Topic: Firearms Examiner - Columbia, South Carolina

[David Collins]

FIREARMS EXAMINER

The Richland County Sheriffs Department in Columbia, South Carolina is currently accepting applications and resumes/CV’s for a firearms and tool marks examiner position in the Firearms Analysis Section. 

The applicant should have successfully completed a suitable firearms and toolmarks examiner training program and have been qualified in court to provide expert witness testimony in the discipline of firearms and/or tool mark identifications.

The applicant must also:

• Be able to conduct firearm and tool mark examinations, all associated work, without direct supervision.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Be able to work well in close cooperative relationships with other investigators, line officers, and attorneys (prosecuting or defense counsel).
• Have a working knowledge of the NIBIN / IBIS operations.
• Have a strong working knowledge of firearms, ammunition, and firearm/tool manufacturing processes, as well as the use of compound and comparison microscopes.
• Have good computer working skills and familiarity with commonly used software, to include Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access).

Minimum Education and Pre-Employment Screening Requirements

The applicant must:

• Have a four-year degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) from an accredited college or university.  Preference may be given to applicants possessing Masters degrees or degrees in a physical or natural science.
• Be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check, which would include polygraph and drug screening.

After employment, an applicant would be required to successfully complete a series of competency tests.

Salary
Starting salary would range from $48,000 to $62,000 per year, depending on education, training, and experience.
   
The Richland County Sheriffs Department has an excellent benefits package, including health and dental benefits, with regular performance-based salary increases.

NOTE: THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO SWORN OR NON-SWORN APPLICANTS.- A successful sworn applicant may, at his/her discretion, retain that status, or be hired as non-sworn (their choice, although successful sworn applicants that desire to maintain that status will be required to complete a short course at the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy).  A non-sworn applicant will be hired as a non-sworn examiner. 

Regardless of sworn/non-sworn status, the successful applicant will be covered by law enforcement officer retirement benefits.

Interested parties are invited to access the Richland County Sheriffs Department website at www.rcsd.net and download an application.   Please feel free also to contact the Firearms Analysis Section Technical Leader (Inv. David Collins) at (803) 576-3198, or by e-mail at dcollins@rcsd.net.

All resumes and completed applications should be sent to:

Richland County Sheriffs Department
C/O David J. Collins
5623 Two Notch Rd.
Columbia, SC  29223

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN JULY 20, 2007.

[David Collins]

Additional Info

The Richland County Sheriffs Department is located in Columbia, South Carolina.  The department employees over 600 sworn officers and supports a population of over 348,000 citizens.

The Forensic Science Laboratory is currently working towards ASCLD-International accreditation, and includes the following disciplines:

o  Firearms and Tool Marks
o  Drug Identification
o  DNA (DAB and ASCLD-International Accredited)
o  Fire Debris Analysis
o  Crime Scene Investigations and Latent Prints
o  Trace Evidence

This laboratory enjoys a close working relationship with the criminal investigators and line officers within the department, as well as with the solicitors (prosecutors) office and other local law enforcement agencies.  There is also a close working relationship with the state forensic laboratory at the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED).  By most standards, the laboratory is small.  The work environment is highly enjoyable, and the case load quite manageable.

Columbia is centrally located in the state, with many local attractions, and enjoys ready access to the mountains or the sea (within about 1½ to 2 hours drive to each, depending on your destination).  The cost of living in this area is very attractive.

South Carolina, as of last week, also had the nations lowest gasoline prices. 

[David Collins]

THANKS to all that applied, and showed interest.   

The application period for this position has been closed.