The City of Maysville, Kentucky is a picturesque city located on the Ohio river, 65 miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio. With the current population of approx. 9,000 residents, our city has a lot of history behind it. The area was first founded by Captain John Hedges and party in 1773. Locating a natural harbor and a creek, it was named Limestone. In 1777 old Limestone became today's Maysville with two of the first named trustees being Daniel and Jacob Boone. In the late 1700's, Limestone utilized the Marshall system of law enforcement. Around 1895 today's police department was founded. In 1900 the department consisted of a chief of police and four officers. Today the department has increased to a 24' officer department with future growth expected. 

The current property and evidence section has changed and grown throughout the years. Due to the age of our city we have gone through several ups and downs in the handling of property. Our department has only had two locations since its beginning> and changes in our system have always been to the better. 

In the old days, evidence and property was handled virtually by the whole department. Two small metal boxes were utilized by our officers to store seized property. Each officer had a key to these boxes with virtually no accountability at all. Thankfully, in those days the chain of evidence was not held to the line like it is today. A policeman's word was good enough as was the handling of the property. 

Each new chief brings in a new era in any department. I have been fortunate to work for two. Retired Chief James Everman gave me my first chance in law enforcement. He was of the old school of police work and law enforcement. He maintained a close watch on all property and evidence brought into the department and personally saw to it's destruction and return when the time came. In those days, our departments influx of property and evidence was less in volume but not in importance. The chief had the time to personally watch the day to day activities of in going and out going articles. This alone was the checks and balances of our handling of property and evidence system. 

In 1978 a new era arrived in the Maysville Police Department. Douglas E. Culp was named Chief of Police. A veteran of the Cincinnati, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky police department as well as the U.S. army; Chief Culp brought with him a wealth of information on the handling of property and evidence. With the growing importance of the chain of custody and the handling of evidence and property required by the courts, defense attorneys, etc., new and innovative ideas were a must. 

Due to the lack of space, each officer was allowed to keep his evidence and property in his personal locker. Chief Culp knew this was a dangerous and unaccountable way of securing items. In a short period of time, space was made available in a closet area for property and evidence along with the naming of a new property officer. Chief Culp wrote a policy concerning the handling and storing of everything brought into the department. This policy assisted us with the courts, prosecutors, and defense attorneys alike. This tightening of the chain of evidence developed a more professional look to our department along with a major step towards the modern day police department. 

With the inception of the new closet type property room, we thought our troubles were over. Within several years, we out grew the closet facility. It was not due to the increase in crime, but of the volume of evidence and property that needed holding, due to new laws and advancement in technology in crime scene investigations. Not only were we· running out of room in this section, the department as whole was out growing our facilities. 

With the fact we would not be able to build a new facility, a readjustment of space was our only avenue to success. After our reevaluation of space, the evidence and property section was moved to a larger room. Our old closet space consisting of approx. 90 square feet, with floor to ceiling shelving, moved into a better suited 300 square foot room. 

Most city governments run on a tight budget. New equipment and expansion projects usually receive minimal funding. Our department was fortunate with our expansion especially in the revamping of the property and evidence section. We were not given a blank check by city government, but the needs of our expansion were met. 

I was named as the supervisor of the property and evidence section in 1990. have the opportunity to continue this expansion, keeping up with the needs of the department and the ever changing requirements set forth by state law. Off site locations have been developed for storage of items which can not be held in normal storage along with refrigeration and drying facility capabilities. A recent purchase of a combination safe which is now located in the main property area has given an added touch of security to seized drugs. All property and evidence needs to be held with the utmost security, but we all must agree upon security for certain items can save us problems in the long run. 

We know one day our current facility will not provide the room for further expansion; however, the problem with maintaining security and accountability is no longer a problem. With the continued growth of our city, we too will grow. We tried to look down the road several years when going through our expansion and with that in mind I feel we will make it to the next century.