Investigator at Whitley County Government – Columbia City, Indiana

POSITION: Investigator

DEPARTMENT: Prosecutor

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., M - F

JOB CATEGORY: POLE (Protective Occupations, Law Enforcement)

DATE WRITTEN: February 2002 STATUS: Full-time

DATE REVISED: January 2019 FLSA STATUS: Non- exempt

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Whitley County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job, unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Investigator for the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, responsible for coordinating criminal investigations in the County and responding to the investigatory needs of the department.

DUTIES:

Conducts/coordinates various investigations, including but not limited to citizen complaints, felonies, misdemeanors, and crimes against persons and property, including locating/interviewing witnesses, victims, and suspects and checking criminal histories and outstanding warrants.

Serves as liaison between Prosecutor’s office and other law enforcement personnel throughout the County. Completes/types various reports, documents, and correspondence as required.

Obtains and records intelligence information and reviews various case documents, such as arrest and case reports, crime lab reports, and photographs. Determines and writes probable causes for arrests, including obtaining necessary signatures.

Maintains confidentiality and security of case information as required.

Pursues, apprehends, searches and arrests suspects when necessary, using only necessary physical force; advises suspects of rights and transports suspects, witnesses, and victims as necessary. Prevents individuals from injuring themselves or others by using physical restraint or appropriate weapons.

Performs bookkeeping procedures of detained individuals, including fingerprinting, obtaining background and medical information, photographing, searching individuals, and accounting for individual’s money and personal property.

Maintains communication with crime victims, including providing information regarding support services, explaining their rights, and assisting with obtaining restitution. Assists witnesses prior to and during trials.

Serves on, or coordinates specialized law enforcement teams, or may be given special assignments, including public speaking engagements.

Provides training and advises police officers in the County as needed.

Assists Drug Task Force (DTF) and other offices/agencies with search warrants, surveillance and warrant services.

Attends and/or performs forensic interviews with children who are victims of sexual/physical abuse.

Responds to emergencies from off-duty status.

Testifies in court proceedings and/or presents evidence in court.

Performs related duties as assigned.

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

High school diploma/GED, with three (3) to five (5) years prior law enforcement experience, completion of Indiana Law Enforcement Academy training to become a Law Enforcement Officer, and specialized training and/or certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/ First Responder.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Ability to meet all departmental hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.

Working knowledge and ability to legally carry a handgun and qualify by obtaining a passing score in the Handgun Course of Fire, as required by the standards of the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board.

Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of current state, federal, local laws, codes and ordinances, and standard policies and procedures of the department.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to type and complete department reports within established deadlines.

Working knowledge of and ability to use and properly maintain all assigned equipment such as vehicles, drug/narcotic identification kit, fingerprint equipment, computer, calculator, camera, radio, audio and video recorders, and handgun.

Working knowledge of and ability to effectively apply evidence collection and preservation techniques.

Working knowledge of universal health precautions, high risk environments, and signs and symptoms associated with bloodborne pathogens, and ability to apply such knowledge in the field to protect oneself against infection.

Working knowledge of current training programs and ability to assist in training of department personnel.

Ability to meet all department hiring requirements, including passage a drug test.

Ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to state requirements.

Ability to comply with various employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense.

Ability to give expert testimony and present evidence in court.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with suspects/offenders, other County departments, Department of Child Services (DCS), witnesses, victims, judges, court and law enforcement personnel, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to speak clearly and distinctly, hear and be heard and understood when communicating in person, by radio, or by telephone.

Ability to obey various written and oral orders and directives from department superiors.

Ability to count and make simple arithmetic additions and subtractions.

Ability to plan and layout assigned work projects.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time, work rapidly for long periods, and work under time pressure.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to occasionally work extended, irregular, weekend, and evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town, sometimes overnight for investigations and training.

Ability to respond to emergencies from off-duty status.

Possession of a valid Indiana driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent conducts criminal investigations according to established department policies and police procedures, making independent decisions and taking authoritative action in response to situational demands. Incumbent refers to supervisor when interpretations of departmental policies are thought necessary. Errors in decision or work may be detected or prevented through legally defined procedures. Undetected errors may result in endangerment to self or others and inconvenience to other departments or the public.

III. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, suspects/offenders, witnesses, victims, judges, court and law enforcement personnel, DCS, other County departments, and the public, for purposes of exchanging and explaining information, explaining and interpreting work procedures, and presenting subject matter to others through explanation.

Incumbent reports directly to the Prosecutor.

IV. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment and in the field, involving sitting and walking at will, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, and handling/grasping objects, lifting/carrying over 50 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, bending/reaching, close/far vision, depth perception, and keyboarding. Incumbent is exposed to hazards normally associated with criminal investigations, such as working with potentially violent/irate individuals.

Incumbent occasionally works extended, irregular, weekend and evening hours, and occasionally travels out of town, sometimes overnight. Incumbent responds to emergencies from an off-duty status.