Topic: Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner (Trainee or Experienced) Columbia, SC

[Terri Gleason]

Position:        Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner (Trainee or Experienced/Court-Qualified)
Salary:    $49,900 - $89,800 (Salary is commensurate with experience)
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Opening Date:   5/2/2022
Closing Date::                    6/2/2022
 
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is seeking a motivated individual to fill one Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner vacancy within the Forensic Sciences Laboratory.  The laboratory has been ANAB (formerly ASCLD/LAB-International) accredited since 2008.
 
Experience:
Minimum experience for this position is a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, or its equivalent. A degree in a physical science is preferred, but not required.

Preference will be given to applicants with the following:
*Successfully completed training through a program structured on the AFTE Training Manual
*Court Qualification
*Case related experience in serial number restoration, muzzle to target distance determination, and tool mark examinations.
*ANAB accreditation experience
*Experience with JusticeTrax and/or Qualtrax
*NIBIN Acquisition and Correlation Experience

Applicants must complete a Richland County Sheriff’s Department pre-employment background check, including drug screening and polygraph.
 
Job duties will include (but may not be limited to) the following: 
*Identification, characterization, and/or comparisons of firearm and tool mark evidence to include firearms, fired bullets/projectiles, fired cartridge cases, unfired ammunition, tools, tool-marked items, and clothing using physical, visual, microscopic, and chemical methods as described in the laboratory protocol(s); serial number restoration; fracture/physical match comparisons; NIBIN acquisition and correlation
*Interpretation of results of these examinations and preparation of formal written reports
*Expert witness testimony in federal, state, and local courts to present results of examinations
*Conduct or participate in training sessions, professional organizations, and seminars as requested for new employee training, employee continuing education, and community events.
*Periodic 24-hour on-call for firearm and/or tool mark related issues.
*Other departmental duties to include research, validation, quality control, quality assurance, safety, training, proficiency testing, and other responsibilities as directed by the departmental supervisor/technical lead. 
 
Benefits include the following:
Position qualifies for S.C. Police Officer Retirement System (PORS) benefits as a Sworn Class III Basic
A county issued vehicle (take home) with gas card
Free gym membership (MUV Fitness)
Health, vision, and dental insurance for employees and dependents; deferred compensation programs; HSA
Work phone
Flexible Hours

Position start date is estimated for September 2022, but is negotiable based on the needs of the applicant and the Department.

Additional Information
The RCSD Firearm and Tool Mark Section was established in 2002 and is currently staffed by three firearm and tool mark examiners (one soon to go part-time), one Technical NIBIN Administrator, one NIBIN Technician/Section Administrator, one part-time NIBIN Technician in training, and one part-time NIBIN Administrative Assistant.

A new laboratory is in development with a move-in date slated for late 2023.

In 2021, the section brought in 1737 new cases, 1596 through the NIBIN program and the remaining as formal examinations.
 
Columbia is a growing community with competitive housing costs, great weather, and an ideal location for quick getaways to the beach or the mountains. 

Interested applicants should send their curriculum vitae or statement of qualifications to Terri Cypher (Technical Leader) at tgleason@rcsd.net.