The Criminal Investigator is responsible for conducting thorough professional investigations into felony and misdemeanor offenses occurring within the Savannah Police Department's jurisdiction. This position requires advanced investigative skills, the ability to analyze complex criminal cases, and the capacity to work collaboratively with patrol officers, specialized units, prosecutors, and external law enforcement agencies. Investigators are expected to identify suspects, gather and preserve evidence, prepare cases for prosecution, and ensure that investigations are conducted in accordance with department policies, state law, and constitutional standards.

We offer great pay, excellent benefits to include medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, employee/spouse/child supplemental life insurance, short-term disability, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, deferred compensation plan (457 B), pension plan, flexible spending account, home purchase assistance and 12 paid holidays!

Lateral Officer $61,989 to $66,755

*Based on years of experience

Lateral Entry Bonus Schedule

$1,500 @ time of hire

$1,500 @ after Patrol Officer Training phase (time based on prior experience)

$2,500 @ 1st year anniversary

$4,500 @2nd year anniversary

Retention Bonus

For Police Officers Reaching Their 3rd Year Anniversary Date on or after January 1, 2023: Qualified Officers must:

have three (3) or more consecutive years of service from their most recent hire date

be at the Rank of Police Officer

sign and submit a Two-Year Commitment Agreement

1. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives

a. $4000 {gross) at 3rd year anniversary date - 1st incentive payment

b. $2500 (gross) at 4th year anniversary date - 2nd incentive payment

2. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives

c. $2500 {gross) at 5th year anniversary date - 3rd incentive payment

d. $2500 (gross) at 6th year anniversary date - 4th incentive payment

Conduct independent and collaborative investigations into crimes such as robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, homicide, narcotics violations, financial crimes, and other major offenses.
Respond to crime scenes and coordinate investigative activities, including evidence collection, witness identification, and suspect interviews.
Conduct detailed interviews and interrogations of victims, witnesses, and suspects.
Prepare and execute search warrants and arrest warrants in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
Collect, document, and preserve physical and digital evidence while maintaining proper chain-of-custody procedures.
Utilize investigative databases, intelligence systems, and analytical tools to identify suspects and develop leads.
Prepare comprehensive investigative reports, affidavits, and case files for prosecution.
Work closely with the Chatham County District Attorney's Office to ensure cases are properly prepared for court proceedings.
Respond to crime scenes and callouts.
Testify in state and federal court as required.
Coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, including state and federal partners, when investigations across jurisdictions.
Participate in task forces or specialized investigative initiatives when assigned.
Maintain regular communication with supervisors regarding case status and investigative progress.
Assist patrol officers with investigative follow-up and provide guidance on evidence collection and case development.
Conduct rollcall training with Patrol.
Trains and studies with police equipment and other training personnel to develop and maintain competency and proficiency.
Assists in patrolling assigned areas of responsibility to prevent and reduce criminal activity.
Preparing incidents and arrest reports.
Enforcing traffic laws; conducts vehicle stops, investigates traffic accidents, issue citations.
Operates miscellaneous equipment including emergency vehicles, radar, breath alcohol analyzers, and other issued equipment.

Assist in processing of evidence and the preparation of court cases, may provide legal testimony as required.
Writes and files daily activity report with superior officer.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Performs Shift Work

High school diploma or GED is required.
Valid driver's license.
Applicant must be 21 years of age by the date of hire.
Must be a citizen of the United States or a repatriated or naturalized citizen of the United States.
Minimum three (3) years of sworn law enforcement experience as a Criminal Investigator
Three (3) years' experience or comparable experience or training.
Current Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification or the ability to obtain Georgia POST certification within the required timeframe. Out-of-State Certified Officers, Federal Police Officers, Military Police Officers, and Department of Defense Uniformed Police, may complete Equivalency of Training (EOT) via Georgia P.O.S.T. More information is available on the P.0.S.T. website (DownloadPDFreader)

Demonstrated experience in criminal investigations, case management, or detective functions.
Ability to pass a comprehensive background investigation

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in a detective or investigative assignment.
Specialized investigative training in areas such as homicide investigations, violent crimes, property crimes, financial crimes, interview and interrogation, search warrants and affidavits, and digital forensics.

Work Location: 201 Habersham St. Work Hours: varies

Additional Requirements

Background investigation, including supervised drugscreen, postoffer/pre-employment medical screen; and verification of education, certifications, and licenses required prior to employment.

Working Conditions

Work may involve irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, depending on investigative needs.
Investigators may be required to respond to crime scenes, emergency incidents, and callouts outside of normal working hours.
Work involves exposure to stressful situations, crime scenes,and potentially hazardous environments.
During emergencies and disasters affecting the City of Savannah, you may be required to report to work as part of a disaster operations team.

Physical Requirements

Ability to perform the physical functions of a sworn law enforcement officer, including standing, walking, lifting evidence, and responding to active crime scenes.
Ability to operate departmental vehicles and investigative equipment

Additional Information

Strong knowledge of criminal law, investigative techniques, and constitutional law.

Ability to analyze complex information and develop investigative strategies.
Skill in interviewing witnesses and conducting interrogations.
Ability to prepare detailed written reports and legal documentation.
Proficiency in using investigative technology, records management systems, and criminal intelligence databases.
Strong organizational and case management skills.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with a team.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

The application and selection process will consist of the following:

Physical Agility Test (PAT) Course Description:

The course measures a total of 870 feet (290 yards/265.2 meters) (half-court basketball court).
There is a time limit of two minutes six seconds (2:06) - time starts on candidate's movement from the starting line and ends when they pass the finish line.
The course consists of a series of nine interspersed individual tasks, arranged in a continuous form at that may be viewed as being essential (physical) job tasks for law enforcement training:

Penalties Assessed:

+2 seconds for knocked down hurdles,

+2 seconds for foot faults on "ditch simulation"

3 physical attempts "through the window" and "over the fence" before evaluator can offer run around
If a candidate skips stairs going down, they will be returned to the stair landing and repeat.

After the Physical Agility Test (PAT), the applicant will complete the following.

Fingerprinting
Orientation
Oral Board Interview
Polygraph Examination
Extensive Background Investigation
Interview with the Police Chief or designee
Medical Examination
Psychological Evaluation
Equivalent of Training (EOT) GA POST verification.

Figure 1: Physical Agility Test (PAT) Course Description

Applicants will be performing the above series of nine interspersed individual tasks, arranged in a continuous format that may be viewed as being essential (physical) job tasks for peace officer training:

Running

City of Savannah

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