There are no generally accepted standards for Property Room training, but many experts in the field recommend that all Property Specialists, supervisors and managers be required to attend a Property and Evidence Management school.  The two- or three-day training classes provided by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE), and other professional associations give experienced personnel an insight into different ways of doing the job, and provide new staff and supervisors a very detailed look at issues and problems that will be encountered in the assignment.  Looking at "different ways of doing the Job" is a real benefit, as those Departments that depend on their own experience seem to get into public scandals most frequently.

          For years we in law enforcement have heard that supervisors or managers don't specifically need to know how to do the job themselves in order to supervise or manage that unit.  I feel that evidence storage, retrieval, disposal, and documentation is so different from normal law enforcement duties that specific skills must be learned.  Without that knowledge, effective supervision is impossible.

          Training must be timely, continuous, and documented.  Personnel scheduled to transfer into a property unit should receive the basic training described above prior to transfer.  Safety training should include hazardous materials, bio-hazards, and a basic firearms orientation on how to safely handle various weapons.  Training records should be as accurately maintained as they are for officers.

          Professional update training should be provided for staff, who should then provide in-service training to those responsible for processing and booking evidence.  Hopefully it would give them a better understanding of the logistical issues within the Property and Evidence Unit.  As an added benefit, a Property Manual sometimes can be very beneficial in explaining to officers why a procedure is being changed, why packaging is required a certain way, or why the "two person rule" is important.  The Manual should be a resource for training officers, and for remedial training by supervisors when improperly packaged property is returned under the Property Management Unit's "right of refusal." Involvement in professional associations for networking and training updates is a final element for a successful training program.  The ultimate knowledge is gained through helping others to learn.