Evidence_Room

Policy 802CSU Police Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentEvidence Room - 1Evidence Room 802.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This_policy provides for the proper collection, storage, and security of evidence and other property. Additionally, this policy provides for the protection of the chain of evidence and identifies those persons authorized to remove and/or destroy property. 802.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Property - All articles placed in secure storage within the Evidence Room, including the following: •Evidence - Items taken or recovered in the course of an investigation that may be used in the prosecution of a case, including photographs and latent fingerprints. •Found property - Items found by members of the Department or the public that have no apparent evidentiary value and where the owner cannot be readily identified or contacted. •Safekeeping - Items received by the Department for safekeeping, such as a firearm, the personal property of an arrestee that has been not taken as evidence, and items taken for safekeeping under authority of law. 802.2 POLICY It is the policy of the CSU Police Department to process and store all property in a manner that will protect it from loss, damage, or contamination, while maintaining documentation that tracks the chain of custody, the location of property, and its disposition. 802.3 PROPERTY HANDLING Any member who first comes into possession of any property shall retain such property in their possession until it is properly tagged and placed in the designated property locker or storage room along with the property form. Care shall be taken to maintain the chain of custody for all evidence. Whenever property is taken or received (e.g., relinquished firearms) from an individual, a property receipt form will be completed. The receipt shall describe the property and contain a notice on how to retrieve the property, as applicable, from the Department. A copy of the property receipt form shall be given to the individual from whom the property was taken or received. Where ownership can be established as to found property with no apparent evidentiary value, such property may be released to the owner without the need for booking. The property form must be completed to document the release of property not booked and the owner shall sign the form acknowledging receipt of the items. 802.3.1 PROPERTY BOOKING PROCEDURE All property must be booked prior to the member going off-duty unless otherwise approved by a supervisor. Members booking property shall observe the following guidelines: CSU Police Department Policy Manual Evidence Room Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentEvidence Room - 2(a)Complete the property form describing each item of property separately, listing all serial numbers, owner's name, finder's name, and other identifying information or markings. (b)Mark each item of evidence with the booking member's initials and the date booked using the appropriate method so as not to deface or damage the value of the property. (c)Complete an evidence/property tag and attach it to each package or envelope in which the property is stored. (d)Place the case number in the upper right-hand corner of the bag. (e)The original property form shall be submitted with the case report. A copy shall be placed with the property in the temporary property locker or with the property if property is stored somewhere other than a property locker. (f)When the property is too large to be placed in a locker, the item may be retained in the supply room. Submit the completed property record into a numbered locker indicating the location of the property. 802.3.2 NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS All_narcotics and dangerous drugs shall be booked separately using a separate property record. Paraphernalia as defined by Health and Safety Code § 11364 shall also be booked separately. The officer seizing the narcotics and dangerous drugs shall place them in the designated locker accompanied by two copies of the form for the Records Bureau and detectives. The remaining copy will be detached and submitted with the case report. 802.3.3 EXPLOSIVES Officers who encounter a suspected explosive device shall promptly notify their immediate supervisor or the Watch Commander. The bomb squad will be called to handle explosive-related incidents and will be responsible for the handling, storage, sampling and disposal of all suspected explosives. Explosives will not be retained in the police facility. Only fireworks that are considered stable and safe and road flares or similar signaling devices may be booked into property. All such items shall be stored in proper containers and in an area designated for the storage of flammable materials. The Evidence Technician is responsible for transporting to the Fire Department, on a regular basis, any fireworks or signaling devices that are not retained as evidence. 802.3.4 EXCEPTIONAL HANDLING Certain property items require a separate process. The following items shall be processed in the described manner: (a)Bodily fluids such as blood or semen stains shall be air dried prior to booking. (b)License plates found not to be stolen or connected with a known crime, should be released directly to the Evidence Technician, or placed in the designated container for return to the Department of Motor Vehicles. No formal property booking process is required. CSU Police Department Policy Manual Evidence Room Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/14, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentEvidence Room - 3(c)All bicycles and bicycle frames require a property record. Property tags will be securely