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,
Much to my delight, I was just advised our department is moving forward with the construction of a new facility and was asked to look at the plans. After a quick first time look, I found there was no firearm room or cage to store firearms. When I ask where we are going to store guns, I was told that we were getting high density shelves (shelves on tracks). When I asked about security it was explained to me that the carriages that all the shelves can be locked down. At that time, I voiced my opinion about not having a gun room or cage to which my captain was open and asked for any ideas.
Joe… any thoughts on how you would do it?
Regards,
D. Wright
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Dear D. Wright
Interesting that you ask, approximately 15 years ago, I had the opportunity to provide the Elk Grove Police Department, in California, some design assistance as they were moving into another facility. My goal was to provide sufficient secure space for firearms and drugs for the present and projecting into the future.
This photograph was taken showing the amount of space available after seven years. The room still has an efficient use of space, and items are easy to find as a result of the evidence custodians using good purging protocols!
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Facts about the room:
Room is 8’6” x 19’, or 160 sq. ft.
Left side of room – has space for 495 handguns.
Right side of room – could also accommodate another 495 if all of the shelves were used for firearms. In the case of this department, they used the right side for storage of drug envelopes as seen in the blue bins. The shelves accommodate three blue bins, or drawers, per shelf.
The back wall has sufficient space for 144 long guns.
Shelves are all at least 51” deep to accommodate the long gun boxes. In this photo the shelves were 48” deep or 3” less than the boxes. Of concern to me was having shelves where container (Long gun boxes) was not hanging off the front as the boxes they were using were 50”in long. Solution, place a three inch spacer between.
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In the back of the shelf and the wall, which allows a more professional look. Second option purchase 48” boxes as they come in different sizes. Additionally, always store the guns on the shelf on their spine as shown and make sure the shelves are adjustable vertically.
In the case of Elk Grove Police Department, the room was designed for both gun and drugs. The present configuration of 14 shelves of drugs on the rise side with 3 drawers for each shelf, has the capacity to store about 50 envelopes each for a total of approximately 2,100 envelopes. If
the entire room was dedicated to drugs, its capacity would be well over 10,000 packages – in less that 160 square feet. That’s efficient! Our special thanks to Supervisor Kevin Corcoran for having such a great operation.
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Thank you,
Joe Latta
Executive Director
International Association for Property and Evidence
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Celebrating our 30th Anniversary with you by hosting 30 classes
across the country in 2023!
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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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Evidence Management Training Classes |
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2023
September
High Point, North Carolina
Massillon, Ohio
October
Nashville, Tennessee
Pass Christian, MS
Ewing, New Jersey
Manassas, Virginia
November
Des Moines, Washington
Warren County, Lebanon, Ohio
December
Hutto, Texas
Fairfield County, Lancaster, Ohio
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2024
January
St. John County, Florida
Anaheim, California
February
Las Vegas, Nevada
March
Lansing, Michigan
Tucson, Arizona
April
Kansas City, Missouri
Salem, Oregon
May
Overland Park, Kansas
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
June
Hurst, Texas
More Coming in 2024!
Interested in Hosting a Class?
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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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Dallas police employee shot in arm after accidental discharge in property room
July 25,2023
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A Dallas police employee was shot in the arm Tuesday after a gun accidentally discharged in the property room, the department confirmed.
The employee, who was not named by police, was processing evidence when the shooting occurred, a police spokeswoman said. They were hospitalized with injuries that weren’t considered life threatening, police said.
Police spokespeople declined to clarify whether the employee fired the shot or was shot by another person.
Dallas police Chief Eddie García said in a memo sent internally to department employees Tuesday afternoon that the weapon was “not rendered safe.” He said employees must ensure all weapons are rendered safe before they’re submitted to the property room, and outlined steps for securing pistols, revolvers and rifles.
“We are lucky the injury was not more serious, and the employee will recover,” García said in the memo obtained by The Dallas Morning News. “Safety is paramount, not only for the people we serve, but for all members of our DPD family.” Dallas police are investigating. The department declined to provide additional details.
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COMMENTARY:
We don’t know all the facts surrounding this case as there has not been any additional press releases. What we do know is that when the question of firearms training is discussed in our live class that more often than not civilian employee rarely have received any type of firearms safety training. It is imperative that management provide annual training in the handling of firearms from the agency’s firearms officer to mitigate any accidents. Secondly, if there is an accident such as the one described above, could the department be held civilly liable for not providing such training?
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The IAPE Profession Standards state:
Standard 1.8. Training
Reasoning document:
Basic safety training should include, but is not limited to:
- • Firearms handling and safety.
- 11.4. SUBMISSION INTO PROPERTY ROOM
- 11.4.1. Firearms will be submitted to the Property Room in accordance with the agency’s Packaging Manual or packaging instructions.
- 11.4.2. Any time a firearm is handled, it will be handled as if it were loaded.
- 11.4.3. Firearms will be submitted in an unloaded and safe condition.
- 11.4.3.1. Any exceptions will be defined in writing.
- 11.4.4. Firearms should be made safe and unable to fire when submitted to the Property Room. 11.4.4.1. A safety appliance (zip tie, chamber flag, safety block, etc.) should be placed in or through the action of a firearm prior to submission into the Property Room.
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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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Check out some of our new products and save 25% using code "KRAPOLA"
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Blue Keeper of Krapola Mouse Pad
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IAPE - Classic Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
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IAPE Copper Vacuum Insulated Bottle, 22oz
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IAPE | www.IAPE.org | 800-449-4273
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