About Our Job

Application Deadline:

This position is expected to stay open until Monday, November 23rd, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Monday, November 23rd at 5:00PM.

The Denver Crime Laboratory is dedicated to supporting the Denver Police Department's Major Crimes Division in solving crime. The Forensics and Evidence Division employs highly trained professionals who assist in criminal investigations and contribute to making Denver a safer place to live.

The Denver Police Crime Scene Unit investigates criminal cases ranging from property crimes to crimes against persons throughout the City and County of Denver. Each year, the unit responds to more than 4,000 crime scenes.

The City and County of Denver is seeking a Criminalist Supervisor to join the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory. This position is the fourth level in the Criminalist classification series and performs professional and supervisory work overseeing a team of Criminalists. The Criminalist Supervisor provides leadership and direction, establishes and evaluates performance standards, and develops short- and long-term goals and objectives for the assigned area in alignment with departmental plans and priorities.

The position requires availability to work days, nights, weekends, callouts, callbacks, and standby assignments. Work schedules are determined by seniority within the position and/or the appointing authority.

This is a seniority-based night-shift position. The incumbent must be available to work weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments.

Job Responsibilities

• Direct and review the casework of Criminalists responsible for identifying, collecting, preserving, and packaging biological, friction ridge, impression, and other physical evidence in accordance with established standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Oversee crime scene documentation using forensic techniques and technologies, including digital photography, digital videography, laser scanning, and diagramming software.
• Author and review technical departmental reports.
• Ensure proper chain of custody and appropriate evidence packaging to preserve evidence integrity and prevent contamination.
• Provide courtroom testimony regarding crime scene processing and evidence handling.
• Review, develop, and modify work plans, methods, and procedures; establish work priorities; and develop schedules to ensure adequate staffing and operational coverage.
• Provide work instructions and assist employees with difficult or unusual assignments while encouraging innovation and professional development.
• Assign and distribute work, review assignments for accuracy and completeness, and provide recommendations for appropriate completion.
• Conduct hiring interviews and select candidates for available positions.
• Resolve operational issues and mediate conflicts by identifying appropriate solutions and promoting teamwork.
• Encourage regular communication and keep staff informed of relevant organizational issues and their impact on operations.
• Develop performance enhancement plans, document employee performance, provide feedback, and conduct formal performance evaluations.
• Develop and implement training and professional development plans and opportunities for subordinate staff.
• Ensure the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of unit activities, including compliance with applicable safety measures.
• Document the causes for disciplinary action, initiate letters of reprimand, and make formal recommendations regarding disciplinary matters.
• Respond to formal and informal employee grievances and prepare written responses.
• By position, participate in budget planning and management; prepare and present budget recommendations to higher management; operate within established budget parameters; and adjust work plans and activities in response to budget changes.

About You

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Technical expertise: Demonstrated experience and technical competence in processing a variety of crime scenes, including property crimes, crimes against persons, and major crimes. Experience should include advanced crime scene analysis techniques such as chemical processing, shooting reconstruction, scene diagramming, and bloodstain pattern analysis.
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills: The ability to collaborate effectively with customers, peers, and employees while fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Commitment to quality: A dedication to producing high-quality work products and encouraging team members to maintain the same standards.
• Problem-solving abilities: The ability to apply sound reasoning, identify alternative solutions to complex problems, and make logical, well-informed decisions.
• Supervisory experience: Demonstrated managerial experience supervising two or more direct reports.
• Respect for the chain of command: An understanding of and commitment to supporting established organizational structures and reporting relationships.
• Leadership and communication: The ability to receive and follow direction while providing clear, consistent direction to others, including when communicating difficult or unpopular decisions.
• Operational flexibility: The ability to work days, nights, weekends, and holidays as determined by the appointing authority.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates selected to advance in the hiring process must successfully complete a polygraph examination, drug test, medical evaluation, and criminal background check as conditions of employment.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience Requirement: Must possess at least five (5) years of experience as a Criminalist II (or higher) or have at least three (3) years of leadership experience.
• Education and Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be sutstituted for each required year of post high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License and Certification Requirements:
  • A valid driver's license is required at the time of application.
  • Ability to obtain IAI Certified Crime Scene Analyst certification within two years of employment.
  • It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.
  • Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

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The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

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