Dear IAPE Members And Sponsors, 

The International Association for Property and Evidence Inc. moved to Burbank, California just over five years ago from Las Vegas, Nevada after founder Robin Trench passed away. I must say that when I became the Executive Director I never dreamed that my retirement years were going to be so hectic. In the past 60 months we have conducted over 75 training seminars from coast to coast and border to border. In fact, this year we have the scheduled our first class out of the country, and we anticipate our visit with the Hamilton Police Service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. During the same 60 months, IAPE has provided Property Room training to well over 4,000 property room professionals, while during the same time the Association membership has grown from under 600 to over 2300. 

As you peruse this month's The Evidence Log please note that the Association's first issue in 1993 had twelve pages and three sponsors. Look at it now, with 48 pages and 35 sponsors! We are really grateful to those that make The Evidence Log the useful tool that it is. We are constantly searching for information to bring to our readers to keep them abreast of the latest in property and evidence management concepts and solutions.

As the Executive Director of IAPE I want to remind everyone that the magazine is not possible without the support and assistance of our readers. There is limited published information in our profession, and we are always looking for articles, stories, solutions to problems and even entries for "I've got something you don't have." We will continue our tradition of providing a complimentary one-year membership for those providing us with our feature story for future issues. While on the topic of The Evidence Log I want to personally thank our Editor Captain Gordon Bowers of the Burbank Police Department for doing such an exemplary job in editing and writing for the Association. We constantly receive emails, letters and kudos at classes about the quality of the magazine and the benefits derived from it. Thanks, Gordon! 

Last October our Board of Directors had its Annual Meeting and election of officers. I am delighted to announce that Robert Giles is the 2002 President of IAPE. Bob has over 28 years of law enforcement experience and six years experience in conducting property room audits and assisting IAPE in teaching our two-day Property and Evidence Training Class. Bob took the reins from President Steve Berdrow, who had been the President for the previous two years. Steve is to be complimented on his leadership and guidance of the organization during this time. We added over 800 members during his tenure, and we are well underway in developing national standards for professional property room operations. See page 12 for more on that, and thanks to all of our members for your valued participation in our organization. 

Photo: Steve Berdrow, IAPE President for 2000 and for 2001, is presented a plaque of appreciation by Bob Giles, incoming 2002 President.