CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH LEAD SPECIALIST

6C22

PAY RANGE: EP19

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is advanced level criminal investigative research support work leading the collection, entrance, retrieval, research, and dissemination of comprehensive crime information to provide investigative assistance to Philadelphia Police Department sworn personnel and any law enforcement personnel from other local, state or federal agencies. Employees in this class work on an assigned shift directing the activities of a team of lower level criminal investigative research specialists. An employee in this class researches criminal data records and uses computerized databases to assist in criminal investigations. Work includes validating police reports and records for completeness and accuracy. A significant aspect of this work involves training lower level criminal investigative research specialists and leading the activities in, auditing, validations, quality control, security, and police application help desk support. Employees in this class exercise considerable judgment to determine what information should be researched, reported, and disseminated to requesting parties. Work is performed under the supervision of a technical supervisor.

ALLOCATING FACTORS:

1. Positions in this class must perform advanced level criminal investigative research support work leading the collection, entrance, retrieval, research, analysis, and dissemination of comprehensive crime information to sworn personnel.

2. Positions in this class must direct the activities of a team of lower level criminal investigative research specialists.

3. The positions must be located in the Philadelphia Police Department’s Crime Information Center.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Leads a team of lower level specialists working in a twenty-four hour, seven day a week, rotating shift investigative support center that is responsible for responding to numerous law enforcement requests sent by phone, electronic systems, fax and email; provides technical and investigatory assistance to Philadelphia, state and federal law enforcement personnel and agencies; may be assigned to perform work in the twenty-four hour operations section or the investigations section.

Performs advanced investigative support work utilizing automated law enforcement systems and software, and other public and private sector information repositories to provide crime data, summaries, and reports to the appropriate sworn staff as requested.

Trains and monitors lower level criminal investigative research specialists in utilizing computerized database systems to enter and retrieve data; trains and monitors staff regarding guidelines and procedures to include national, state, or local crime information system manuals; may be required to correct work of specialists for accuracy.

Conducts advanced level crime data retrieval; utilizes problem-solving techniques to identify and locate information that is relevant to an investigation; disseminates reports and relevant crime information to the appropriate local, state and national authorities to assist in prioritizing the focus of an investigation of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Performs advanced level quality-control or validations work of department records such as wanted or missing persons or stolen property as a leader of a team, training lower-level employees on the practices and procedures of auditing records, using various electronic databases and ensuring that deadlines for work completion are met with attention to detail and accuracy.

Provides mandatory classroom training, certification and recertification in Philadelphia Crime Information Center (PCIC) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) systems for all lower level staff, other City of Philadelphia Police Department personnel, and outside agencies; maintains the training database to document compliance with applicable mandates; improves the process of training; instructs and trains lower level staff and passes along pertinent information from supervisors.

Possesses detailed knowledge of police security application systems to assist law enforcement personnel experiencing technical problems and verifies/resets passwords if necessary, and resolves other technical problems on various computerized applications pertaining to crime data; administers security for application access and web application credentialing for access to other law enforcement information repositories; resolves problems with the more complex systems and notifies appropriate agencies or vendors of system errors; provides assistance in the emergency response center in the event of local or state systems failure; provides crucial information to law enforcement agencies and personnel in the event of such emergencies.

May represent the Philadelphia Crime Information Center in various capacities at the local level; may assist in the preparation of presentations on behalf of the Philadelphia Crime Information Center at local and state meetings and seminars.

Files electronic and hard copy information on a daily and continual basis; at the end of each month, compiles all data into one monthly folder; helps to prepare files for state, FBI and PA JNet audits every three years; audits records of department units and outside law enforcement agencies for compliance with state and federal laws, regulations and mandates.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

· data entry and retrieval principles and practices

· functions and organization of local, state and federal government entities

· customer service principles and practices

· principles of the American criminal justice system and law enforcement agencies

· technical research methods and techniques

· federal, state, and local standards and guidelines regarding the use of criminal database systems and repositories

· daily functions, operations, policies and procedures of the Philadelphia Crime Information Center and Philadelphia City government

· National Crime Information Center policies and procedures

· standards and procedures to enter and retrieve data from a number of database resources including PCIC, NCIC, and other public and private sector information repositories

· crime center security policies and procedures

· terminology, codes and abbreviations used in PCIC functions

SKILL IN:

· using computer systems and software including Microsoft Office tools and applications

· using electronic database systems

· internet navigation

· written and oral communication

· identifying and retrieving crime information

· evaluating crime information for accuracy

· disseminating crime information data

· organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks

ABILITY TO:

· lead a team of lower level specialists on complex assignments

· provide direction, guidance, and training to lower level technicians

· identify and retrieve complex crime information

· evaluate complex crime information from multiple sources and determine the importance and limitations of each piece of information

· organize and prioritize multiple tasks

· prepare standard and specialized reports

· work independently on difficult or complex tasks and assignments

· establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees, outside agencies and the public

· utilize alternative methods or solutions to solve problems

· explain and provide guidance on the use of standards and procedures to enter and retrieve data from a number of database resources specific to NCIC and PCIC

· assist in major department wide project activities

· evaluate, monitor and ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, standards and procedures

· assist in the development of the Philadelphia Crime Information Center policies and procedures

· provide classroom training to internal and external law enforcement personnel for certification and recertification in the usage of PCIC and NCIC database systems

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 09/19.)

Option 1:

EDUCATION:

Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Information Science and Technology, Management Information Systems, or a related area.

AND

EXPERIENCE:

Four years of criminal investigative research support experience in the Philadelphia Crime Information Center, including two years of experience at the full performance level.

Option 2:

EDUCATION:

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Four years of experience in a law enforcement emergency communications or operations center.

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

Four years of criminal investigative research support experience in the Philadelphia Crime Information Center, including two years of experience at the full performance level.

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included the specific experience.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Possession of certifications in the use of the Philadelphia Crime Information Center database, the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) database, and the National Crime Information Center database prior to and during tenure of employment in this class.

Class Established:

CSC - 5/08;Ad. Board - 6/08

Latest Spec. Revisions: CSC – 8/19; Ad Board – 9/19