Police Identification and Records Officers — Tasks

Task statements

• Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.
• Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
• Testify in court and present evidence.
• Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.
• Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures.
• Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
• Package, store and retrieve evidence.
• Process film and prints from crime or accident scenes.
• Take fingerprints.
• Perform emergency work during off-hours.
• Serve as technical advisor and coordinate with other law enforcement workers or legal personnel to exchange information on crime scene collection activities.
• Create sketches and diagrams, by hand or computer software, to depict crime scenes.
• Coordinate or conduct instructional classes or in-services, such as citizen police academy classes and crime scene training for other officers.
• Identify, compare, classify, and file fingerprints, using systems such as Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) or the Henry Classification System.
• Interview survivors, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.