State of Maryland

A Maryland State Police (MSP) Crime Scene Section Manager is first of three managerial levels of work in the crime scene analysis of criminal evidence in the Forensic Sciences Division of the Maryland State Police (MSP).  Employees in this classification supervise MSP Crime Scene Section Supervisors.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the MSP Assistant Commander, Forensic Sciences or other designated administrator.  Work may be performed in a laboratory setting or at crime scenes located throughout the State.  Employees in this classification are not overtime eligible.  Employees are subject to call in on a 24-hour basis.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The MSP Crime Scene Section Manager is differentiated from the MSP Crime Scene Section Supervisor in that the MSP Crime Scene Section Manager has supervisory responsibility for MSP Crime Scene Section Supervisors while the MSP Crime Scene Section Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level MSP Crime Scene Section personnel.  The MSP Crime Scene Section Manager is differentiated from the MSP Assistant Commander, in that the MSP Assistant Commander, directly assists the MSP Forensic Sciences Division Director in the overall operation of the crime laboratory and has supervisory responsibility for MSP Forensic Sciences Division Operational Services Branch personnel.

Manages the operation of a section which consists of four sub-disciplines (Crime Scene Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Crime Scene Bullet Trajectory Analysis, Crime Scene Footwear Impressions Classification Analysis and Crime Scene Tire Track Impressions Classification Analysis), and these forensic sub-disciplines perform these analyses in different laboratory locations;

Supervises, schedules, assigns and evaluates the work of MSP Crime Scene Section Supervisors;

Manages the enforcement of applicable standards and regulatory requirements for the crime lab;

Reviews logs, quality assurance and quality control problems and recommends solutions;

Prepares or oversees the preparation of standard operating procedures;

Performs specialized technical work in the authentication of criminal evidence;

Assists staff in solving technical problems related to scientific and comparative analyses;

Attends and successfully completes all required competency and certification;

Reviews professional journals and publications and attends seminars, workshops and professional meetings to keep abreast of current trends, research and technological developments;

May prepare scientific reports to document evidence examined, laboratory and comparative analysis methods used and conclusions reached;

May testify in court as an expert witness about the chain of custody, design and results of tests conducted and the conclusions reached;

May design and prepare exhibits of tested physical evidence to be used in court presentations;

May participate in crime scene investigations to gather physical evidence for scientific testing and fact finding;

Performs other related duties.

Specific educational and experience requirements are set by MSP based on the essential job functions assigned to the position.

1. In accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 2-204 (b) (6) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an initial drug screening, a physical examination, submission of a DNA sample, and a complete criminal background investigation, to include a polygraph examination before permanent appointment can be made.  A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, are required to provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to random substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulation 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Management Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Management Service positions.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.