Evidence Collection & Preservation

• Guidelines for proper evidence collection, packaging, and labeling have been set for storage.
• Policy IN98-1401 aims to maintain the integrity of the evidentiary chain of custody.
• Fort Wayne Police Department policy ensures evidence and custody are secured, stored, retrievable, and documented.
• The agency provides personnel training to recognize chemical, biological, and physical hazards at crime scenes and in evidence handling.
• The FBI Crime Laboratory recommends references for hazards, safety, and personal protective equipment for crime scene processing.
• References include the "National Research Council, Committee on Hazardous Substances in the Laboratory," and "Bloodborne Pathogens, Title 29 CFR Section 1910.1030."
• Further references can be found on the FBI Crime Laboratory Website and in "The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook."
• Contact the Narcotic Section Property Technician for narcotics evidence procedures not covered in provided instructions.
• All procedures must comply with OSHA, U.S. DOT, and international air transport regulations.
• Contact the property/evidence technician and request assistance if unsure about packaging evidence other than narcotics.

Definitions

• Chain of Evidence (Continuity): The unbroken custody of physical evidence from collection to court presentation
• Crime Scene Management (CSM)
• Technical Service Division (TSD): Records Section Technicians
• Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT)
• Investigative Support Division (ISD): Detective Bureau, including Juvenile Aid Division
• National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN): An ATF-developed computer network for firearms evidence information sharing
• Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS): The database used for the NIBIN network, used by all Indiana State Police Regional Laboratories
• Other Impounding Officers: Fort Wayne Police Department members who recover or receive evidence and start the chain of custody.
• Evidence Custodian: The Property Room Supervisor or designee for the Fort Wayne Police Department

Procedures

• The officer in charge of an investigation is responsible for coordinating evidence collection.
• CSM Technicians handle evidence collection at major felony crime scenes and autopsies
• Lead investigators work with CSM technicians on evidence collection.
• Investigators can collect evidence directly or direct uniformed personnel to assist.
• The lead investigator coordinates evidence collection when ISD personnel are involved but CSM personnel are not used
• Patrol officers leading investigations initially coordinate evidence collection
• The lead investigator coordinates evidence collection after an Investigative Support personnel are assigned to the case
• Patrol officer leading investigations will coordinate evidence collection for misdemeanor or infraction investigations
• Specialty teams coordinate evidence collection for fatal/near fatal traffic accidents
• CSM personnel coordinate evidence collection at accidents and autopsies if specialty teams are no longer available.
• CSM personnel have responsibility within crime scene boundaries once they arrive to process the scene
• CSM personnel must respond immediately or within one hour of being paged to an investigation
• The "back-up" CSM technician should be contacted for protracted delays

Evidence Collection Procedures - Wet Items

• Evidence collection procedures for the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) shall conform to Indiana State Police (ISP)
• Air dry bodily fluids on evidence before packaging.
• Collect blood samples in vacuum tubes and refrigerate as soon as possible
• Keep other bodily fluids requiring long-term storage refrigerated
• Steps for collecting blood evidence:
  • Wear latex gloves to prevent contamination or exposure
  • Remove one cotton swab from sealed package
  • Wet the cotton tip with distilled water, unless blood is still wet
  • Using the swab, wipe the blood or blood stain. The swab should turn pink
  • Place the cotton swab inside a manila envelope and do not seal it
  • Repeat the process with a second cotton swab
  • Fill out a FWPD continuity form.
  • Allow to air dry or use a swab dryer before sealing into the envelope
  • If custody cannot be maintained, place swabs in special drying rooms and complete the drying room log
  • Vials must be returned to the crime scene office for a new collection kit and must not be discarded

Buccal Swab Collection Procedures

• Required equipment: latex gloves, (2) sterile cotton tipped swabs, and envelope
• The Subject should not have consumed food or drink for 20 minutes
• Label the envelope prior to collecting, with the following items:
  • Item number
  • Control number
  • FWPD/Agency
  • Description: buccal swabs (one from each cheek) from {subject's full name and D.O.B.}
  • Location of collection
  • Collecting Officers name and PE
  • Time and date collected
• The following steps should be followed:
  • Put on the latex gloves and remove one swab from the package
  • Swab the inside of cheek then place the swab inside the envelope
  • Remove the second swab from its package and repeat step 5 on the other cheek
  • Allow swabs to air dry or use the swab dryer located in the ISD office
  • Alternatively, the drying swabs can be placed in the CSM drying room or the FWPD Temporary
  • Seal the envelope with packaging tape and initial the seal

