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City of Providence

Investigator – PERA

Salary: $63,932 – $69,896 |

Under the direction and supervision of the Lead Investigator, the Investigator conducts fair, thorough, timely, objective, and independent investigations of complaints involving members of the Providence Police Department and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Providence External Review Authority (“PERA”).
The Investigator is responsible for complaint intake, investigative planning, interviewing complainants, witnesses, and involved officers, collecting and analyzing documentary and physical evidence, reviewing relevant laws and departmental policies, maintaining complete case files, and preparing clear and comprehensive investigative reports.
The Investigator must exercise sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, demonstrate impartiality, and interact professionally with members of the public, law enforcement personnel, government officials, attorneys, subject-matter experts, and individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The position requires the ability to work independently while following the direction, investigative standards, and case-management procedures established by the Lead Investigator and Executive Director.

Job Type: Non-Union

Job Posting: COP-00020-26

Salary: $63,932 – $69,896

Job Grade Level: A12

Department: PERA

The City of Providence welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce at all levels of the organization. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit hiring discrimination of any type. All City hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Job Summary

Under the direction and supervision of the Lead Investigator, the Investigator conducts fair, thorough, timely, objective, and independent investigations of complaints involving members of the Providence Police Department and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Providence External Review Authority (“PERA”).
The Investigator is responsible for complaint intake, investigative planning, interviewing complainants, witnesses, and involved officers, collecting and analyzing documentary and physical evidence, reviewing relevant laws and departmental policies, maintaining complete case files, and preparing clear and comprehensive investigative reports.
The Investigator must exercise sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, demonstrate impartiality, and interact professionally with members of the public, law enforcement personnel, government officials, attorneys, subject-matter experts, and individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The position requires the ability to work independently while following the direction, investigative standards, and case-management procedures established by the Lead Investigator and Executive Director.

Duties & Responsibilities

  1. Receives, reviews, and processes complaints and inquiries concerning alleged police misconduct and other matters within PERA’s jurisdiction.
  2. Conducts detailed complaint-intake interviews and assists members of the public in understanding PERA’s complaint and investigative processes.
  3. Develops an investigative plan for each assigned matter in consultation with the Lead Investigator.
  4. Conducts fair, objective, and thorough interviews of complainants, witnesses, police officers, supervisors, experts, and other individuals who may possess relevant information.
  5. Elicits information from cooperative, reluctant, and adverse witnesses while maintaining a professional, respectful, and neutral demeanor.
  6. Identifies, requests, obtains, reviews, and preserves relevant evidence.
  7. Maintains accurate, complete, organized, and secure investigative files in accordance with PERA procedures and applicable confidentiality requirements.
  8. Prepares investigative timelines, witness lists, evidence matrices, case summaries, interview memoranda, and other analytical materials.
  9. Reviews and analyzes evidence to identify relevant facts, inconsistencies, corroborating information, credibility considerations, and areas requiring additional investigation.
  10. Researches and applies relevant federal, state, and local laws; constitutional standards; municipal ordinances; collective bargaining provisions; departmental policies; training standards; and accepted police practices.
  11. Prepares clear, concise, well-organized, factually accurate, and comprehensive investigative reports for review by the Lead Investigator.
  12. Presents investigative findings and case information to the Lead Investigator, Executive Director, PERA Board, legal counsel, or other authorized persons, as required.
  13. Testifies at administrative, judicial, legislative, or other official proceedings when required.
  14. Protects confidential, privileged, personally identifiable, and law-enforcement-sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
  15. Complies with applicable evidence-handling, records-retention, disclosure, privacy, and information-security requirements.
  16. Maintains regular communication with complainants and other authorized parties regarding the status of assigned matters, consistent with PERA policy and confidentiality restrictions.
  17. Treats all complainants, witnesses, officers, employees, and members of the public with dignity, fairness, professionalism, and respect.
  18. Conducts all investigations independently and without bias, favoritism, prejudice, personal interest, or improper outside influence.
  19. Identifies possible systemic, training, supervision, policy, or procedural issues arising from individual investigations and brings those matters to the attention of the Lead Investigator.
  20. Assists in compiling investigative data, identifying trends, and preparing information for PERA reports, audits, policy reviews, public presentations, and community-education activities.
  21. Participates in training concerning civilian oversight, police practices, investigative methods, constitutional law, interviewing, report writing, bias, cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and other relevant subjects.
  22. Maintains current knowledge of developments in civilian oversight, police accountability, criminal justice, constitutional policing, and investigative best practices.
  23. Supports PERA’s mission of promoting accountability, transparency, professionalism, public confidence, and improved police-community relations.
  24. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Lead Investigator or Executive Director.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  1. Knowledge of investigative principles, methods, and procedures.
  2. Knowledge of effective interviewing techniques, including techniques appropriate for cooperative, reluctant, vulnerable, and adverse witnesses.
  3. Ability to plan and conduct complete, fair, objective, and timely factual investigations.
  4. Ability to evaluate testimonial, documentary, electronic, physical, and video evidence.
  5. Ability to assess the reliability, relevance, consistency, and weight of evidence without prejudging the outcome of an investigation.
  6. Ability to analyze complex factual circumstances and apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and professional standards.
  7. Ability to write clear, concise, accurate, impartial, and well-organized investigative reports.
  8. Ability to communicate effectively, professionally, and courteously, both orally and in writing.
  9. Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds.
  10. Ability to demonstrate sensitivity when interacting with individuals who may have experienced trauma, fear, discrimination, injury, or distrust of government institutions.
  11. Ability to maintain neutrality and professionalism during emotionally charged, confrontational, or controversial interactions.
  12. Ability to manage multiple investigations, prioritize assignments, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
  13. Ability to work independently while accepting supervision, direction, editing, and performance feedback.
  14. Ability to exercise initiative, resourcefulness, discretion, and sound professional judgment.
  15. Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
  16. Ability to use case-management systems, relational databases, word-processing applications, spreadsheets, presentation software, video-review platforms, and other investigative technology.
  17. Knowledge of evidence preservation, chain-of-custody principles, records management, and secure information handling.
  18. Knowledge of criminal justice procedures, constitutional policing principles, police operations, and police-community relations.
  19. Understanding of the role, responsibilities, and importance of independent civilian oversight of law enforcement.
  20. Gains thorough understanding of PERA ordinance, policies, procedures and Providence police policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, law, public administration, political science, sociology, psychology, social work, journalism, or a related field.
  2. Relevant professional investigative experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis, subject to City approval.
  3. At least three years of professional experience conducting civil, criminal, administrative, personnel, regulatory, compliance, civil-rights, or other fact-based investigations.
  4. Demonstrated ability to produce professional written investigative reports or comparable analytical work products.
  5. Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize assignments, manage time effectively, and complete multiple tasks within established deadlines.
  6. Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office or comparable productivity software and the ability to learn case-management, records-management, and evidence-review systems.
  7. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  8. Ability to communicate professionally with members of the public, police personnel, attorneys, elected officials, government employees, community leaders, and subject-matter experts.
  9. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of the work.
  10. Ability to perform all essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flexibility required to attend monthly evening PERA Board meetings and to conduct interviews, fieldwork, hearings, or other assignments outside regular business hours.

 

Posting expires when position is filled.

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