SOP 339 Entry and Disposition of Property Depositioned In the Evidence Control Section Flashcards
Officers have the option of entering most seized property at the Evidence Control Section, Impound Lot, or their District Office. The Police Evidence Control Section is open
0700 to 1700, Monday through Friday.
If _____are available, they will assume responsibility for the deceased’s property, regardless of value, and none will be seized unless such property may be physical evidence.
next-of-kin
If next-of-kin are not available and if death occurs; in a _____, all valuable property and identification papers will be seized.
public place
In a residence owned or rented by the deceased, no property will be seized except when the investigating officer observes a _____ , _______or ______ which is in plain view, and is easily
accessible to theft.
- will
- cash
- valuable jewelry
It should be noted that F.S. §715.10 – §715.11, (Property General Provisions) require landlords to notify the owners of property left on the premises, when a tenancy terminates for any reason. A list of valuables seized will be left________at the residence.
in plain view
The _______will determine if property is not suitable for storage.
Evidence Control Section
Evidence Control personnel at police headquarters will accept the following
property: Narcotics, currency, homicide evidence, sexual battery evidence,
blood/alcohol kits, bio-hazardous materials, electronic media items such as CDs, DVDs and VHS/cassette tapes. All other property that can be stored on standard shelving that does not exceed ________.
“D” box (1186)
_________ personnel will accept all items as listed in III, A, 1, and 2 above, or large quantities of items not suited for storage at police headquarters.
Police impound lot
The storing of large amounts of flammables, chemicals or other objects that
require outdoor storage are ________; rather, it is recommended that samples of
this type of evidence be obtained rather than the entire amount.
discouraged
______, ______,_______, and _______ or items that by their nature must be taken to
the Impound Lot (such as flammables), will not be entered at the District Offices
- Firearms
- Large items,
- Bicycles,
- High Value narcotics or currency
Seized property entered at District Offices will be stored on a ___________.
temporary basis
The seized property will be transported to the Evidence Control Section or
Impound Lot by ___________ the _________ following entry for permanent storage
- The courier assigned to the Evidence
Control Section - Next business day
All property and evidence taken into custody by members of the Tampa Police
Department shall be entered into the Evidence Control Section, I-Lot, or District
Offices as soon as practicable ______________ . On a routine basis, the Evidence Control courier will retrieve the items of evidence from each district
Prior to the end of their tour of duty.
No property will be accepted without a _________ which is also used as the ________.
- TPD report number,
2. Property number.
If the circumstance of the seizure of the property would normally not require a report, __________describing the reason for seizure will be initiated and a report number generated. However this does not apply to ______, _______, or _________.
- an information report
2. latent print lifts, film or digital imagery
Packages, boxes, etc., should be the ____________________to enclose the
property for the purpose of conserving limited storage space. Property will not be
accepted if packaging is inappropriate.10
minimum size required
Articles that are entered, _______shall be properly marked for identification
during court presentation
as evidence
When property is entered at the District Office, the original property form will be attached to the Confiscated Property Entry/Transfer Log (TPD 1020). The courier will review the forms, packages, and labeling prior to transporting property to the Evidence Control Section. Any discrepancies will be brought to the attention of the __________.
District Shift Commander
The evidence technician will record the property submission by entering
the data into the TPD Records Management System and a _________is assigned to that article.
barcode number
The barcode number is generated via _________
Versadex (RMS)
The storage location and evidence continuity (chain of custody,date
and time of item entered, transferred, disposed, etc.) can be determined by ______________
scanning the barcode number into Versadex.
All narcotics, cash, and valuable jewelry entered at the Evidence Control
Section or Impound Lot will be placed in a __________by the_________ immediately upon receipt.
- Secure drop box
2. Receiving evidence technician
All narcotics, cash, and valuable jewelry entered at the Evidence Control will be witnessed by the _________.
entering employee
Cash will be counted, and the amount verified, in the presence of the receiving _________.
evidence technician
All narcotics, cash, and valuable jewelry entered at the District Offices will be
placed in a _________by the entering officer.
secure drop box
Cash entered at the District level will be counted and the amount verified in the presence of ___________.
the Shift Commander
If the quantity of a narcotics seizure is too large for the drop box, the entering employee will remain with the narcotics until the __________or ________responds to take custody of the narcotics.
