Police Identification and Records Officers
Protective Service
Photographs crime and accident scenes and searches them for traces such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light when needed. Selected areas are dusted and latent prints are lifted under strict preservation rules. Evidence is also processed at autopsies or in the laboratory, wearing protective gear and using powders and chemicals, then packaged, stored, and later retrieved. Records of what was collected are kept, reports are written and reviewed, and items go to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials; testimony may follow in court. The work fits people who prefer meticulous visual records, careful handling of small traces, and exact preservation steps.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$93'790
Median Wage Market Position
$93'790
What you might do
- Photograph crime and accident scenes for records
- Scan scenes for fingerprints, hairs, and fibers
- Dust surfaces and lift hidden fingerprints
- Handle evidence at scenes, autopsies, and labs
- Log evidence and write or review reports
- Present evidence when called to testify in court
Skills that matter
- Photographing crime and accident scenes
- Dusting scenes and lifting fingerprints
- Searching for hairs, fibers, and shoe marks
- Evidence reports for labs and courts
- Testifying about evidence in court
- Packaging and retrieving stored evidence
AI & the future of this role
Automated matching and image tools may take over more fingerprint comparisons, cataloging, and routine photo review. Hands-on evidence collection, chain-of-custody, and expert testimony still matter, though desk analysis could shrink as systems improve.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details