Policy Text
EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/01/89 STANDARD NO. 066 REVISED: 03/07/18
REPLACES: SOP Property and Evidence Control 16-05.1-5 – Rev. 01/01/03; Rev. 02/04/16
OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for the collection, processing, storage, and disposal of
evidence and property.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to establish and
maintain a system of control over property and evidence. This system is
designed to ensure continuity and consistency in the safekeeping of property and
evidence and to meet the requirements of the judicial system.
SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. PROPERTY ROOM AND RELATED FACILITIES:
A. Property Rooms: There are two (2) storage locations for items of evidence and other
property impounded by employees of the HPD.
B. Property and Evidence Lockers: Located in the hallway outside of property; contains
lockers and a refrigerated locker, which accommodate items of evidence or property
impounded by officers. Overflow lockers are located across from the report writing
room.
C. Property Clerk’s Office: The Property Clerk shall maintain an office within the area of the
main Property room.
D. Vehicle Seizures: Located in the employee parking lot of the police station. This area
will be utilized for vehicles seized and awaiting forfeiture proceedings.
E. Personnel responsible for the Property Room and related facilities:
1. The Administrative Captain shall be responsible to inspect and oversee the
property and evidence management process.
2. The Property Custodian (Clerk) shall have responsibility for control of property
and evidence management.
3. The Property Custodian (Clerk) shall be responsible for the daily intake and
storage of property (except that kept in the vehicle seizure area) accepted or
stored in the HPD station’s Property storage area and lockers in accordance with
this standard operating procedure.
4. The Property Custodian (Clerk) shall weigh packages of narcotics and verify the
weight with the weight listed by the officer on the packaging. If there is a difference
in weight outside of the normal tolerance of the scale, the Property custodian shall
Evidence and Property – SOP# 066
send notice to the officer who submitted the evidence and his/her supervisor. The
officer and the Property Custodian (Clerk) shall reweigh the evidence together.
F. Access to Property Room and Evidence Lockers is limited to the following authorized
personnel only:
1. Administrative Captain, or designee.
2. Property Room Clerk
3. Any persons temporarily authorized by one (1) of the above persons, the Chief of
Police or the Police Chief’s designee, for the purposes of:
a. Property inventory.
b. Property and evidence handling.
c. Other necessary support services.