Job Announcement

Works with the Fairfax County Police Department to provide advanced/specialized crime analysis work to achieve the department’s mission to protect the community by reducing crime. Oversees designated components of countywide statistical and intelligence analysis, as well as the activities of divisional crime analysts in the analysis of specific crime trends and series, under the supervision of the crime analysis program manager. Other duties include:

• Researches and identifies enhancements to the crime analysis function;
• Confers and collaborates with crime analysts at regular meetings, and ensures consistency in the creation of data files and other output documents;
• Conducts needs assessments as necessary to develop training in existing and updated procedures and practices;
• Uses the county's Geographic Information System (GIS) in the analysis of all facets of criminal activity countywide and trains other analysts in the use of the system;
• Acts as a troubleshooter for all matters related to crime analysis;
• Maintains contact with the crime analyst community nationwide by using the Internet and other forums to identify new trends in crime analysis techniques and tools;
• Gathers data and prepares statistical reports related to a variety of departmental activities using Tableau and the Law Enforcement Analytical Data Sharing (I/LEADS) system;
• Serves as backup support during periods of absence within the crime analysis unit;
• Maintains knowledge of both the routine activities at the station and bureau level assignments, and keeps current on any special projects that may be underway;
• Responsible for field training of newly hired crime analysts.

This advertisement is to fill two vacancies which may be underfilled at the level of Crime Analyst I.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Reviews and extracts data from protected law enforcement and correctional records management systems, such as police incidents, arrests, warrants, case management and accidents, mug shots, probation records and jail bookings;
• Reviews and analyzes records and data from commercial and open sources, such as social media, court dockets, offender registries and law enforcement subscription data warehouses;
• Conducts data analysis and open-source research to identify patterns, trends, problems, offenders and potential victims in support of patrol, investigative strategies, case linkage and successful prosecution;
• Uses data and knowledge of police practices and sociopolitical concerns to identify opportunities for proactive policing and to support crime prevention and reduction strategies;
• Prepares comprehensive tactical, strategic and administrative crime and intelligence products that are actionable, defensible and timely;
• Responds to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Clery Act and other public requests for information in accordance with State law and department policy;
• Engages in regular information sharing within the Police Department as well as with other crime analysis and law enforcement partners, regionally and nationally;
• Stays abreast of shifts and developments in criminal modus operandi, analytical and investigative strategies and techniques and legal decisions and updates related to policing;
• Briefs commanders, supervisors, detectives and patrol units on criminal activity, prolific offenders and other impacts on quality-of-life in their assigned area or responsibility, both orally and in writing, and participates in planning and evaluating proactive and reactive enforcement and public education efforts;
• Presents data, research, and findings in a professional, effective and timely fashion to Police Department employees, partners and the public, both orally and in writing.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough knowledge of the standards and methods of statistical analysis and empirical research methodology;
• Thorough knowledge of and competent use of the most current version of Microsoft Office Suite as well as advanced computer applications, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Business Intelligence (BI);
• Knowledge of the theory, standards, methods and technologies of tactical, strategic, intelligence and administrative crime analysis;
• Knowledge of criminological and sociological theories of crime;
• Knowledge of criminal investigations and operational police techniques;
• Ability to acquire and maintain expertise in database structure and Structured Query Language (SQL);
• Ability to acquire and maintain expertise in Police Department records management systems;
• Ability to acquire and maintain a working knowledge of Police Department operations, rules and regulations;
• Ability to acquire and maintain a working knowledge of County, State and Federal laws, regulations, ordinances, court decisions and issues related to policing, and skill in applying this knowledge in conducting analysis;
• Ability to extract meaningful information from multiple types of protected and open data sources, evaluate its integrity and draw sound conclusions;
• Ability to communicate professionally and concisely, orally and in writing, with law enforcement and the public.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with coursework in statistics and/or research methodology; PLUS three years of professional experience conducting statistical analysis and open source research and summarizing sound conclusions in verbal and written formats in a law enforcement or law enforcement-supporting setting.
UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This position may be underfilled as a Crime Analyst I (Grade S22; $54,761.62 - $91, 269.57). The employment standards for the Crime Analyst I: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”) Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university; PLUS one year of professional experience conducting statistical analysis, open source research and summarizing sound conclusions in verbal and written formats in a law enforcement or law enforcement-supporting setting.

Applicants hired at the Crime Analyst I will be non-competitively promoted to the Crime Analyst II level upon successful completion of an underfill agreement.

Note: Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Crime Analyst II within two years of the job announcement's closing date by June 3, 2022.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience mining open-source data;
• Prior experience performing analytical work with demonstrated proficiency in advance methods of analysis in a public safety or related environment;
• Prior experience using Advanced GIS/mapping, geographical, profiling, link analysis, intelligence analysis or similar analysis;

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Driver's License (Required)
• Certified Field Training Instructor in the field of Crime Analysis (VA DCJS) (Required within 12 months)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.

The appointee to this position must submit to a criminal background check, credit check, driving record check and polygraph exam to the satisfaction of the employer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor. Incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment.
Must communicate with others. Employee may require to lift up to 15 lbs. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview; may include exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314.