CRIME ANALYST

DEFINITION OF CLASS:
This is a key position in a law enforcement function that involves systematic analysis of information for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in crime and disorder. Information on patterns can help law enforcement agencies deploy resources in a more effective manner, and assist detectives in identifying and apprehending suspects. Crime analysis also plays a role in devising solutions to crime problems, and formulating crime prevention strategies. Information gathered through social service agencies provides data for analysis and can be utilized as part of the crime management and reduction process. Data gathered through such agencies provided through qualitative methods such as examining police report narratives also play a role in crime analysis and reduction. Personal contacts include respective Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies at the state, federal and local level; including juvenile detention facilities, jails and prisons. Other contacts include social service agencies, hospitals and schools, including community services and outreach activities. The purpose of these contacts is to gather information for use in police services and to provide subject matter expertise, advice, and recommendations to reduce crime. This information is also used to assist law enforcement in more effective use of resources. This class of work may entail some public service/assistance, but it is incidental to the primary focus of the work performed.
The employee's in this class are responsible for studying crime reports, arrest reports, and police calls for service to identify emerging patterns, series, and trends of violations of law and criminal activity. They analyze these phenomena for all relevant factors and sometimes predict or forecast future occurrences, and issue bulletins, reports, and alerts to their agencies. They work with their police agency to develop effective strategies and tactics to address crime and disorder. The employee has full technical responsibility for the work and proceeds independently to plan and carry out the work, collaborating with internal and/or external stakeholders, as appropriate. Work results are reviewed in terms of effectiveness in meeting objectives. Guidelines are available but do not apply completely or cover new or unusual situations. The employee must use judgment in interpreting and applying guidelines to situations. Guides governing the work include established accepted principles and methods of police work and investigative techniques. Examples of guidelines used in Crime Analysis work include: agency regulations, legislation and requirements covering program operations, governing policies and procedures of the agency, established investigation and examination procedures, federal, state and county laws; computer system applications and processes related to police work. The employee may recommend new methods of accomplishing work objectives. Job complexity derives from planning, organizing, and coordinating the administrative aspects of managing the criminal analysis process, data development, storage and retrieval. The work consist of analyzing crime reports, arrests reports, and police calls for service to identify emerging patterns, series, and trends as quickly as possible. From this information they prepare statistics, data queries, or maps on demand; analyzing beat and shift configurations; preparing information for community or court presentation. The scope and effect of the work are substantial in that they involve administrative responsibility for information used in suppressing crime in areas such as auto theft, working with Detectives and all criminal activity including gang violence and illegal drug activity. The results of this work affect the safety and confidence of citizens in the county. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a typical office setting, and presents no significant hazards.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)
Monitor police activity, Community organization complaints, crisis centers reports, Health and Human Services citizens legal rights violations, periodic crime sprees, etc., and build an automated data base for use in planning, information retrieval and reporting, and other police business.
Evaluates data bases to track crimes such as murders, rapes, robbery, drug and gang activity, sexual assaults, etc.
Evaluate and review information obtained and develop ways and means to deploy this information to Detectives, Police and others involved in police work to aid in process improvements.
Create statistical reports for use at periodic and daily briefing to display the level of criminal activity and abatement efforts, success and failures.
Collect, analyzes and integrates complex information to develop options or logical conclusions for difficult issues.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience: Thorough (3) years of experience in a police, investigation or directly related field to the assignment.
Education: Satisfactory completion of (2) years of college; an A.A. degree or equivalent
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted. Some work in directly related fields meets the equivalency requirements.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge County, State, and Federal laws, regulations, court decisions, and issues related to police work and skill in applying this knowledge to a variety of complex criminal analysis cases.
Considerable knowledge of and skill in applying methods and techniques of fact finding, interview techniques, analysis, and resolution of complex problems.
Thorough knowledge of and proficiency in the use of information technology tools applicable to the field of financial management, e.g., Microsoft Excel, Oracle, Crystal Reports.
Skill in oral and written communication to exchange and/or present highly technical information to high level managers and administrators.
Ability to prepare and/or interpret reports, analyses, and statements and laws, regulations, policies, and procedures associated with police work.
Ability to develop and recommend improvements in procedures from data studies and lessons learned.
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Individuals appointed or promoted to a bargaining unit position class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Individuals appointed to a non-bargaining unit position in this class will be required to serve a probationary period of twelve months, or if promoted to a non-bargaining unit position, will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Performance will be carefully evaluated during the probationary period. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History with Alcohol/Drug Screen

Class Established: October 2010