Firearms Examiner

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for conducting forensic examination of firearms and related evidence.

FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

Essential Functions

• Examines firearms to properly identify correct make, type, caliber, and serial number of firearm.
• Examines firearms to see if they function, are defective, or have been modified in any way. Based on examination, determines if the firearm is safe to be fired.
• Test fires firearms to determine if the firearm operates as designed by the manufacturer.
• Examines firearms and creates test shots in attempts to determine if the firearm was used in a specific crime.
• Conducts serial number restorations on defaced firearms, restoring defaced or altered serial numbers.
• Enters test shots and evidence cartridge cases into the NIBIN/IBIS digital imaging system to record and disseminate images, identifying cases where the same firearm was used in different jurisdictions.
• Examines tool marks in attempts to determine what make or type of tool marked the Evidence.
• Examines tools and creates test tool marks in attempts to determine if the tool was used in a specific crime.
• Perform technical reviews of other examiners reports
• Read relevant journal articles in order to keep current in the field and attend relevant meetings and classes.
• Successfully complete multiple internal and external proficiency tests annually.
• Provides forensic services in the field of Firearms Identification to other law enforcement agencies.
• Attend pre-trial conferences and testify in court concerning report results.
• May handle phone calls relating to requests concerning lab processes

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge:

• Bachelor’s Degree with science courses preferred
• Association of Firearm/Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) membership with AFTE Certification preferred.
• Firearms examiner training with at least one year of casework experience (Preferred)

Skills and Abilities:

●     Data Utilization: Requires the ability to process, calculate, compute, summate, and/or tabulate data and/or information. Includes the ability to perform subsequent action in relation to these computational operations.

●     Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance and/or interpretation to co-workers, other city departments, businesses and the public, on how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.

●     Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use: Requires the ability to operate a variety of office equipment such as computer terminal, typewriter, telephone, fax machine, two-way radio, calculator/adding machine, computer printer and photocopier. Some positions may utilize a two-way radio.

●     Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information such as regulations, requests for service, various forms, work orders, permit applications, receipts, account activity records, schedules, directories, maps, correspondence and general operating manuals.

●     Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate decimals and percentage.

●     Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Involves semi-routine standardized work, with some latitude for independent judgment regarding choices of action.

●     Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties that may be subject to frequent change.

●     Environmental Factors: Exposed to odors, chemicals, and other elements with no element continuously present to the extent of being disagreeable

 ●    Physical Requirements: Sedentary work – exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently.  Standing in an upright position for extended periods.  Sitting, talking, hearing, and walking.

●     Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify individual characteristics of colors and shapes to read maps and sounds to communicate with others. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.  Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less with the ability to bring objects into sharp focus.

Working Environment:

●    Normal office environment with attending outside functions when required.

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids: 

●    Personal Computer

●    Telephone

●    Cell Phone

●    Copier/Fax Machine

●    Vehicle

PHYSICAL/VISUAL ACTIVITIES OR DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach, grasp, talk, and hear.

This position requires clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and the ability to bring objects into sharp focus, while reading from a computer screen.

The job has light physical demand (primarily sedentary) requiring the employee to exert negligible force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects in the normal course of routine office activities.

The St. Louis Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The job description does not necessarily contain all of the actual or essential duties of this position.  All job offers are contingent upon passing a medical evaluation/drug screen and criminal background check.

Certain job functions described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.  

"Commonly associated" is not intended to mean always or only. There are different experiences that suggest other ways or circumstances where reasonable changes or accommodations are appropriate.