I have been working in the property room for almost 5 years and love my job and really don’t want to work anywhere else. Our city just hired a new police chief and at a recent employee meeting he indicated that he wanted all of his civilian employees to be more well-rounded and it was his intention to start rotating all of the civilian employees every 18 months into Different assignments. His rationale the department would have a more well-rounded workforce where he could move people around when problems arose. Do you have any thoughts about rotating the property officer position.

Evidence Officer Tate

Interesting that you asked your question at this time. we are compiling articles for the next evidence log where we are focusing on staffing issues including “Rotation”.

Many law enforcement agencies assign sworn personnel to the Property Room on a relatively short-term basis, such as 12 to 24 months, as a part of a rotation schedule.

Even in those departments where the Property Room is a full-time assignment and is staffed by a civilian employee, they often work under a non-specific job classification such as Police Clerk, Public Service Officer, or Community Service Officer and are subject to regular transfers or rotations.

Rotations can be extremely detrimental to the organization, in that the assignment frequently becomes a rotated position. In that case, the employees often do not become proficient in the various tasks and duties, nor are they invested in addressing issues the property room may be facing.

We have asked experienced Property Officers in our live training classes; “how long does it take to

become proficient in all the tasks required in the job?”. Overwhelmingly, the responsesare three and four years and frequently state, “I’m still learning.”.

Tasks such as drug and narcotics destruction, auctions, property diversions and inventories may be done only once or twice a year. How does one become proficient when they have never done the task before, and may not do it again?

The same applies even more so is when sworn or commissioned supervisors (Sergeants / Lieutenants) are responsible for the unit and routinely rotate in and out.

In one recent class, one of the students who has worked in property for over thirty years stated that in her tenure she had worked for no fewer that 25 Sergeants. This lack of continuity only creates dysfunction and confusion amongst employees as ever year the unit is working under another belief system, personality and about in most cases, the supervisor has little or no experience in property room management. More often than not, the property officer is training the supervisor!

All efforts should be taken to avoid rotating personnel through the Property Room as there is no ownership in the unit and correcting past deficiencies may not occur. If rotation is an absolute necessity, it is paramount that inventories be conducted, and locks and keys be changed at the time the rotation occurs. In those cases where rotation is practiced, it is advisable that the term be no less than 3 years.