ii-40ConversionOfPropertyItemsToLawEnforcementUse

Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (08/28/2017) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER Subject: CONVERSION OF PROPERTY ITEMS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT USE Index as: Conversion of Property to Department Use Training Drugs Drugs, Accountability for Converted Weapons, Accountability for Converted Narcotics Education Display Accreditation Standards: 84.1.4 and CFA 14.1.2 Cross Reference : G.O. III-14, Property and Evidence City Administrative Policies 040200 and 040202 FSS Chapters 705, 790 and 932 Replaces: G.O. II- 40, Conversion of Property Items to Law Enforcement Use (January 9. 2012) This Order establishes policy for the accountability and security of drugs, explosives and weapons which have been converted to law enforcement use after the purpose for which they had been seized has been completed. It consists of the following sections: I. Policy II. Converting Items From Property and Evidence III. Converting Drug Contraband IV. Inspections I. POLICY A. Florida law provides that items such as those considered contraband, unclaimed, or no longer useful for evidentiary purposes may be converted by a law enforcement agency for training or investigative purposes. B. The Department will, within the confines of the law and City policy, selectively convert items for use and conduct inspections, audits, and presumptive testing to maintain the integrity of the seized items and to ensure the continued retention of the items is necessary. C. When retention of the items for a law enforcement purpose is no longer required, the items will be timely returned to the property function from which they were obtained so that they can be disposed of properly. II. CONVERTING ITEMS FROM PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE A. Certain items including, but not limited to, firearms, electronic devices, tools, furniture, etc., may be available for conversion to Department use upon notification of availability by the Supervisor, Evidentiary Services Unit ( ESU). All requests for items from ESU shall be made by using the J:\Forms\Conversion of Property to City Use.pdf form. B. Any items other than firearms that have an estimated value of $200.00 or more, with an expected period of use exceeding one (1) year, shall be entered into the City asset inventory. As with other inventoried items, the Fiscal Services Division shall be notified whenever converted items need to be transferred to another unit by the use of the J:\Forms\Asset Transfer Form.pdf . DATE OF ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER August 2017 Immediately II-40 Distribution: All Employees General Order II -40 Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (08/28 /2017 ) C. Firearms 1. Converted firearms may be utilized for training or investigative purposes with the approval of the Assistant Chief of the requesting Bureau. a. Prior to a request for conversion, the firearm shall be inspected by the Armorer to determine its condition. b. If usable and safe, the requesting Bureau shall submit a Conversion form requesting the firearm. c. The Supervisor, ESU shall request the Manager, Records and Evidentiary Services Division to obtain a written loan authorization from the Pinellas County Sheriff. 2. Upon approval by the Sheriff, the Superviso r, ESU shall turn the weapon over to the Armorer. a. The original Conversion form shall be retained by ESU. A copy of the transfer record shall be provided to the Fiscal Services Division and to the Staff Inspections Unit. b. The armorer may issue the weapon, upon request and authorization, to a unit where it may be used for a traini ng, investigative, or law enforcement purpose. c. The transfer shall be recorded in the Armorer ’s records, and Staff Inspections shall be notified by the Armorer of the transfer to assist them in conducting the required annual inventory. 3. When a firearm obtained by loan from the Sheriff ’s Office is no longer required for its stated purpose, the weapon shall be returned through the Armorer to ESU for surrender to the Sheriff. Any firearm loaned from the Sheriff’s Office will not be modified in any way from its original condition D. Items Other T han Firearms 1. Conversion of items other than firearms is not limited to being used for training or investigative purposes. 2. Inventory requirements specified in this Order must be met before the item is released from the Property Room. a. The unit seeking the item shall submit a properly completed/signed Conversion form and request an inventory asset number from the Fiscal Services Division, if one is required. b. Upon presentation of the inventory asset number tag, the Supervisor , ESU shall affix it to the item in a visible place and turn it over to the requesting unit. c. If the value or expected lifespan does not meet the asset inventory requirement, the Supervisor , ESU may release the item to the requesting unit completing the Conversion form. III. CONVERTING DRUG CONTRABAND A. Drugs (contraband) may be obtained from the Narcotics Property Room for specific training and investigative purposes. B. Units with a need for controlled substances shall, if necessary, name a Narcotics Control Officer (NCO) by Memorandum. The Memorandum shall be distributed to the respective Bureau Commander and to the Staff Inspections Unit. 1. Upon determining a need for a specific type and quan tity of a controlled substance, the NCO shall complete the Conversion of Property to City Use form and, after