Salary : $69,700.80 - $104,374.40 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: E105K
Department: Sheriff's Office
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 60A

Description
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking a highly tactful, detail-oriented candidate to join their team as a Sheriff's Property Officer!
Sheriff's Property Officers accept and release evidence from ongoing criminal cases. The position is responsible for the proper storage, release, and disposal of property and evidence, including digital evidence and maintaining accurate records of these transactions in both electronic and paper formats. Property Officers are responsible for maintaining inventory control records of the department's fixed assets, accessing and entering information in the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), and taking fingerprints and photographs of various types of applicants and registrants. Candidates must be comfortable working around firearms, narcotics, and biological material.

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess exceptional attention to detail.
• Be able to read and comprehend legal documents, laws, and ordinances.
• Have the ability to handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and tactfully, both orally and in writing with employees, officials of public agencies, attorneys, property owners, and the public.
• Have experience with law enforcement computer databases and experience in keeping accurate logs and records.
• Be able to enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy.
• Have a general understanding of types of criminal offenses and types of forensic analysis.

There is currently one full-time vacancy in the Sheriff's Office Property and Evidence Bureau in Redwood City. This position is located in Redwood City but will travel/ drive throughout the County to perform duties of the job. The eligibility list created by this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the Forensic Laboratory in San Mateo.

Depending on qualifications, the vacancy will be filled at either the Sheriff's Property Officer I ($33.51 - $41.88/hr) or Sheriff's Property Officer II ($40.14 - $50.18/hr) level.

NOTE: The hiring list created from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra-help positions.
Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receive, maintain the chain of custody and integrity of, and safely store evidence, found property, and property held for safekeeping.
• Advise staff on proper packaging and submission procedures.
• Maintain files and records, both paper and in automated property management systems, regarding the receipt, storage, movement, and disposition of property.
• Manage video evidence created by body-worn cameras and in-car video cameras.
• Conduct inventories and audits of property and evidence.
• Release property to the public or to legally authorized persons in accordance with disposition forms, court orders, or stipulations.
• Compose correspondence to property owners or finders.
• Authorize the return of and release safekeeping and found property to rightful owners.
• Check out items needed for court, investigation, or forensic testing; transport or ship items to and from the Forensic Laboratory; and maintain records of items checked out.
• Copy, share, or electronically transfer evidence in accordance with internal requests, discovery requests, subpoenas, and Public Record Act requests.
• Testify in court to verify chain of custody records on evidence.
• Purge property as directed on disposition forms and by following appropriate federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Arrange for the auction of unclaimed property and coordinate the destruction of nuisance weapons and illicit materials such as controlled substances.
• Maintain inventory control records of department's fixed assets.
• Order supplies and equipment as necessary for assigned work.
• Contact or respond to questions from law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives of various agencies and the public concerning the release, location, disposition, and forensic analysis of property.
• Take fingerprints and photographs of various types of applicants, registrants, and probationers.
• Operate various automated criminal justice information systems such as the County of San Mateo Consolidated Justice Information Portal (CJI), the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS), and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
• Attend trainings and stay abreast of industry best practices and changes in laws and regulations.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Sheriff's Property Officer I: One year of store keeping or clerical experience which has included responsibility for maintaining inventory control records or a complex filing system.
Sheriff's Property Officer II: Two years of experience in a law enforcement or law administrative agency receiving, storing, releasing and inventorying property held for safekeeping.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and procedures of stock control systems and record keeping.
• General characteristics and values of different types of commodities.
• Techniques of receiving, storing, inventorying, safeguarding and disposing of personal and other types of property.
• California Penal Code, Civil Code, various County ordinances, the Federal Gun Act of 1968 and other laws governing public property, release of property and evidence and destruction of narcotics.
• General characteristics and values of different types of equipment used in the Sheriff's Office including characteristics and handling of firearms.
• Types of information stored in CLETS and NCIC.

Skill/Ability to:

• Explain and apply departmental policies and procedures including court procedures and process of obtaining release of property.
• Train personnel.
• Maintain complete and accurate records.
• Operate teletype and computer terminals.
• Read and comprehend legal documents, laws and ordinances.
• Exercise good judgment.
• Make accurate observations.
• Work well with minimal supervision.
• Deal effectively and tactfully with employees, officials of public agencies, attorneys, property owners and the public.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Lift and move bulky or heavy objects.
• Apply laws, codes and ordinances related to property management, guns, narcotics and evidence.
• Handle firearms.

Other Requirements: Pass a detailed background investigation and pre-employment medical exam prior to appointment.
Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions are required in our online employment application. A resume or reference to a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions or the standard online application.

1. An Initial review of application materials (weight: pass/fail). Overall presentation will be evaluated at this step and applicants submitting an incomplete application and responses to the supplemental question, lacking relevant qualifications and/ or not following instructions, will be disqualified.
2. Applicants who pass the initial review will be moved to the online written exam (weight: pass/fail).
3. Applicants who pass the online written exam will have their application screened by subject matter experts (weight: pass/fail). At this step the application and responses to the supplemental questions will be thoroughly reviewed.
4. The more highly qualified applicants who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%).

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:
Final Filing Date: Friday, August 28, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Online Written Exam: August 31, 2026 - September 3, 2026 (Applicants must complete the exam within this time frame).
Application Screening: Week of September 7, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of September 14, 2026

We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will weigh heavily in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling, and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process.

A resume and/or the work experience section of your job application will NOT be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.

• I have read and understand this important information.

02

Describe in detail your skills, abilities, and work experience in 1) receiving; 2) storing; 3) maintaining; 4) releasing; and 5) disposing of property or evidence and/or other related items. Be specific.
03

Describe in detail the specific methods and techniques you use in a professional setting to ensure the items under your control are properly safeguarded. Please include any knowledge and experience regarding physical security, packaging material, seals, chain of custody, environmental controls for storage, audits, and inventories. Tell us where you gained this experience and your job title.
04

Describe in detail your knowledge and experience in 1) auditing and verifying various information for accuracy; 2) utilizing criminal justice databases to retrieve information; 3) electronic record-keeping.
05

Describe your customer service experience, including the various types of customers with whom you have interacted, such as the public, attorneys, peace officers, etc. In your response, be sure to include where you gained this experience and your job title.
06

San Mateo County departments sometimes need extra-help workers in addition to permanent employees. Extra Help positions offer temporary part-time or temporary full-time employment for 1040 hours (which equates to working full-time for approximately six months). However, employment might end sooner depending on the needs of the hiring departments. Extra Help positions are paid on an hourly rate basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment. Are you interested in extra-help employment? (A "No" answer to this question will not affect your application for permanent employment.)

• Yes
• No

07

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• Civic Match
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)
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