Policy Text
POLICY
103.0EVIDENCE PROCEDURES
REVISED: 11/2011
REVISED: 4/2019RELATED POLICIES:
Reviewed and Revised by
Chief David Magnusson
A.ADMISSION TO THE PROPERTY ROOM
1.Admission to the Property Room is prohibited without the expressed permission
of the Chief of Police. In no case will any person enter this area without an
escort. All such persons will fully comply with security procedures as directed.
2.All property, which is not issued to a Department Member and all evidence, found
property, etc. held by the El Portal Police Department, shall be kept in designated
secure areas.
B.GENERAL
1.Responsibilities
a.Departmental Personnel are responsible for safeguarding the property of
others. All employees will properly process and secure any property
which may have been confiscated or which otherwise has come under
their care.
b.Except for evidence, contraband, etc., which will be handled according to
Policy, personal property of an arrested individual will be separated from
the person and packaged and appropriately identified as to owner. The
package will be transported with the arrestee to the confinement facility.
c.Evidence must be submitted to the Property Room by the end of the
member’s shift.
2.Procedures
a.Complete a Property Receipt to account for the property and secure the
property in an evidence bag secured with evidence tape initialed by the
impounding officer . Whenever abandoned property is received from
someone other than the owner of the property, the name, address and
telephone number will be recorded across the front of the Property
Receipt. Also, the person relinquishing the property will, in the presence
of the impounding employee, sign the Property Receipt in the "Found
Property" receipt section.
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b.All property taken into possession and placed into storage will be recorded
on a Property Receipt.
3.Storage
a.Storage disposition for unstable or hazardous items, i.e., ammunition,
explosives, or volatile liquids will be coordinated by an immediate
supervisor with Miami-Dade Police Department. Volatile liquids or
substances will not be submitted in plastic containers. These items will be
enclosed in metallic containers with lids to prevent leakage. All other
flammable liquids must be removed from lawn equipment, gas cans,
bottles and or containers before being submitted. The fuel shall then be
turned over to the Metro-Dade Fire Department Hazardous Material Unit.
b.A supervisor (Corporal or Sergeant) under the direction of the Chief of
Police will conduct a monthly inspection of the Property Storage area to
ensure that full compliance is being adhered to as stressed in sub-section
“a.” An on-going log will be completed indicating that this accomplished
with the name of the supervisor inspector, the date, the time, and any
findings.
c.All monies received at the Property Room will be counted by the
submitting employee and witnessed by a supervisor. Monies shall arrive
at the Property Room pre-counted, with denominations separated and
listed on the Property Receipt. All monies submitted to evidence must be
placed into a plastic envelope and sealed. The evidence bag seal must be
initialed.
A Supervisor will indicate count total using a red felt pen on the lower
right hand side of the form and circle the count total.
Any monies in excess of $3,000 requires the immediate response of a
Supervisor.
A monthly reconciliation shall ensure that all collected monies taken in as
found proiperty and/or evidence is accounted for. This reconciliation may
take place in conjunction with the aforementioned inspection as indicated
on sub-section “b” but is not required to take place simultaneously.
d.Live plants (other than contraband), flowers, food, etc. must be disposed.
Therefore, photos of such shall be taken by the officer and will be
sufficient. Photos will be handled as stated in section 8. a. 1 of this
procedure.
Destruction of the plants, flowers, food, etc. shall be at the discretion of
the impounding officer's supervisor.
4.Property Identification and Packaging
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The impounding officer will be required to provide protective packaging and
identification for articles which are fragile or present a safety hazard.
a.Knives and other sharp instruments will be placed in boxes with tape.
b.Hypodermic syringes will be enclosed only in plastic containers with
screw on caps designed to secure syringes.
c.Glass containers will be securely wrapped in boxes and legibly identified
as GLASS-FRAGILE in red letters.
d.Batteries from such items as stun guns, flashlights, or other battery-
operated items must be removed before they are submitted.
e.Batteries from stun guns that have been used as a weapon shall be
photographed to prove the gun was energized and capable of working
when it was seized.
5.Alcoholic Beverages
a.Any open or partially filled container must be emptied if it is placed in
storage.
b.Vials