Forensic Identification Technician

Job Information

Overall Purpose

Under the direction of the Staff Sergeant Forensic Identification (FIS) or designate, the Forensic Identification Technician is responsible to:

• Provide forensic identification support to OPS members and outside agencies.
• Support the Forensic Technician / Laboratory Manager.
• Support FIS operations.
   

Major Responsibilities

Provide forensic identification support to OPS members and outside agencies, as required, such as but not limited to the following:

• Provide forensic identification support to search, document, collect, and preserve evidence for the purpose of conducting forensic examinations.
• Collaborate with investigators, OPS members, and outside agencies and review all relevant information to determine the most suitable forensic examination strategy.
• Collaborate with the Centre of Forensic Sciences for the submission of evidence.
• Collaborate with outside agencies, as required, such as but not limited to:
• Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Services.
• Eastern Ontario Regional Forensic Pathology Unit.
• Ministry of Labour.
• Special Investigation Unit.

Attend training and educational opportunities to maintain proficiency.
Perform assigned forensic specialities, as required, such as but not limited to the following:

• Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA).
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosion (CBRNE).
• Composite Drawing.
• DNA coordination of notifications (Hits and Linkages) and other DNA related tasks.
• Firearms Examination (Serial Number Restoration). 
• Footwear & Tires Examination.
• Friction Ridges Analysis (fingerprint, palm, toe and plantar impressions). 
• Plan Drawing.
• Shooting Scene Reconstruction.

Prepare notes and reports, including expert reports, as required.
Provide testimony in court, including expert opinion evidence, as required. 
 

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Support the Forensic Technician / Laboratory Manager, as required.

• Assist with the development, review, revision, and validation of policies and procedures related to the Forensic Identification Section required to support investigations and criminal proceedings.
• Assist with the monitoring, testing, maintenance of FIS equipment, materials, consumables and protective devices and maintain records. 
• Assist with the management of the inventory, storage, handling and disposal of all consumables, hazardous chemicals, working chemical solutions, biohazardous materials, sharps and maintain records. 
• Assist with the research, selection, procurement, and implementation of new equipment, consumables, technology and techniques in support of the Forensic Identification Section.
• Assist in the monitoring of wider forensic industry for trends, science and technology developments, changes to generally accepted practices, and relevant court cases impacting forensic investigations.
• Participate in relevant professional forensic associations activities, working groups and committees as required (i.e.: Ontario Forensic Investigator Association, International Association for Identification, Canadian Friction Ridge Working Group, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, etc.). 
• Identify gaps in service relating to forensics and generate appropriate training strategy and programs to mitigate risks and challenges.
• Network with academic institutions to promote education and encourage research in the field of forensics. 
• Assist with the development, delivery and coordination of training of FIS members and other members as required.
• Support the Forensic Technician / Laboratory Manager as required.

Support FIS operations.

• Participate in assigned project or assigned tasks as required.
• Support the Staff Sergeant Forensic Identification or designate as required.
   

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Statement of Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Four (4) year University Degree in a Science related field or equivalent, preferably in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry. 
• Two (2) years of work experience in a science related field, law enforcement or other relevant field.
• A combination of education, training and experience may substitute for stipulated educational requirements.

Language

English - fluency in oral, reading, and writing.

Certifications and Licences

• Successful completion of Police Fitness Personnel of Ontario (PIN) at the time of appointment, with a passing score of 75% based on the scoring table for the applicants’ gender and age OR a valid PREP certificate.  
• Successful completion of the Basic Special Constable Qualification Program within one (1) year of hire.
• Successful completion of the Ontario Police College’s Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) course within one (1) year of hire. 
• Possess a valid Ontario driver’s license or provincial equivalent.
   

In service Training

The incumbent is expected to maintain proficiency through continuing education in forensics through the completion of internal and external training as required.

The following mandatory training and education is provided to all employees of the OPS:

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• First Aid / CPR.
• Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers. 
• Workplace Violence and Harassment.

The incumbent will be required to successfully complete all mandatory training associated with the position.

• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
• Working At Heights Training.

The incumbent may be provided additional forensic related courses such as but not limited to the following:

• Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.
• Advanced Expert Witness Course for Forensic Identification Members.
• Advanced Friction Ridge Analysis.
• Advanced Forensic Collection and Recovery of Human Remains.
• Basic Bloodstain Pattern Recognition Course.
• Bloodstain Pattern Analyst Certification Program.
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosion (CBRNE) related courses.
• Chemical Treatment and Fluorescent Techniques.
• Death Investigation.
• DNA Data Bank, Warrant and Consent Sample Collection.
• Forensic Collection and Recovery of Human Remains.
• Forensic Identification Officer Course.
• Forensic Shooting Scene Examination.
• Math and Physics for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.
• Photoshop for Forensics.
• Senior Forensic Identification Course.
   

