What Do Police Identification Officers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Police Identification Officers collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases. They also maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.

Other tasks include:

• Package, store and retrieve evidence.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
• Testify in court and present evidence.
• Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
• Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.
• Interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.

We asked Police Identification Officers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 72% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Police Identification Officers interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel. They package, store and retrieve evidence.

A typical day for a Police Identification and Records Officer will also include:

• Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
• Identify, compare, classify, and file fingerprints, using systems such as Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) or the Henry Classification System.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
• Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
• Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.

We asked some Police Identification Officers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	65% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	66% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	85% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Police Identification Officers also process film and prints from crime or accident scenes. They may also submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Police Identification Officers Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures. They might also Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.

In addition, they Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.

To some Police Identification Officers, it is also their responsibility to Package, store and retrieve evidence.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Police Identification and Records Officer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm

https://www.bja.gov/

http://www.theiacp.org/

http://www.dhs.gov/