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A national job search has been launched to replace former Douglas County crime lab manager David Kofoed.
The county has gone without a permanent manager since April 2009, when Kofoed was indicted in connection with evidence tampering. He was placed on administrative leave until he was fired in March, after a judge convicted him of the felony.
“We want to hire someone with good people skills and ethics, especially in light of what has happened,” said Marty Bilek, chief deputy sheriff. “The unit has been tarnished, and this new person will lead the effort to restore the image and prove to people and the public that something like this will never happen again.”
William Kaufhold, a 30-year Douglas County CSI veteran, is acting director. About a dozen technicians work in the unit.
The manager will make between $67,000 and $101,000, depending on experience. Kofoed earned a salary of about $80,000, plus an average of $5,000 per year in overtime pay, according to county payroll records.
The new manager will be exempt from overtime pay, county officials said.
Bilek said he does not believe any in-house employees meet the qualifications being posted, which include a bachelor's degree in science, at least five years of experience in crime scene investigations and two years of crime lab management experience.
Ideally, the new hire will come from a nationally accredited lab. Douglas County's crime lab is currently seeking accreditation.
The county wants Kofoed's successor to spend more time on administrative duties. Kofoed devoted the majority of his time to processing crime scenes and testing evidence to shore up cases.
“They are picturing this person being more of a manager, as opposed to someone out in the field collecting and processing evidence,” said Lee Lazure, the county's human resources director.
Lazure has received four applications since the job was posted July 15, including one from an applicant who works in Scotland. Aug. 13 is the application deadline.
Bilek said the new crime lab manager would likely start by early January, if the budget allows.
Contact the writer:
444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com
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