Crime Scene Drying Room and Temporary Drying Room

• Applies to wet biological evidence other than swabs
• Guidelines:
  • Gloves are to always be used when handling biological evidence
  • To prevent possible contamination to personnel or evidentiary items, proper precautions should be taken to limit any cross contamination. PPE (personal protection equipment) should always be employed and noted, when handling potential biological evidence.
  • Standard FWPD protocols for continuity of evidence items will be used.
  • Items should be placed in paper bags and contact Crime Scene personnel to arrange placement in the Crime Scene office drying room area
  • FWPD personnel who collect wet biological evidence items at criminal investigations, will take the items to the Temporary Drying Room if no Crime Scene Personnel are available
  • Hang or place the biological materials inside of the designated storage lockers, lock the door, and fill out a FWPD continuity form and place in the marked folder
  • Ensure all items are accounted for and all areas are checked for smaller items present before placing them into continuity
  • After the items have dried and dried, Crime Scene Personnel will package the items and ensure the locker is cleaned and sanitized with a bleach/water solution
  • Investigative personnel or CSM personnel at major crime scenes will attempt to obtain latent prints
  • Investigative personnel obtain latent prints at burglaries, robberies, and major thefts
  • If physical evidence is not collected, document the reasons in report.
• Evidentiary photos are taken at all crime scenes investigated by FWPD personnel

Photographing and Sketching Evidence

• Photographs taken at all fatal accident investigations
• Accident crash team (FACT) supervisor directs a member of the call out team to photograph the scene
• A scale should be in the field of view for all photographed objects
• The scale can be either natural or artificial (e.g., ruler) when exact size determination is needed
• All objects with an artificial scale should also be photographed without the scale under the same conditions
• Crime scene sketches should include the following:
  • Dimensions of the crime scene, with the specific area and evidence items sketched in detail
  • At least two reference points
  • Address (number, street, floor, apartment number, etc.)
  • Location and relation of significant scene features, including the victim, to reference points
  • Date and time of the sketch preparation
  • Direction of north or significant compass point
  • Location of evidence and items after removal from the scene
• Rough sketches may be created at the scene and kept for presentation in court
• Formal sketches or computer representations may be made from original sketches and notes
• A diagram accompanying the approved state crash report serves as the crash scene sketch for fatal traffic investigations
• All crime scenes w serious bodily injury/death, robberies of banks/credit unions, burglaries, major theft, and auto thefts w/ apprehensions will have photos taken
• Major crime scenes are video recorded, including homicides, suspicious deaths, suicides, and other scenes at the discretion of CSM personnel, ISD, the corner, or the prosecutor
• Damage stemming from domestic violence is to be documented via photography as proscribed by the FWPD Domestic Violence Protocol

Documentation and Lab Analysis

• Officers use department-issued digital cameras to document evidence in investigations
• Documentation assists in the prosecution even if the perpetrator is arrested/unknown at the time of initial investigation
• Assigned investigator/fatal traffic investigator, after consulting the crime scene technician, ensures laboratory analysis requests for collected evidence are made
• The laboratory supplies either written or electronic reports of the findings of the analysis in all cases submitted
• Any verbal reports given are followed by written report
• Investigating officers determine what additional examinations are required
• The investigating officer is responsible for obtaining standards to compare physical evidence (bodily fluids, hairs, fibers, questioned documents)
• CSM personnel assist in paperwork and evidence submission to the proper laboratory

