Forensic Identification Examiner - Firearms And Tool Mark Examiner - Non-Merit

Regular Schedule: 20 hours per week

Non-Merit vacancies exist in the Police Department, Forensics Services Section.

Non-Merit positions are not classified within the Baltimore County Government Classification and Compensation Plan.

A list of eligible applicants will be established based on the examination as outlined below.

Current and future vacancies occurring in any Office or Department of Baltimore County General Government may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

All interested candidates must apply at this time.

List all promotions and changes in job duties due to reclassification as separate work experience on your application. Applicants must include the dates of the promotions and reclassifications.

Note: Failure to complete all fields of the "Work Experience" section of the application will result in your application not being considered. A resume will not be considered in determining your qualifications for a position. Applicants selected for an interview may provide a resume at that time.

You MUST attach your transcript(s) or license(s) to your application.

Failure to submit proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Under general supervision, conducts forensic examinations and analysis of firearms, ammunition, and related physical evidence pertaining to law enforcement investigations. Serves as a court qualified expert witness in the field of firearms and tool mark examination.

• Formulates and presents conclusions based on test results.
• Compares firearms and fired ammunition.
• Identifies any unique markings present on these such as striations, scratches, breech marks, firing pin impressions, extractor marks, and ejector marks.
• Preserves and labels evidence.
• Determines if altered weapons are in violation of Federal Law.
• Examines fired bullets, cartridges and cartridge cases.
• Determines if the standards and evidentiary materials came from the same firearm.
• Tests garments for gunshot residues and patterns.
• Examines tools and suspected tool marks.
• Utilizes a national database (NIBIN) to associate firearms and/or fired cartridge case evidence to other criminal incidents by conducting digital microscopic comparison examinations.
• Examines firearms, identifying and documenting their condition, defects, and characteristics.
• Physically and chemically examines evidence.
• Collects and transports evidence from field sites.
• Identifies bullet entrance and exit holes in clothing and other materials.
• Prepares detailed, technical reports.
• Uses a comparison microscope to compare standards with evidentiary materials.
• Accesses databases to search for and retrieve information.
• Obtains standards from firearms in question.
• Determines the distance and angle traveled of fired bullets.
• Identifies the caliber and manufacturer of ammunition and components.
• Examines, identifies, and analyzes firearms and related physical evidence including bullets, cartridge cases, shot shells, wadding, and live ammunition.
• Prepares and maintains records and case files.
• Identifies fired bullets, cartridge cases and other ammunition components as having been fired from a specific firearm.
• Test fires firearms and recovers representative samples.
• Makes test markings and performs microscopic comparison examinations on tool marks to determine if a specific tool was used in an incident.
• Restores serial numbers on weapons.
• Enters test fire and evidence images into regional and local databases.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

plus

Two years' experience in the forensic examination and analysis of firearms, ammunition, and related physical evidence.

Experience in the field of firearms, the processing or examination of forensic evidence, or the laboratory testing of materials, may be substituted on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four years for the required education.

Must have successfully completed training in the field of Firearms and Tool Mark Identification and acquired authorization to conduct independent comparison examinations in an accredited forensic laboratory.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of the principles and practices of firearms and tool mark examination. Knowledge of firearms and ammunition. Knowledge of the principles and practices of forensic science. Knowledge of forensic laboratory operations. Knowledge of the principles and practices of law enforcement.

Skill in examining, identifying, and analyzing firearms, ammunition, their components and related materials. Skill in handling, loading, and firing firearms. Skill in identifying fired bullets, cartridges cases, and other ammunition components as having been fired from a specific weapon. Skill in collecting, processing, labeling, and storing evidence. Skill in preparing and presenting reports. Skill in maintaining records.

Proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education
Applicants are required to submit proof of licenses, certifications and education beyond high school to meet the required and preferred qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcripts must show the applicant's major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Failure to submit proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Proof of Degree Equivalency
Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States of America are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from World Education Services, Inc. (www.WES.org)

Mail or deliver documents to:
ATTN: Forensic Identification Examiner - Firearms and Tool Mark Examiner - Non-Merit
Office of Human Resources
Baltimore County Government
308 Allegheny Ave.
Towson, MD 21204

You MUST attach your transcript(s) or license(s) to your application.