Job Knowledge

Working knowledge of the Ottawa Police Service’s Mission, Vision and Values. 

Working knowledge of relevant legislations as required, such as:

• Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Criminal Code of Canada.
• Identification of Criminals Act.
• DNA Identification Act.
• Canada Evidence Act.
• Canadian and other relevant case laws related to the admissibility of expert witness testimony and opinion evidence.

Working knowledge of external partners, databases and systems:

• Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
• Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).
• Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS).
• Intellibook’s biometrics database for fingerprints and mugshots.
• National DNA Data Bank (NDDB).
• Ottawa Police Service’s Record Management System (RMS). 
• Real Time Identification (RTID).
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).

Advanced knowledge of:
Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Automate, SharePoint, Power App, Access) and other applications such as but not limited to: Photoshop, ACDsee, CAD.
Forensic principles, best practices and standards including:

• Forensic identification methods and techniques.
• Scientific principles and processes.
• National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) and its Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences.
• Requirement of accreditations for laboratories (i.e.: ISO/IEC 17025 and/or 17020 Standards, Ontario Forensic Laboratory Act, Standards Council of Canada, etc.).
   

OPS Competencies

Hours of Work

Effort and Working Conditions

Effort

Physical Effort:

• Lift and carry forensic equipment to and from locations (crime scenes, laboratory, office).
• Walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time during forensic examinations and searches. 
• Bend, twist, use arm and hands to grip, pinch and lift while searching and collecting evidence in the laboratory and in the field. 
• Extended periods of sustained mental and visual concentration, manual dexterity and exceptional attention to detail are required for analysis, evaluation and comparison of fingerprints.

Mental Effort:

• Requirement for a great degree of mental effort to summarize and memorize large amount of information, including scientific related material, while managing sectional and legislated priorities
• Assess information and evaluate situations to resolve problems, make and communicate decisions.  
• Review large amounts of data, use technologies and redact technical reports. 
• Work requires the ability to prioritize and schedule high volumes of work and multi-task to meet deadlines while paying attention to detail and maintaining accuracy and adapting to unforeseen demands and changing priorities.
   

Working Conditions

Physical Environnent:

• Working environment varies from a normal indoor office, laboratory, and field work, including adverse climate and/or physically challenging conditions, and from precarious positions and heights.  
• Work in a laboratory and interact with hazardous chemical, biological materials, sharps and other hazards. 
• Work in environments exposed to external stimuli, emotional and confrontational situations. 
• The incumbent will be issued and required to wear body armour in instances of attending crime scenes, field work.

Exposure to Hazardous Materials and Disturbing Content:

• Work involves dealing with unpleasant, disturbing and sensitive materials, including crime scene photos and videos.
• Handle and be exposed to human remains or dead bodies in various conditions (i.e.: decomposed, dismembered, burnt, etc.). 
• Participate in found human remains or death investigations and related autopsies in collaboration with investigators, coroners and forensic pathologists.
• Work may requires driving to and attending scenes of criminal incidents to document, collect, preserve and analyze evidence which could be disturbing in nature, including autopsies, etc.

Working hours and Emotional Stress: 

• Work extended hours beyond the normal hours of work, may involve working afternoon / weekend.
• Work requires dealing with emotionally charged or confrontational situations  
• Self-supervise, work with others, have attention to details, multi-task and meet deadline pressures. 

Travel: 

• Travel throughout Canada and the United States for training purposes.

Other Considerations:

• Must be able to operate an OPS vehicle safely, maintaining a valid Ontario driver’s license or provincial equivalent. 
• May be required to testify and present expert evidence in Court and be subject to cross examination.

Desired Qualifications

• Forensic Identification Officer Course.
• Self-supervise, work with others, have attention to details, multi-task and meet deadline pressures.
• Previous experience as a forensic scientist.
• Previous experience in a laboratory services or investigation environment.
• Previous experience in the development of policies or procedures.
• Previous acceptances by the Canadian Criminal courts to give expert evidence. 
• Previous management experience.
• Working knowledge of accreditations for laboratories (i.e.: ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020 Standards, Ontario Forensic Laboratory Act, Standards Council of Canada, etc.).
• Oral, reading, writing fluency in French or other languages.
• Valid Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) certification.
• Valid Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) certification. 
• Working knowledge of OPS policies and procedures relevant to job responsibilities.