At-Scene Evidence Records

• All items collected at crime/accident scene for evidentiary purposes require documentation of the minimum information:
  • Complete description of the item with make, model, serial number, weight, color, etc.
  • Source of the evidence item
  • Date, time collected, name and PE# of the item collector
• Evidence continuity must be documented and maintained for all evidence items collected
• Department members follow marked procedures for marking, tagging, and cataloguing evidentiary items that have been recovered, and will utilize a continuity form
• When filling out the spaces that pertain to the investigation.
  • The Date/Time of Original Investigation should mirror when the incident was started
    • It should not be based on when the incident or crime occurred
  • Be clear about where the beginning of the investigation began
  • Be uniform when completing names and list the following information: - Last name - First name - Middle initial
  • Use complete names AND be sure of the correct spelling
  • When listing the C/P's address be sure the address has not changed since at the time of the investigation
  • Note if the suspects involved are arrested or are just suspects
  • Note each items individual item #. If an officer is collecting evidence be sure they have coordinated #'s so there are no duplicates
• Division and unit identifying numbers include the following
  • Crime Scene Management: 001-299
  • Uniform/Operations: 301-399
  • Technical Service Division: 401-499
  • Investigative Support, (DB/JAD): 501-599
  • Fatal Accident Crash Team: 601-699
  • Chief's Staff/Administrative: 701-799
  • Computer Forensics: 801-899
  • Vice & Narcotics: 901-999
  • Correct serial numbers must be entered accurately
  • Sign for items on one line at the bottom of the form
  • If more than one item, show this in the Item #s box
  • Show the location of drop off.
  • Note Lab Request section for instructions in the property room section
  • Preserve The original FWPD Continuity Records. Copies can be made as needed
• For evidence in the Vice & Narcotics drop box, staple the continuity report to the evidence
• For evidence in property room lockers, continuity reports placed in the locker
• All physical evidence must be fully documented with a continuity report
• Each person handling evidence must sign and date the report, indicating transfer reason, and name/location of the laboratory that will conduct any analysis
• Laboratory requests documented in the continuity report form
• For submitting items to a lab for examination:
  • The continuity report form must contain the name, PE#, and signature of the officer or individual that had custody of the evidence last
  • The date and time of the submission/mailing of the item
  • The date and time of receipt in the laboratory, AND the the name and signature of the item receiver

Evidence Packaging

• Guidelines for evidence packaging of FWPD property that is scheduled to be stored at the Evidence storage facility or items/crime laboratories for testing:
  • The agency name, control number, date, time, item number, officer(s) credentials, and PE number should be noted on all containers, labels, or tags
  • Place each item in a separate container to prevent cross contamination between different items
  • Clean, unused plastic, paperbags, paper envelopes, cardboard boxes, small bottles, and static shield bags can be utilized depending on item type
  • Containers must be large enough to accommodate the article that will be placed inside
  • Seal each container that prevents being opening without showing obvious signs of tampering; to Prevent contamination of the evidence and aid in court
  • Seal materials can include mylar plastic, evidence and other permanent tapes
    • Do NOT use staples or masking tape
  • Initial and sign across seals
  • Containers should be visibly marked with agency, case number, item number, date, time, officer credentials, and PE number
  • Write directly on the item containing the evidence item or tag the container with the required data
  • Seal the package properly with permanent market, then initial across the seals

