IAPE Monthly Newsletter & Updates |
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Ask Joe...Each month, IAPE's primary instructor and Executive Director, Joe Latta, answers one of your questions pertaining to your everyday property and evidence room questions.
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Dear Joe,
Our Records Department wants to store reports (which need to be kept for 10 years) in our Property Room. Is this a good idea? They will not have access to the room and will have to ask me if and when they need the box pulled. I am not thrilled about the idea of them storing boxes in the Property/Evidence Facility.
Does this compromise the integrity of the property/evidence? Would there be a reason not to store the records in the same location? I am working on getting myself and our Property Room certified and want to maintain the integrity of the evidence. I would appreciate your input. Thank you!
Thank you,
Ann Marie
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Dear Ann Marie,
The Evidence Room should be for evidence. Bringing in supplies, equipment and "records is certainly not the Best Practice.
One box on the top shelf in the back of the room could be argued as not a big concern. When there are dozens of boxes of records that are taking valuable real estate and requiring you to assist in retrieval and or escorting personnel to retrieve the records may now interfere with your assigned duties.
The IAPE Standard discourages items other than evidence stored in an Evidence Room. A separate area outside the Evidence Room for the storage of records for Records Personnel only having access would be preferred.
IAPE Professional Standards - 5.4, indirectly covers your question when dealing with equipment and supplies, not necessarily archived records. I believe that the Evidence Room is for evidence and nothing else.
Storing supplies, equipment and records is not the best practice and one could argue that the area is compromised if Records Personnel are required to routinely enter the area to retrieve.
The storage of departmental supplies and equipment, such as uniforms, vests, holsters, tactical gear, flashlights, batteries, etc. are often included with evidence storage duties. While the Quartermaster or Supply Sergeant duties have many similarities with evidence retention, and are compatible as a related duty, the two functions are separate and should not be grouped together in one area. Supplies are not evidence and should not be commingled.
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Regards,
Joe Latta - Executive Director
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Two SFPD Officers Arrested for Destroying Evidence, Ex-Officer Arrested for Swiping Machine Gun from Evidence Room
Retired officer Mark Williams "was working, part-time, in the gun destruction unit of the Property Control Division at SFPD
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April 20, 2022
Two separate SFPD scandals hit the fan at the same time, as two current officers were arrested for destroying evidence (including meth, allegedly) and a former officer was arrested for relieving the evidence room of a machine gun.
A pretty wild story broke Tuesday afternoon, and there will likely be some black eyes at the San Francisco police department. KRON4 reports that two current SFPD officers were arrested after warrants for them Friday for charges of destroying evidence, and both voluntarily surrendered to authorities today.
Meanwhile, in what appears to be a completely unrelated case, a former SFPD officer who was still doing a little moonlighting with the department was arrested for embezzling a machine gun from the evidence room, according to the Chronicle.
"The actions of these SFPD members violate the law and regrettably fall far short of our department's shared values," SFPD Chief William Scott said in a statement. "As sworn police officers, we have no higher obligation than to earn and maintain public trust, and we are disappointed that these incidents detract from the outstanding work done by our officers and non-sworn members every day.
The machine gun arrest seems straightforward (and the gun's model is seen above). According to a press release from DA Chesa Boudin's office, retired officer Mark Willams "was working, part-time, in the gun destruction unit of the Property Control Division at SFPD. At that time, SFPD was in the process of preparing 22 Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns for destruction. On August 9, 2021, an inventory of the weapons revealed that one of the weapons was not present and all division personnel were contacted to assist in the search for the missing MP5. Four days later, on August 13, Williams contacted the acting Lieutenant in the Property Control Division and confessed to having the weapon at his home in Napa. SFPD sergeants recovered the weapon without incident that day."
So, this happened eight months ago? Maybe it takes a while to prepare charges, but it sure sounds like they had a confession in August. Williams has been charged with unlawful possession of a machine gun, possession of a silencer, and embezzlement. According to the Chronicle, he "was terminated immediately," though it's unclear if that means "immediately" back in August, or "immediately" upon his arrest Tuesday.
There will probably be plenty more questions, though, about the two current officers' destruction of evidence charges. Again, according to Boudin's release: "employees at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis were looking for missing hotel property in the luggage of a guest who had been locked out of his room for non-payment when they discovered multiple credit cards, IDs, and suspected methamphetamine."
"They called the police to report the suspected criminal activity and request that the evidence be collected. When Officers [Kevin] Lyons and [Kevin] Sien arrived at the hotel, they told hotel staff that cataloguing the evidence would take too long. Instead of collecting the items, the two disposed of the credit cards and IDs in a shred bin, and Officer Lyons flushed the drugs down a hotel toilet."
That incident happened in July, and one can see logical reasons for a several-month delay before bringing criminal charges on current officers. But were these two just cutting corners, because the department is understaffed? Is there something more sinister at play? Did the drugs actually get flushed down the toilet?
And what is also quite odd here is that according to the Chronicle, both Lyons and Sien "were transferred to assignments that don't involve contact with the public." That sounds like they are still on the job, at full pay and benefits. Boudin's office says that "All three arraignments are set for May 19, 2022."
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Commentary:
So… What did we learn from the recent news story? In very large departments it is not uncommon for having certain assigned personnel to handle the activities of these high-profile areas. In other words, only the Gun Room is off limit to only assigned personnel. Part time personnel, hire backs should not be a part of the equation. Limited access, rigid internal controls, and close supervisor oversight is mandatory. Gun and Drug storage room, along with destruction areas are always candidates of video surveillance as a deterrent.
Regardless of your position in the evidence process, submitter or keeping, SHORT CUTS WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE…
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World Class Training in “Best-Practices” For
Evidence & Property Room Management
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We offer dozens of classes per year across the U.S. and Canada, taught by current and former law enforcement officials with extensive real-world experience in management of property and evidence. This two-day course is ideal for those responsible for, or actively involved in, the operation, supervision or management of a Property and Evidence Unit. All training topics address best business practices and professional standards.
Registration to any 2-Day class now includes the digital download of
"Property and Evidence By The Book" 2nd Edition.
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1-Day Supervisor Class
May
Commerce City, Colorado
August
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September
Palm Bay, Florida
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2-Day Classes 2022
May
Commerce City, Colorado - 16 Seats Left
June
Burbank, California - 15 Seats Left
August
Burlington, North Carolina
South San Francisco, California
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September
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October
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Need Training Right Now?
IAPE also offers ONLINE TRAINING
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The Full online course class option is a great choice if you want much of the same training as the Live classes but without the travel and time away from the department. The IAPE Property and Evidence Management video Course is approximately 14 hours in length and was prepared by Law Enforcement Personnel for Law Enforcement Personnel. Completion of the course meets the training requirements for becoming a Certified Property and Evidence Specialist (CPES).
*Registration to any 2-Day class now includes the digital download of
"Property and Evidence By The Book" 2nd Edition.
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Got a Job? Need a Job?
IAPE is delighted to announce that we have a new section for posting a job announcement or checking job opportunities.
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Become a Certified Evidence Specialist
Along with the IAPE's extensive evidence training courses, the IAPE offers our members the opportunity to become Certified Property and Evidence Specialists.
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