Letters from Members - Responses to Members
One particular thing that we're very proud With our mobile shelving, we now have plenty of space. Before we bought in the "Spacesaver's" we were just stuffing things anywhere we could. We also use Quetel's "Traq" software system. It's the best! Thanks again! Crime Scene Investigator Robin M. Davis
Dear Sirs, I have been in an Evidence Unit for over 14 years and have had the opportunity to enjoy and learn from your magazines. Some of the unit technicians have had the pleasure attending the class and seminars you sponsor. They have brought back many ideas and improvements. However, I have recently been transferred to the Inmate Property Unit at our main jail. I was wondering if there is an association for Inmate Property where we could understand how others work and store the property. I have used some of the Evidence ideas in the unit but I still would like more input to fine tune the system. Would you please advise of their Internet site and how we may join? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Elaine Wolf
Response: Thanks for the nice comments about our classes and
The Evidence Log. We're not aware of any organization or web site that
specializes in the area of inmate property. You are right that the same
principles would apply. In that situation you would be even more vulnerable
to false claims of theft, so make sure your policies and practices emphasize
safeguards to protect employees from such accusations.
IAPE Web Page - "Contact Us" E-mail form
I have been looking for information regarding the OSHA standards that apply to the property function. Do you have any articles regarding this or can you tell me where I might find this information? Thanks! By the way, this is a very informative web site! Kathy O'Kelley Response: This is such a good question that we have included
a brief article in this issue as "HazMat
Storage Summary". For more information on chemical storage visit OSHA's
Web site at http://www.osha.gov.
IAPE Web Page - "Contact Us" E-mail form
Joe, I just wanted to get back and say thanks for everything. This was a most excellent seminar. One of my Sergeants attended last year's training, but I want to send the other one soon so she will know what I'm talking about. Thanks again, Dave Murphy
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 13:38:34 -0500
We held our first gathering (too disorganized to be a meeting!) of the Georgia Association for Property and Evidence (GAPE) on Wednesday, February 14th. We had 16 people from six different agencies attend. A couple of agencies that NEEDED to attend (for their own good) pulled out at the last minute, but it was a fair start. Our State Crime Lab is really interested in participating, which I think will be a good thing. Now to build the organization. I am resisting the temptation of sketching a buck toothed mouth breather
as a mascot.
Chatham County (GA) Police Department Response: Russ, Thanks again for your assistance in sponsoring
the Savannah class recently. I hope the attendees were well represented
in your "gathering." Joe Latta
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 13:31: 10 -0500
Joe, I have to thank you and IAPE. I just received a managerial award for getting our Property Room in shape. I could not have done it without IAPE guidance. Thank you! Russ Hoyser
Response: I'm sure your efforts in chartering GAPE didn't hurt
either. Congratulations!
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2000 14:31 :14 -0700
Sirs: I have a quick question that I hope you can answer for me. I have always understood that homicide evidence should be kept for 99 years. My property room is in the middle of a full audit and the auditing officer was questioning that practice. Could you please show me the code sections where that is written down, or other place that this practice is documented. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Officer Jay Clark
Response: Almost no states have a specified maintenance period
for evidence, whether from a homicide or otherwise. The best procedure
is to subject all evidence, including homicide evidence, to periodic reviews
by the assigned detective. With most evidence you would propose disposition
unless the detective justifies keeping it. The best avenue with homicide
evidence is a stricter approach requiring that you keep the evidence unless
there is justification to dispose of it. The good side is that there are
several reasons that would justify disposition of homicide evidence. For
example, sometimes items are booked in and the follow-up investigation
determines that they were definitely not related. If the victim's vehicle
is seized from his house for examination, and it is later determined that
it possessed no evidentiary value, then the detective would probably authorize
it's release. If the suspect was convicted and has completed his prison
term, there is no need to continue to hold the evidence. [Unless it could
be considered a 1st or 2nd strike in a 3-Strike state. ed.] Likewise, when
the convicted suspect has died the need for the evidence ceases. Be especially
strict in allowing evidence with DNA potential to be destroyed. There are
cases now where prisoners who have exhausted all of their appeals are being
given the right to demand DNA testing to prove their innocence. Destruction
of the evidence could be tragic in those cases.
IAPE Web Page - "Contact Us" E-mail form
I am sorry to bother you but I am interested in trying to find a funding source such as grants to fund a property and evidence room for our small agency. I am currently having difficulty with the county commissioners in obtaining adequate funding. I am the Patrol Sergeant and have been tasked with re-vamping our entire process, facility included. I have been to your seminars and have completed my first agency audit. Still I am having problems selling this to the administration and the commissioners. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Sgt. Rodney Gerloff
Response: Rod - No problem - that's why we are here! Have you
looked at asset forfeiture funds? This is generally an accepted process.
Reply: Mr. Latta, Asset forfeiture is definitely a consideration. The only problem with the idea is that in our small department we do not receive much in the way of forfeitures. The money generated from what we do have is generally put back into our K-9 program for essentials. Response: It looks like the only solution is to convince the administration that retaining the integrity of the property function is more valuable than any of the other options for spending what little money is available. Try to get the highest ranking official in the Sheriff's office possible, preferably one that is in political good favor, to attend either the IAPE class or a presentation on the risk to Chiefs and Sheriffs of inadequate property room safeguards. Absent that, you could gather some news reports of sheriff's jailed or removed from office because of property room scandals and send them to the sheriff with a memo proposing the improvements which you think are critical. Sometimes you don't have access to the sheriff, and have to convince an intermediary with such access to carry the battle for you. If worse comes to worse, document your efforts so that if you end up
in court or an investigation you can show that you did everything within
your powers to improve property room security. Good Luck!
From: OSCARMARIE@aol.com
I was told that IAPE/CAPE had a property and evidence manual framework that could be downloaded to use as a guide for creating a local manual. I have been unable to find it on the internet. If it is not on the internet, do you have an address to send a request to. Don Herriman, Vacaville (CA) PD
Copyright © 2001 International Association for Property and Evidence, Inc. Reprinted from the Evidence Log, Volume 2001, Number 1, Page 24 |
Thanks
for the class on Monday and Tuesday, it sure set off a lot of alarms on
things to come. Here are a couple of photographs of our ER. I just wish
that we had photographs that showed it before. We just got too involved
with planning the move and forgot all about doing "before" photos. It's
a modest area and we still have a few changes planned.
of
and that I didn't see in your presentation is our drug drop locker. It
is a night deposit safe that we got from a bank that was tom down in our
town.
