Policy Text
Property Bureau Page 1 of 12 53/01.0 (REV 4/98)
PROPERTY BOOKING PROCEDURES
The purpose of this order is to d escribe the procedures used to book property and
evidence into the custody o f the Sheriff’s Department.
I. General
A. Property to be booked at t he Property Bureau shall be booked as soon as
practical after it has been se ized. In the event narcotics or m oney are
seized, these items shall be book ed before the completion of th e shift in
which they were obtained.
II. Report Numbers
A. A report number is required fo r all property booked (evidenc e, recovered
stolen, safekeeping, found, or contraband).
1. The owner of the property mus t be known if either the recove red
stolen or safekeeping status is used.
2. Firearms should not be booked as safekeeping if any charges are
filed.
3. When booking found property turned in by a citizen ask them if they
wish to exercise their right to a finder’s claim. Check the appropriate box at the bottom of the property report form. Note :
Department policy does not allow a finder’s claim on firearms a nd
cell phones.
B. Report numbers shall be reco rded on property reports prior t o placing
them into a property locker or booking property at the Property Bureau.
Without the report number, the Pr operty Bureau will not accept the
property.
C. When property is seized under t he authority of a search warr ant, the box
at the top of the property report shall be checked indicating s uch. When
the search warrant is retur ned, a copy of the signed search war rant return
and a list of all items seized under authority of the search wa rrant shall be
sent immediately to the Property Bureau.
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D. The report number issued at the onset of a case shall be use d as the
master report number t hroughout the investigat ion. A new report number
is not necessary for a search w arrant, additional charges, or m ultiple
victims which pertain to the original report. Supplemental repo rts shall be
completed and attached to the master report.
E. Under unique circumstances, t he need might occur for the iss uance of an
additional report number. In such instances, the officer shall contact
Records and obtain the addition al report number. The officer sh all supply
Records with the following information:
1. Type of crime. 2. Suspect(s) and victi m(s) name and address.
3. The master report number. 4. Circumstances of the case. 5. Officer(s) name and badge number.
F. If a new number is issued, i t shall be entered on all copies of the report
with the master report num ber cross-referenced.
III. Property Receipt/Report
A. A property report with a deta iled description of each item t o be booked,
including serial number and other distinctive markings, shall a ccompany
all booked property.
B. All reports must be legible.
1. Each item should be listed s eparately on the property report in
numerical sequence. If additional property reports are needed t o
complete the inventory, conti nue with the numerical sequence; i .e.,
page one, items 1 through 10; page tw o, items 11 through 20, et c.
2. If a large quantity of items are being booked and more than one
officer is required to inventor y the property, assign numerical
sequences to each officer, or have the officer place their init ials
prior to the number for those it ems they book; e.g., RD1, RD2, etc.,
and that officer’s name will appear at the bottom of the proper ty
sheet.
3. In a homicide inve stigation, the ID Bur eau issues all item n umbers
for booked property. Prior to compl eting a property report, con tact
the ID Bureau for the correc t item number(s) to be used.
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4. A “187” stamp is provided for use on all homicide cases. Sta mp the
property report and eac h bag or container prior to booking. Thi s will
expedite the processing of homicide cases.
5. Stamp or write “Freeze” on the property repor t if the evidence
requires freezing. It is critical that the Property Bureau is m ade
aware of all evidence that requires freezing.
C. There are five types of property reports: General (pink), Co ntinuation
(pink), Money (green), Firearms ( blue), and Narcotics (white). A
continuation form shall not be us ed unless one of the other for ms (all of
which have a complete heading) has been completed.
D. Complete the entire heading on the property report form. The Property
Bureau needs all of the informati on requested in order to proce ss, clear,
and release property. The form is designed to protect victim in formation.
Do not write “ Jane Doe” or John Doe” if you know the correct name(s).
E. Distribution: Top copy (pink , blue, green, white) to the Pro perty Bureau;
second copy (white) to Records ; third copy (yellow) to the Prop erty
Bureau; and