- Evidence Control Supervisor
2. The Assistant Evidence Control Supervisor
Officers will at all times exercise common firearm safety rules and are responsible for the discharge of firearms, either intentionally or unintentionally. Officers coming into contact with weapons with which they are not familiar will not attempt to unload the weapons but will contact the _________to make the weapon safe.
range master or his designee
Ammunition originating from the weapon will be placed in a _______ and stored in the same gun box.
separate zip lock bag
Separate ammunition that did not originate from within the weapon will be packaged in ___________.
a separate package.
All firearms that require processing, for evidentiary value (fingerprints),
will be taken to the ________and processed, prior to packaging.
- Forensic Investigation Unit
If a firearm cannot be processed make a special notation on the firearm property form (TPD 1006) and a _______ will do the follow up on the processing request.
representative from the Firearms Investigation Unit
______ will be unloaded and a bright colored sticker will be placed on
the outside of the firearm box, either on the right or left end. The officer will initial the sticker indicating that the firearm is unloaded and made safe.
- Handguns
The gun information such as the
make, model, serial number, importer, and country of origin will be verified by a representative of the _________when the firearms are brought to the Evidence Control Section.
Firearms Investigation Unit
The ________will check for the firearm safe sticker. _____________ will check the firearm to ensure that it is safe prior to
verifying the gun information.
- Firearms Investigation Officer
2. The Firearms Investigation Unit
When defective weapons cannot be unloaded, the evidence technician will _______________The officer will lock the weapon and a copy of the property form in the security area. They will then contact the Range Master or his designee to make the weapon safe as soon as possible.
escort the officer to a location designated for locked security of the weapon
Immediate and irreversible _______must be prevented from occurring to firearms recovered from the water.
oxidation
Firearms recovered from fresh water should not be removed from the water without first ? When these circumstances occur, this will be accomplished by the ________or ________
- placing the firearm in a suitable container that contains water from where it was recovered.
- Dive Team or Forensic Investigation Unit.
Firearms recovered from ________ should immediately be placed ____ or ________to prevent rusting. This will also be accomplished by the Dive Team or Forensic Investigation Unit.
- salt/brackish water
2. in oil or other lubricating fluid
The Firearms Investigation Unit will take all the information on the entered firearm and complete an __________and complete the trace request through the _________,
- ETSS trace data entry form
- Department of Treasury Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
National Tracing Center.
The ________will inspect all firearms prior to entry into the gun vault. Upon entering the firearm, the detective will place and
secure a plastic tie through the action to prevent the slide, bolt or cylinder
from fully closing.
Firearms Investigation Unit
Any firearm that is removed for court purposes will be opened and inspected by :
the officer removing the gun from the Evidence Control Section.
In ______ cases the originating officer, and the investigating officer, who entered the property, are authorized to remove the property. They are also responsible for final disposition of the property at the earliest possible date.
Retained Cases
In _____ cases the latent investigator, or any other assigned personnel, may remove property, and are responsible for making final disposition at the earliest date possible.
Referred Cases
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_have the authority to enter and remove property; however, final disposition is the responsibility of the originating officer(s) or latent investigator(s), as stipulated above.
Crime scene technicians
Firearms shall be released only by the __________
Firearms Investigation Unit
A court order is required prior to the release of any firearm under the following circumstances The firearm was originally seized as evidence and the owner has failed to request the return of the firearm within _______of the conclusion of the criminal case. F.S. §705.105(2007);
sixty (60) days
A court order is required prior to the release of any firearm under the following circumstances: The firearm owner has been committed for mental evaluation, under the Baker Act (F.S. Chapter 394) or otherwise, within the proceeding 365 days unless the owner presents a current letter from a _________or __________ to the effect that the owner is not considered to be a danger to himself or others.
licensed physician or psychologist
It shall be the responsibility of the _______to notify the evidence control supervisor of terminations of police officers, community service officers, or investigative aides due to retirement, resignation, or any other reason. This notice is to be made as soon as possible after the employee has declared the intent to terminate and shall include name and payroll
number.