Packaging Special Evidentiary Items

• The following are the procedures for storing special evidentiary items.
  • Money should be placed in a visual bag with the counted total amount
  • Have two people count and initial/sign the packed amount
  • Firearms should be fully unloaded before submission
    • This avoids accidental injuries
    • When ever impossible the unit should be unloaded before police operations center transport occurs
    • For revolvers, carefully note to the cylinder which cylinders had live rounds, spent rounds, and in which direction the cylinder rotates
    • All firearms must be packaged in boxes
    • Addition cartridges and rounds should be packaged in the original firearm package unless it is in the process of unloading
    • Semi-automatic firearms
      • The magazine has been removed, and the chamber has been cleared
        • If the unit will be printed utilize/store as is
    • The magazine should be handled carefully
      • Its surface is better for latent evidence preservation
  • After printing examination, the lab will package the rounds in a pillbox or envelope and the send unit back to the original location if not required for further testing
  • All submitted firearms should get a zip tie device through the barrel to prevent the action from batteries or accidental damage
  • Firearms found in water should be retrieved AND stored in the same type of storage
  • Each unit should have specific continuity form utilized for all phases of the case
    • This is to assist with IBIS testing, requests, and/or unit destruction/release
      • Mark Loaded on box in case the unit cannot be unloaded
  • Firearm Seizure-
  • Fort Wayne Police Department Firearm labs will send Firearms for further printing in the following situations:
    • When possessing firearm arrests occurr
    • Firearms found in multiple vehicle occupant situations
    • Tossed firearms in fleeing situations
    • Firearms believed to be involved in felony/shots investigations/homicide
    • Unusually requested circumstances from Command
  • Projectiles and Shell Casings
    • Shell casings and projectiles need to be bagged separately
    • Handle with gloves as well as full auto casings that will be utilized in testing, and prevent damages
    • Spent projectiles and shots cannot be tested by IBIS/shotguns
      • Shell casings should be packaged together from the same caliber. The packaging should be done with paper envelops and packing slip material/not plastic. All sealing must happen with a strip of tape and biohazard stickers if fluids are present
      • Applies to when shell casing units are examined by printing
    • Each set should include its own continuity form
    • Uniform Operations and ISD members bagging projectiles involving Shots Fired, Vandalism, Recklessness, ect should be bagged separately
    • CSM workers are to follow death protocols
    • Live cartridges or rounds that have been bagged together in the same caliber should be marked/sealed separately
    • Do not leave notes on any packaging or evidence items
    • Knives that are fixed blade or serrated should be sealed a knife container.
    • Pagers/Cell Phones: At no time should they actively be examined by any officer, detective, or technician - The phone should not be turned off
  • Add notation on the continuity if the cell phone is powered on
  • Requests a phone exam so all property members can access the unit if required - All collected phones bagged in static shield bags then with additional ties/seals. The item needs to be rolled as well. Label only the exterior because they are reusable
  • Vehicles - Under any circumstance a unit should be moved when evidence is gathered - Note if a vehicle is running, so latent evidence can be retrieved - Transport the location via FWPD contracted vendor with a follow up officer
  • Additional FWPD should work with policy

Narcotics Evidence

• The following guidelines cover procedures when collecting Narcotics Evidence in compliance with FWPD PD
  • Marijuana
    • Bagged if dry
    • Store in Paper if not
  • Do not send entire plants - Add all recovered amounts with the weight - Weigh item after bagging AND before.
• No testing unless required - Weigh if necessary - Store separately
  • Do all original steps, and plastic bag/number
    • Always record the amounts
  • Capsules/ tablets must be stored separately with no contamination. Always note the amount.
  • Notate the color of any marking if required
  • Put powders in plastic or sealable bags
  • Do not use paper for powders
  • Always bag separate samples collected
  • Document weight for testing and chain.
  • Mushrooms, Meth, and Heroin.
    • Always bag and proper seal/initial
      • Mushrooms utilize paper -Printing examination will require separate packaging/weight by item
  • List rock amount on chain.

Syringes/ Needles

• if the fluid is present photograph then drain into the property room container. Then document destruction.
  • Do not send any unit with needles
  • They will be destroyed
  • Dispose of sharp items in the proper units located at hospitals and the narcotics room.

Quadrant Drop Boxes

• A procedure for using Temporary evidence storing containers will be used throughout the city to preserve item chain.
  • This cuts down on the amount of downtime the officer has to gather proper security.
  • Secured area that all uniform locations point to should a unit be available
  • Known also as Box or quad, this unit is a means of holding, and will directly transfer to the department proper and evidence repository. Just specific items are contained in the box; - Reference copies with packing procedures need to be close to the Quad - Packaging and documentation is the departments policy - Hazardous/breakable materials are limited to only;
• Audio, photo, and data items will be stored inside disks or from the camera.
  • Paper documentation as well as licences.
  • Prints
  • All the items that are present stay at Central following all process
  • DO NOT store fluid or substances.
  • Never open without a key
• Division Commander must be responsible for the quad locations
• They require maintenance and proper storage for all documentation purposes
• The Quad commander has all keys to location stored and distributed properly at the location.
• All division command staff, must make sure storage and personnel are supervised by security team members.
• Any drop will be removed, authorized by team lead, who will always check compliance of security. Anyone or item that is not processed will be required to adjust and fix issues
• The supervisor will keep accurate time of transport and store at designated center