Criminalist III, Forensic Breath Alcohol and Controlled Substances Supervisor - SFPD (8262)

Company Description

The San Francisco Police Department was established in 1849 and continually strives to become a more effective, inclusive and modern police department, while earning the trust and pride of those we serve and those who serve.  Our goal is to reflect on current SFPD initiatives, assess best practices across the country, and evaluate the changing environment in policing and within the City to arrive at a strategy statement that the Department and our community can embody every day.

The San Francisco Police Department stands for Safety and Respect for All. We will engage in just transparent unbiased and responsive policing. We will do so in the spirit of dignity and in collaboration with the community. And we will maintain and build trust and respect as the guardians of Constitutional and human rights.

The San Francisco Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and is dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our City. The department provides service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision. The department has grown into a nationally known police department providing law enforcement services to one of the most recognized cities in the United States.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: November 14, 2025
• Application Deadline: Apply immediately, announcement may close anytime after 2 weeks from posting date.
• Class & Compensation: $173,238 - $210,574
• Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt - This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months.
• Work Location: 1995 Evans Ave, San Francisco, CA 

Job Description

Under direction, the Criminalist III supervises, trains and evaluates criminalists engaged in the scientific examination and evaluation of physical evidence associated with controlled substances in criminal investigations, gunshot residue analysis and directs and supports the forensic breath alcohol program, establishes and maintains operating procedures, serves as a technical expert and must also be able to provide impairment testimony. The San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory is divided into three areas: General Criminalistics (chemical analysis; including forensic breath alcohol program), Firearms / Impression Evidence and Trace Evidence, and Forensic Biology (DNA).

Essential Duties:

• Develops and updates written procedures for evidence analysis, data interpretation, case note composition, and maintenance.
• Reviews requests for laboratory services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.
• Monitors the forensic breath alcohol program by downloading breath test results and maintaining the accuracy and calibration records.
• Identifies controlled substances such as cocaine, heroin, and pharmaceuticals through chemical analysis.
• Conducts administrative and technical reviews of all case files and reports.
• Coach, review, and correct the work of subordinate staff; measure the performance of subordinate staff and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Establishes and implements a documented program to ensure that instruments and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.
• Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.
• Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence.
• Confers with Investigators and District Attorneys to discuss case priorities.
• Attends professional meetings to maintain communication with other agencies, and to keep abreast of innovations that may be useful to the Unit.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities, as assigned

Qualifications

1. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related physical science field. Course work must include 8 semester units of chemistry with lab, 8 semester units of organic chemistry with lab, and 4 semester units of quantitative analysis with lab.; AND

2. Experience: Four years (4) of full-time professional experience working in a laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City's 8260 Criminalist II); AND