This Police Detective is responsible for investigating reported and suspected criminal activity. The Police Detective ensures the protection of the general public and furthers judicial processes.

• Obtains search warrants: establishes probable cause, requests warrants, and communicates with other officers and/or agencies.
• Investigates and processes crime scenes and related law enforcement problems; photographs crime scenes, searches crime scenes for evidence, checks for latent fingerprints, and collects and preserves any physical evidence present; serves as evidence custodian and transports evidence to crime lab.
• Maintains security of crime scenes; removes suspects from the scene; interviews and interrogates witnesses and suspects to gather information regarding incidents; obtains statements; fingerprints suspects; follows up leads to cases; apprehends suspects and violators of the law.
• Investigates assigned cases: gathers information, assists with the determination of the point at which cases are ready for prosecution, and appears in local, state, and federal courts to provide testimony regarding cases investigated.
• Writes up narratives from information gathered from witnesses.
• Prepares a variety of records and reports, including supplemental investigation, background investigation, internal investigation, and statistical reports; maintains case files; reviews case files for potential leads and solvability factors.
• Provides case information to prosecutors, attorneys, other law enforcement officers, and outside agencies as requested.
• Performs internal investigations as required.
• Maintains contacts with community members who may be able to provide information regarding criminal activities; seeks and develops sources of information.
• Makes campus safety presentations to local school and civic groups and organizations.
• Testifies in and appears at judicial proceedings.
• Participates in department training programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• May perform patrol duties such as answering calls, investigating traffic accidents, patrolling the university to deter crimes and traffic violations, handling domestic disputes, and other misdemeanor and felony calls.
• May be assigned to investigate financial, juvenile, vice, homicide, drug, auto theft, property, robbery, assault, gang-related, and other crimes.

Direct Reports:

• None

Delegation of Work:

• N/A

Supervision Given:

• N/A

Required Education:

• High School diploma or GED required

Required Experience:

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience as a patrol officer while not on probation
• All Police Officer III requirements
• Must obtain at a minimum a "Meets Expectations" rating on all Police Officer competencies at the annual performance appraisal for the preceding four (4) years

License/Certification:

• TCOLE Intermediate Certificate
• Texas drivers license

• Associates Degree preferred

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, criminal and traffic laws, city ordinances, and department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the geography and streets of the city.
• Knowledge of criminal investigation methods, and search and seizure laws.
• Knowledge of current drug and gang trends.
• Knowledge of the judicial process and criminal court procedures.
• Knowledge of controlled substances and relevant laws and regulations.

Skills:

• Skill in crime scene processing methods used to collect and preserve evidence for court admissibility.
• Skill in the use of photographic and surveillance equipment, audiovisual equipment, communications equipment, and various types of emergency equipment.
• Skill in operating a computer and standard office equipment.
• Skill in using firearms and self-defense techniques.
• Skill in observing and interpreting human behavior.
• Skill in interview and interrogation techniques.
• Skill in identifying and classifying drugs.
• Skill in gathering, processing, recording, and filing evidence.
• Skill in organizing and analyzing evidence.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Abilities:

• Ability to meet current requirements set forth by the Commission on Law Enforcement for the State of Texas (TCOLE).

Primary Work Location:

• The work is typically performed in an office and outdoors.
• The employee may be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, machinery with moving parts, and cold or inclement weather.
• The work may require the use of protective devices.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, run, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above.
• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell.
• The employee may occasionally be required to physically subdue combative subjects and must maintain a level of physical ability accordingly.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

 

The policy of the University of Houston-System and its universities is to ensure equal opportunity in all its educational programs and activities, and all terms and conditions of employment without regard to age, race, color, disability, religion, national origin, ethnicity, military status, genetic information, sex (including gender and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or status, or gender expression, except where such a distinction is required by law.