Forensic Examiner

To provide expert-level intake, extraction, analysis, and reporting on criminal evidence that exists on social media and mobile device extractions. This position will work primarily with either the Criminal Investigations Division or the Investigative Services Division. Albuquerque Police Department in establishing and following standardized evidence handling of digital evidence. The examiner will become familiar with a particular investigation, and utilize their tools and training to help reconstruct different actors' communications, locations, and general use of their mobile devices and social media around the planning, execution, and cover-up of any criminal activity. The examiner will assist other specialty units in certain investigations, and create intelligence briefs on bad actors identified on social media. This is an unclassified at-will position Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essentialfunctions may include, but are not limited to the functions listed below. Mustbe able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without areasonable accommodation. Intake digital evidence and perform safe extractions of the data, including active monitoring of social media events that could be evidence of a crime, and safely capturing those events as well as identifying the users. Create timelines, and maps and locate communications to understand the complete footprint of crime in the digital space, including organizing information (people, scenes, vehicles, timeline) for each homicide and other crimes, taken mostly from mobile device extractions and social media warrant returns. Monitor public dangerous behavior that is online and communicates immediate dangers to the correct personnel. Respond to investigative call-outs and other major call-outs at the discretion of the division chain of command and assist in on-scene digital extraction of evidence and identification and backgrounds of witnesses of the crime. This will include identifying the best path of which digital media should be preserved and sought to advance the investigation. Master and review systems and databases that can help identify offenders and witnesses to the crime, including jail phone calls, multi-agency shared reporting systems, and open source search methods. Keep detailed logs of homicide and other violent crimes deemed appropriate to track at an intense level. Maintain forensic equipment to be in acceptable operation order. This includes installing software updates, physical cleaning of equipment, and proper storage. Create material and lead briefings with other specialized units within APD and our local and federal partners, updating them on current trends and threats in the social media space as well as identifying drivers of crime. Provide additional investigative leads/recommendations as a result of records analysis that will identify new drivers of crime. Conduct drive test-analysis and physical inspections of mobile communication devices to help better create maps and reliable reports when conducting this type of forensic analysis. Maintain and train personnel on social media accounts and how they function, including new and emerging technologies that the public can use. Meet with prosecutors and investigative teams to provide updates on current cases and ensure that all possible digital leads have been progressing forward. Create and maintain dashboards utilized by the various criminal investigative divisions that show the status of current processes and performance measures for detectives. Conduct field briefings with the various officers in the department with current trends and threats. Create and present training to other police officers and prosecutors on the specialties that have been crafted by conducting this line of work.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferred.

Additional Requirements:

Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License or the ability to obtain by date of hire. Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within six (6) months from date of hire.