Staff Investigator

POSITION SUMMARYThe Staff Investigator for the Citizens Police Oversight Commission will assess and investigate alleged and potential misconduct by officers of the Philadelphia Police Department. The Staff Investigator will initiate independent investigations into individual instances of misconduct, monitor ongoing investigations by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, monitor and investigate police shootings, aid in CPOC’s participation in the Philadelphia Police Department’s Use of Force Review Board, and investigate systemic patterns related to departmental practices. Because the Staff Investigator position is responsible for being on-call to respond to police shootings, and because many interviews and other investigative activity will occur outside typical business hours, the Staff Investigator must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as required. The Staff Investigator may also undertake large-scale investigative projects originating from civilian complaints, officer-involved shooting incidents, media reports, sources within the police department, or any other source.  Investigations may overlap with projects completed by other divisions, so the Staff Investigator must be knowledgeable and competent in all CPOC operations. This position reports to the Director of Investigations.CPOC has postings for both Staff Investigator and Senior Investigator positions. Please review the qualifications for each position and apply for the role that best fits your qualifications and experience. Senior Staff Investigator Job Description can be found HERE. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSNote: This list of essential functions is not intended to be exhaustive.Conduct interviews of complainants and civilian witnesses about police incidents that are the subject of civilian complaints against police, and other matters.  Gather evidence through canvassing for witnesses, seeking out video footage, and other means.Obtain and review documentary evidence related to incidents under investigation, including medical records, reports related to forensic analysis, and other police reports and documents.Interview police personnel as subjects and witnesses of complaints with union representation present; interview police personnel related to other administrative matters and to establish facts for investigative projects.Draft and edit reports of investigation, interview summaries, recommendations, and other materials related to investigations.Analyze facts of investigations against police policies and legal standards to make logically sound recommendations about whether misconduct occurred.Conduct complaint intake for new complaints in a sensitive manner and make referrals to outside agencies as needed.Identify and report on policy and tactics issues and potential large-scale policy projects as they arise in investigative work. Maintain a working knowledge of police department policies, rules, and practices.Act as project lead for critical incident reviews of uses of force, large-scale events, and other matters as directed by Director of Investigations.Maintain a thorough and organized record of investigative actions for each assigned investigative project.Seek out and participate in professional groups and trainings to maintain awareness of best practices related to community-police relations, civilian oversight of police, and police reform nationally.Other responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Investigations. COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESCPOC Core Competencies:Communicates with residents, vendors, and other departments with empathy and politeness.Independently manages workflows and tasks; proactively identifies potential issues and comes up with solutions.Always comports oneself in a professional manner, whether in the office or off-site.Effectively collaborates with colleagues within and across office divisions as well as external stakeholders.Consistently fosters CPOC's values and mission, displaying a strong commitment to advancing police oversight in Philadelphia.Knowledge of:The techniques, principles, and methods for conducting investigations of alleged misconduct.Policies, procedures, and practices of the Philadelphia Police Department.CPOC’s role in overseeing the Philadelphia Police Department.The laws and legal doctrines relevant to police activity, including but not limited to uses of force, searches and seizures, and proceedings in criminal court.Skills and Abilities:Excellent verbal communication and listening skills with the ability to conduct comprehensive interviews and ask probing questions.Strong analytical writing and editing skills. Must be able to distill complex information.Deep understanding of, and experience with, the complex nature of community-police relations. Ability to independently manage an investigation from start to finish with focus, organization, persistence, and flexibility.Ability to effectively conduct a caseload of multiple investigations concurrently.Demonstrated ability to perform neutral and objective analyses of incidents, policies, and information.Experience and fluency in MS Office software programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required, including a willingness to be “on-call” to respond to police shootings.