Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures - Evidence Lockers PDF

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 6.7 EVIDENCE LOCKERS: A. General: Evidence Lockers are located within each district for use when deputies seize evidence,...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 6.7 EVIDENCE LOCKERS: A. General: Evidence Lockers are located within each district for use when deputies seize evidence, find or confiscate property. The purpose of the lockers is to provide safe- secure storage of evidence or found property, until such time as each item is transported to either the Crime Laboratory, for forensic examination, or the Evidence Room, for storage or destruction. B. Guidelines: When deputies seize evidence, find or confiscate property, they will complete a written report detailing the seizure. Item(s) will be clearly documented on a Property Receipt, and each item properly packaged and safeguarded in a way to ensure that the integrity of each item(s) evidentiary value is preserved for: 1. Submission to the Crime Laboratory for forensic examination. 2. Possible submission to court. 3. Safe-keeping and/or storage pending return to legal owner. C. Evidence Lockers: Prior to placing evidence within secure lockers, deputies will complete a Property Receipt itemizing and describing each piece of evidence. Any item(s) destined for the Crime Laboratory should be clearly marked and separately packaged from those item(s) that are destined for the Evidence/Property Room. D. Evidence Log: When placing evidence within secured lockers, deputies will ensure that the evidence or property is entered into the EVIDENCE LOG, which will contain the following information: 1. Date 2. Description of item(s) 3. Destination of the item(s) - either Crime Lab or Evidence/Property Room 4. Locker # 5. Initials of submitting deputy 6. Initials of supervisor E. Types of Evidence: Reviewed: 09/25/2018 Revised: 10/12/2018 Rescinds: 07/31/2013 Effective: 10/26/2018 6.7 Page 1 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 1. Firearms: Firearms may be placed in secured lockers located within each district/command, provided that all necessary safety precautions along with measures to preserve the item(s) evidentiary value are met. Each firearm will be properly packaged in an approved Gun Box, sealed, and logged into the EVIDENCE LOG. 2. Knives: Knives may be placed in secured lockers located within each district/command, provided that all necessary precautions, along with measures to preserve the item(s) evidentiary value are met. Each knife will be properly packaged in an approved knife box, sealed, and logged into the EVIDENCE LOG. 3. Sharps: Syringes, Razors, Glass, Needles and other items considered SHARPS, may be placed in secured lockers located within each district/command, provided that all necessary precautions, along with measures to preserve the item(s) evidentiary value are met. Each Item determined to be SHARPS will be packaged and sealed in an approved Sharps container. 4. Drugs/Narcotics: Suspected drugs and other controlled substances, less then Trafficking Amounts, may be placed in secured evidence lockers located within each district/command, provided that the item(s) are properly packaged, sealed and logged in the EVIDENCE LOG. Trafficking amounts of any controlled substance shall require the appropriate investigative call-out. 5. Money: a. Up to $500.00: May be placed in secured lockers located within each district/command, provided that the following conditions are met: (1) Deputies will notify their supervisor when they take custody of money. (2) Money will be counted in the presence of a supervisor or a deputy with supervisor approval, who will co-sign the receipt. (3) Money will be packaged in an approved Evidence Envelope, sealed- using Evidence Tape, initialed and dated by the seizing deputy. (4) All money, regardless of amount, will be logged into O-Drop and initialed by the verifying Deputy/Supervisor. (5) The submitting and verifying Deputy must enter the money into O-Drop together for O-Drop authentication. Reviewed: 09/25/2018 Revised: 10/12/2018 Rescinds: 07/31/2013 Effective: 10/26/2018 6.7 Page 2 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES b. Over $500.00: Money in excess of $500.00, but less then $5000.00 may be temporarily stored in the secure lockers; however must be transported to the Evidence/Property Room during normal Property Room hours of operation. F. Evidence Custodian: Each District/Command will designate a sergeant or lieutenant to act as Evidence Custodian. The Evidence Custodian will be provided a Master Key to the secure lockers and will ensure that the following guidelines are met: 1. Ensure that the Master Key to the Secure Lockers is safeguarded at all times. 2. Ensure that Evidence Lockers remain functional and in good working condition. 3. Routinely audit the EVIDENCE LOG to ensure that there is proper documentation of submitted item(s). 4. As needed, designate a courier to transport evidence to the Crime Laboratory and/or Evidence/Property Room. 5. Liaison with the Crime Laboratory and the Evidence Room to mediate and remedy any issues related to the submission of Evidence by his/her district. 6. Report to command on the progress of this initiative. G. Evidence Technicians/Property Room: 1. Evidence Technicians, under the direction of the Property Room Supervisor, will continue with weekly pick-ups at the various districts/commands. 2. Money being transported by an Evidence Technician will remain sealed, in the approved Evidence Envelope, and will remain sealed while being stored at the Property Room. 3. Evidence Technicians will initial the EVIDENCE LOG and ensure that all item(s) are properly noted on the Log. 4. Evidence Technicians noting any discrepancy in the Evidence Log, Packaging, or property Receipt, should notify the District Evidence Custodian or a Shift Supervisor, who will seek to remedy the discrepancy with the submitting deputy. Reviewed: 09/25/2018 Revised: 10/12/2018 Rescinds: 07/31/2013 Effective: 10/26/2018 6.7 Page 3 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 5. Firearms will not be transported by Evidence/Property Room personnel; only designated district employees will be permitted to transport firearms. NOTICE These Standard Operating Procedures are considered law enforcement sensitive and may contain certain information that may be exempt under Florida Public Records Law. Outside or public requests for information from this Standard Operating Procedures Manual must be directed to the Office General Counsel for review and redaction, if necessary, prior to disclosure. Reviewed: 09/25/2018 Revised: 10/12/2018 Rescinds: 07/31/2013 Effective: 10/26/2018 6.7 Page 4 of 4