Policy Text
Policy
804Fremont Police Department
Property and Evidence Unit
804.1 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.
804.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Property - All articles placed in secure storage within the Property and Evidence Unit, including
the following:
•Evidence - Items taken or recovered during 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 such as non-evidentiary firearms,
personal property of an arrestee that has not been taken as evidence, and non-
evidentiary items taken under the authority of law.
•Property Surrendered for Destruction - Property such as firearms, ammunition,
fireworks, etc. that is voluntarily surrendered to the Police Department for destruction.
Property and Evidence Custodian - The Property and Evidence Supervisor serves as the
Property and Evidence Custodian.
Property Officer - A professional staff position that handles the property and evidence function
under the direction of the Property and Evidence Custodian.
804.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Fremont 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.
804.3 PROPERTY HANDLING
Any member who first comes into possession of any property should 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 receipt. Should the property be turned over to a Detective, Crime Scene
Investigator, or Officer, transfer of that property shall be documented in reports by both employees
to document the transfer of custody. It will be the responsibility of the receiving employee to 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 receipt.Care shall be taken to maintain the chain
of custody for all evidence.
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Property and Evidence Unit
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 release must be
documented in a police report and the Property Release form must be completed to document the
release of property not booked.The owner shall sign the form acknowledging receipt of the items.
804.3.1 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:
(a)Complete the Property Receipt form describing each item of property separately,
listing all serial numbers, owner's name, finder's name, and other identifying
information or markings.
(b)The seal between the evidence tape and the envelope should be signed with the
booking member's initials and the date of booking 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)Write the case number in the upper right-hand corner of the evidence bag or envelope.
(e)The original Property Receipt form shall be submitted with the case report. A copy
of the receipt shall be placed in the Property intake tray in the property/evidence
processing area outside the Crime Lab or in the Property sallyport.
(f)When the property is too large to be placed in a locker, the item shall be transported
to the Property sallyport and submitted following appropriate guidelines.
(g)Evidence vehicles shall be placed into the secure vehicle holding area outside the
vehicle evidence storage warehouse.
804.3.2 NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
All narcotics and dangerous drugs shall be booked separately using a separate property record.
They shall be placed in a department-provided clear plastic bag and heat-sealed prior to being
packaged in an evidence envelope or bag. Paraphernalia, as defined by Health and Safety Code
§ 11364, shall also be booked separately.
The officer seizing the narcotics and dangerous drugs shall place the items in an evidence locker
or the evidence mailbox. The Property Receipt shall be submitted following the same guidelines
as other types of property/evidence. The original Property Receipt shall be submitted with the
case report, and a copy shall be submitted to Property.
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Published with permission by Fremont Police DepartmentProperty and Evidence Unit - 2
Fremont Police Department
Property and Evidence Unit
804.3.3 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