Applicants will be qualified based on an evaluation of their training and experience, as stated on their application, which includes answers to the supplemental questions. Applicants must state the dates and duties of past and present experience clearly and completely for evaluation purposes.

Employees hired after July 1, 2022 are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System, with very limited exceptions.

Physical and Environmental Conditions
The work of this classification entails the operation of laboratory instruments and equipment, and the handling of firearms and ammunition.

On appointment to this classification, an employee must provide a DNA sample to be maintained for quality assurance purposes by way of buccal swab of the inside of the employee's mouth or current standardized collection procedure to be performed by qualified police department personnel. Provision of the DNA sample is a condition of employment and shall only be used for law enforcement purposes as a forensic laboratory or for purposes of human remains identification and request, but only to the extent that the genetic information is used for analysis of DNA identification markers for quality control to detect sample contamination. It shall be maintained and disclosed only in a manner consistent with law, separate from the employee's personnel file as a confidential medical record, and will not be used for any other purpose. See 75 Fed. Reg. 68912, 68936 (November 9, 2010), 42 U.S.C. 2000ff-1(b)(6), 29 CFR 1635.8(b)(6), as amended. Provision of the DNA sample is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably
necessary to the normal operation of the police department. Failure to provide the DNA sample would prevent performance of an essential job function. Employees in this classification are subject to call to duty in emergencies, and may be required to work overtime as needed.

Medical Examination and Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination, drug screening and employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education certification and fingerprinting checks.

Employment Benefits for Non-Merit or Non-Classified, Part-Time Employees

Baltimore County General Government offers the following benefits to part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees. New employees are eligible for benefits upon hire, unless noted otherwise.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Baltimore County is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minority, female and disabled applicants.

Smoke free workplace
All Baltimore County offices are smoke free.

Drug free workplace
Baltimore County provides a drug free workplace. Prospective employees are required to submit to urinalysis drug testing as part of the pre-employment physical examination.

Employee Assistance Program
Our Employee Assistance Program provides confidential and professional assessment and referral assistance for employees and eligible dependents in the household who are experiencing personal problems that may be affecting work performance, job satisfaction, or overall quality of life.

Health Insurance
In order to qualify for health insurance benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance), part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Health Insurance benefits elected become effective the first day of the month following the date of hire if the employee has completed online enrollment prior to that date. New employees must enroll within thirty (30) calendar days of hire. Plans offered include:

Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision insurance.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Opportunity to set aside pre-tax dollars, through payroll deduction, for eligible unreimbursed medical care expenses and/or dependent care costs.

Life Insurance
In order to qualify for life insurance benefits, part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Employees may elect basic term life insurance for themselves equal to one time the employee's annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000. Employees contribute a portion of the premium through monthly payroll deductions. The County also offers an Additional/Employee paid Life Insurance plan with coverage up to $100,000.

Retirement
Employees are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System, with very limited exceptions.

Paid Leave
Sick Leave - Monthly sick leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. No maximum on accrual. Accrued balance can be applied toward service credit at retirement.

Vacation Leave - Monthly vacation leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. Earnings increase after five, ten and fifteen years of service generally.

Holidays - Part-time 30 to 39 hour non-merit or non-classified employees will generally be paid for ten holidays per calendar year. Other part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees working 29 hours per week or less will receive two paid holidays per calendar year. These holidays are the Christmas holiday and the Independence Day holiday.

Bereavement Leave
Jury Leave
Military Leave

Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union
Membership in Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union offers a full range of savings programs, loans, checking, direct deposit, payroll deduction, savings bonds, and other financial services.

Direct Deposit
Payroll through direct deposit to the financial institution selected by employee is required.

Deferred Compensation
Nationwide Retirement Solutions offers a 457 retirement plan allowing for payroll contributions of tax deferred dollars to investment options of your choice.