Dialogue between Steve Ott, Portland (OR) Police Bureau, and IAPE Executive Director Joe Latta:

Ott: I would like to contribute some additional information to the IAPE Property Standard #5, Long Term Evidence Storage, which was published in the last issue of The Evidence Log©. It is in regard to the storage of vehicle airbags. Understandably, not everyone will have one of these turned in as evidence, but for those that do, I would like to offer some storage info.

Our Bureau Bomb Squad provided a demonstration for our Evidence Division to exhibit how violent air bags can be. After all, they do deploy with a small explosive charge. One airbag was discharged with the bag facing the ground, the other with the bag facing up. The first airbag (bag facing the ground) was propelled nearly 20 feet into the air, while the second one (bag facing up) only came 4 to 5 feet off the ground. This demonstrated that an airbag stored with the bag facing down would pose a greater hazard in the case of an accidental discharge. Vehicle airbags should be stored out of extreme temperatures, with the airbag facing up and on a non-metal surface. They should always be in an area with clear markings as to their hazardous nature. Hopefully this information can be used to make some property rooms a little bit safer.

Latta: Steve, Thanks for the information. Even though installed air bags are activated electronically, many of us would not have thought of the danger in placing them on a metal shelf. We will pass the word.
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Dialogue between Lori Johnson, Metro Transit (MN) Police Department, and IAPE Executive Director Joe Latta:

Johnson: I am currently the Property/Evidence Manager for the Metro Transit Police Department. I am going to sign up to be a member soon to get updates on Property Room Management. I am in need of attending the two-day class you provide, however, our company is not allowing us to attend out of state seminars. We are in Minnesota and there are no classes scheduled here. Would it be possible to get a copy of the Training Manual mailed to me so I have the information until I am able to attend the school? In could, that would be great, at least I would have the information to read myself. Thank you,

Latta: Lori, Thanks for your interest, and I would encourage you to join IAPE as soon as you can. Members do receive The Evidence Log(c), and also receive discounts on the classes. We also encourage dialogue with other property and evidence professions, and a number of state property and evidence associations have been started through such efforts.

We only provide the Class Handbook to those attending the classes, but there is a wealth of material available on the IAPE website (http:// www.iape.org).Click on the DOWNLOADS button to see the list of documents available for download and printing on your computer.

Please browse through the entire site, as well.
It includes sample Property Manuals and the new IAPE Property Standards upon which the majority of our materials and classes are based, plus many other educational, informational and humorous items.
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Dialogue between Sergeant Michael Beckwith, Oswego City (NY) Police Department, and IAPE Board Member Steve Berdrow:

Beckwith: Hello, Oswego is located on Lake Ontario about 30 miles north of the City of Syracuse, in New York State. I just read your article on property room design, after having found it searching for information on drying room ventilation.

I am in the process of developing an evidence processing room at our police department. One of my primary concerns is proper ventilation and filtration of fumes and drying evidence.

Unfortunately, our police department simply cannot afford the expensive commercially available drying cabinets and fuming hoods. I have proposed that our buildings and grounds people construct a small room within the evidence processing room, about the size of a small walk-in closet, and install a simple vent fan to the outdoors. I am considering having the fan pull the air through a filter.

Regarding the fumes, I have proposed installing a simple range hood, similar to what you would find over a kitchen stove, and building an enclosed work area beneath it. This would also vent to the outside.

I was wondering if you could offer me any advice regarding these matters, and if you think my ideas will work sufficiently. We do a moderate amount of cyanoacrylate fuming and only rarely do we need to dry blood soaked items, but the need does arise occasionally. Also, what type of filters do you recommend, or is it sufficient to simply vent the air to the outdoors? Thank you in advance for your help.

Latta: Mike, Your idea for evidence drying sounds just fine to me. In fact it is very similar to what we do at the Burbank (CA) Police Department. I don't think a filter is necessary but do make sure that the fan does vent to the outside. You don't want to recirculate that air back into the building. Have them mount a metal hanging rod (not wood or any porous material) across the room, and remember to throw the coat hangers away after a single use to avoid cross contamination.

Another consideration would be placing a clean piece of butcher paper in the bottom of the room each time it is used. You could then save it as evidence with any trace materials that dropped, or dispose of it to leave you with a clean floor for the next use. Your range hood idea is probably better than nothing but remember that those fumes are heavier than air and are flammable so you are going to want it to have a more powerful motor than a standard range hood and it should be of a type designed for that application. The ducting requirements will probably also be more stringent (check with your local building and! or fire inspectors).

Also make sure that you vent it outside well away from any air intakes for the building HVAC system, taking prevailing winds into consideration. If that sounds like experience talking, you're right! Hope this helps! Joe
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Dialogue between Evidence Technician Sharon Caldwell, Parker (CO) Police Department, and IAPE Executive Director Joe Latta:

Caldwell: I am in a new position at the Parker Police Department in Colorado. I am the Evidence Technician, and handle all of the evidence plus process the crime scenes. I was wondering how to become a member?

Latta: Sharon, I love answering that question. Applications are available in each issue of The Evidence Log© journal, and we encourage members to pass them on to prospective members. You can also download an application from our website at www.iape.org. You can also call us at (800) 449-IAPE, or e-mail to Mail@IAPE.org.

Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to having you as a member. [Note to all: this was originally an e-mail inquiry and we responded directly to her immediately, but we didn't want to pass up the opportunity of spreading the word about how we can be contacted. Ed.]
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Dialogue between Stephanie Kertes, Property/ Evidence Manager of the Mishawaka (IN) Police Department, and IAPE Executive Director Joe Latta:

Kertes: Joe, I am sending a photo of my long gun storage area. I thought it may be useful for those departments who are operating on a small budget like us. Supplies needed include a shelving unit with the shelves removed, gun ties, and 6-inch PVC tubing.

Our city sewer department donated the PVC tubing and cut it into 3-foot sections for me. We then drilled four holes into each side of the tubing and connected them with plastic ties. The arrangement was then placed into a shelving unit that is accessible from both sides. Each tube can hold two long guns, one from each end of the tube.

We tie wire tags onto the guns and then I place a label secured with packaging tape on the butt of the gun for easy identification. Our unit holds 60 long guns. The tubing also helps to protect the guns from any damage from being stacked on top of one another. Please pass this tip on, as I think it may help others.

Latta: Stephanie, We are big on helping others. Thanks for helping us do it. Joe ********************

Dialogue between Evidence and Records Manager Shannon Armstrong, Beaverton (OR) Police Department, and IAPE Executive Director Joe Latta:

Armstrong: Hello, We are currently looking into moving all of our evidence into a new facility, however it will be shared with another tenant as well as with other departments of the city. We are debating on how to reinforce the walls since we only have sheetrock in there now. Any suggestions that are not to spendy? Thanks for any assistance you can give us.

Latta: Shannon, There is a drywall product with a mesh inside that could be added as another layer. Another option is 3/4" or 1" plywood secured with screws to the existing walls on your side. Another consideration is to make sure that access cannot be made via suspended ceilings and a crawlspace in adjacent rooms that wouldn't even require breaking through the walls.

Regardless of what you do, make sure that you have an alarm system with a motion sensor that would detect any entry through the walls. Some are even sensitive enough to pick up attempts to break through the wall before entry is actually made. Having an alarm system with only door and window sensors would not be sufficient. Joe.