Crime Analyst - I

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To analyze crime and intelligence data and conduct research; to monitor and identify trends or patterns in criminal activity within the County and disseminate this information to management; to develop and maintain intelligence databases; to perform complex data mining and data analysis.

This is the entry-level class in the Crime Analyst series.  This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision progressing to general supervision while learning job tasks.

The Crime Analyst class is distinguished from the Senior Crime Analyst in that the latter is assigned the most complex, difficult, and sensitive crime analysis projects and exercises direct supervision over professional staff.

Incumbents work initially under immediate supervision from an assigned supervisor while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as the procedures and processes of the assigned areas of responsibilities are learned. Incumbents may exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and/or clerical staff as needed.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collect, research, and analyze a variety of law enforcement, crime, and intelligence data using qualitative and quantitative methods; identify and interpret criminal activity, patterns, relationships, profiles, and trends.
• Monitor and identify trends in criminal activity; conduct complex data mining with multiple intelligence databases to assist with case development for investigations.
• Extract and analyze data and records and identify relevant information; prepare a variety of predictive and descriptive technical reports regarding crime patterns, individuals, associations, flow, operations, and threats based on distillation and synthesis of all available information.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; supervise, assign, and review the work of clerical and technical staff.
• Coordinate with sworn and non-sworn staff, staff from other agencies or jurisdictions, and others to identify requirements for intelligence/crime analysis products; maintain liaison with other jurisdictions and agencies.
• Review and analyze current/proposed legislation and advise management on the impact or potential impact; assist in analysis of federal and state statutes, codes, and regulations; develop required responses and/or proposals for various state departments and various statewide associations applicable to assigned work unit or department.
• Develop or assist in the development of statistical tracking systems, intelligence databases and management reports for identification of trends as identified; develop detailed maps using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and analyses of spatially-referenced data, including crime reports, calls for service, parolees, sex or arson registrants, complaints, and other relevant data.
• Create charts, association matrices, link analyses, crime calendars, graphs, and exhibits to assist in investigations, tactical operations, and prosecution.
• Conduct briefings and/or presentations of crime and intelligence information for employees and outside agency staff; prepare a variety of bulletins and other time sensitive informational materials for dissemination of information. 
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for administrative functions; assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Design and recommend systems, procedures, forms, and instructions for internal use; apply conventional and computer-based modeling, logic and hypothesis testing algorithms and statistical analyses; prepare complex analytical and statistical reports.
• Evaluate investigative computer software tools and make recommendations for system enhancements; provide technical assistance on the functionality of job specific information systems; plan, collect, and analyze open-source information from the internet while staying attentive to new local media sources and trends.
• Prepare correspondence and reports; establish and maintain a variety of files, records, and statistics, including case files, activity logs, unit statistics, and crime data; ensure documentation, retention, and destruction of crime data complies with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Produce and disseminate time-sensitive law enforcement bulletins, hot sheets, and other law enforcement related documents.
• May represent the work unit as required; may testify in court.
• Conduct special projects and staff training related to crime analysis and related computer system applications.
• Assist with research, analysis, and feedback on log-term projects such as beat redistribution studies, call volume, and statistical reports.
• Provide tactical and real-time intelligence for in-progress incidents and active cases.
• Perform related duties as required.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One (1) year of increasingly responsible work experience conducting detailed analysis on information or data collected which requires the preparation and submission of findings, projections, or conclusions with recommendations. Experience working with crime or intelligence related data is preferred.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in criminal justice, crime analysis, law enforcement/public safety, public administration, intelligence studies, homeland security, statistics and research methodology, computer science, geographic information systems, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a Crime and Intelligence Analysis certification or equivalent comparable certification within one year of appointment.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Note: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of law enforcement administration, organization, programs and functions
• Principles of criminology
• Statistical and logic methods and analysis used to solve crime problems and the use of statistics in reports
• Report preparation and presentation
• Research methods, tools, and techniques used to develop and present information
• Computer systems and software, including word processing, spreadsheet, logic/hypothesis testing, charting, and graphing, and database applications and software
• Office procedures, methods, and computer equipment
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; maintain awareness of safety; analyze work papers, reports, special projects, and relevant data; recall accounts given by witnesses; understand, interpret, recall, and explain rules, policies and procedures; explain and enforce evidentiary and other law enforcement procedures; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; collect, evaluate, analyze, and interpret complex information and data; identify and interpret information from a variety of sources; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time. Walk, stand, bend, twist, squat, and reach to access equipment and files in the office and field; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate; see with sufficient acuity to read characters and decipher colors on a computer screen and in the field; see, hear, and speak with sufficient acuity to examine, assess, and communicate in the field; lift light weight.
• Analyze problems quickly and objectively; determine proper course of action, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Perform moderately complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately.
• Determine effective method of research; compile data and present in a form most likely to enhance understanding
• Use a variety of computer software applications including but not limited to mapping, graphing, charting, databases, and spreadsheets, design forms and draft procedures for approval.
• Obtain information through interview; handle multiple assignments; deal firmly and courteously with County staff and the public
• Maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Provide tactical intelligence for in-progress incidents; provide real-time investigative support for active cases.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, 

at payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.