entry, customer service, inventory, records management, or a related operational support function.
• High level of accuracy in typing, data entry, and written documentation.
• Experience maintaining confidential records or sensitive information.
• Experience filing numerically and maintaining organized records or inventory systems.
• Knowledge of, or experience with, property and evidence storage methods, chain of custody procedures, or work within a law enforcement agency.
• Ability to apply basic math principles in inventorying property and evidence.
• Ability to read and follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• Ability to work independently with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs, including Word and Excel, and web-based computer management or tracking systems.
• Bilingual ability is preferred.
• Prior law enforcement agency experience is preferred.

This position requires the successful completion of the following pre-employment background checks:

• Polygraph examination
• Medical evaluation and drug screen
• Criminal background checks, including local and federal checks
• Criminal Justice Information Services Security Awareness Training and annual recertification