Personnel Unit
The ________will produce a computer-generated list of property that is assigned to the terminating employee. This list will be
routed to the affected employee’s division commander for appropriate action.
evidence control supervisor
The division commander will cause the terminating employee to review and dispose of the property on the list prior to the termination date. If this is not practical, or if the property must be retained, the division commander will re-assign the responsibility to __________.
another permanent employee
Disposition of evidence associated with arrests requires prior approval from the ______
State Attorney’s Office.
No evidence seized in a ___________ whether solved or unsolved, will be authorized for disposal unless reviewed and approved by
a supervisor from the appropriate latent bureau or division.
capital or life felony offense,
Title to unclaimed lost personal property which is found on public property is vested in the finder __________, provided that notice requirements of F.S. §705.103 are met. If the finder is an employee of a government agency, then title is vested in
that agency.2
90 days from the date delivered to the department
Any person finding _________must report the location of the property and turn it over to the police department
lost property
Any person, who finds lost property and appropriates same for his own use, or refuses to deliver same when required, may be charged with _________
theft
A _________who wishes to claim the property, if not claimed by the owner, must compensate the city for the cost of ______, _______, and ___________ of the property.
- finder of lost property
2. Transporting, Storage, & Advertising
If unclaimed by the owner or if there is a claimant, disposition of the
property shall be the responsibility of the __________(based upon the 90-day time limit). The ________shall notify the evidence control supervisor of any claimant and request the required advertisement or posting.
assigned investigator
If the owner or claimant fails to retrieve the found property within 90 days, the ____________ will notify him by certified mail. If the property is left an additional ____days, it will be disposed of as provided by law.
- evidence control supervisor
2. 30
A data entry record of a lost firearm entered into the Evidence Control Section is made into ______. On the date the assigned investigator
authorizes disposition of the firearm, he shall cancel the ______. entry with the pick-up desk.
- FCIC
_______mandates that law enforcement
agencies and state attorneys promptly return victims’ property held for evidentiary purposes, unless there is a compelling reason for retaining it.
(Victim Assistance)
__________ provides that photographs of property wrongfully taken are admissible in court as evidence, to the same extent as
the actual property, provided that the following is written on such photographs
a. Description of the property;
b. Name of the owner;
c. Location of the offense;
d. Name of investigating officer;
e. Date of the photograph;
f. Name/description of the photograph; and
g. Signature of the photographer.
(Evidence Code)
The authorization for release of deceased property is the responsibility of the ________
Criminal Investigations Division.
By definition, the department has no interest in property held for safekeeping, except __________.
firearms
Personal property obtained by Tampa
Police Department personnel is stored within the Evidence Control Section at either the ______or ________
- Headquarters or
2. The Impound Lot
Authorized personnel who obtain the seized property must complete the form at the time of seizure. The _____ will be provided to the owner and the carbon will be submitted to the ESC facility.
hardcopy
At the time personal property is entered, the ________will complete the property forms authorizing release to the owner. Firearms will be released by the Firearms Investigation Unit.
entering employee
The Evidence Control Supervisor will ensure the TPD 1053 form is systematically filed for future disposition purposes. If the owner fails to retrieve his/her property within days from the date of the notice, in accordance with Florida State Statutes, this agency may elect to:
- 60
a. Retain the prop. for the agency’s own use;
b. Transfer the property to another unit of state or local government;
c. Donate the property to a charitable
d. Sell the property at public sale
e. Destroy the property.
Officers or employees that temporarily check out property for any reason will
complete a ___________
Property Transfer Form
Property checked out to court will
be returned to the Evidence Control Section _________, if not retained by court
the same day
If property is retained by court, officers will _________ The signed Property Disposition Form will be returned to the Evidence Control Section the same day.
have the court representative who
accepts the property sign a “Property Disposition Form” acknowledging receipt of
the property.
It shall be the responsibility of the_________ the designated recipient of the property, via certified mail, to report to the Evidence Control Section and retrieve the property
within the time limits as provided by state statute.
evidence control supervisor
It will be the responsibility of the __________to identify the recipients and require them to sign for release of the property. The authorizing officer/employee need not be present during the release of the property.
on-duty evidence technician
If disposition of property is not made to a person, the _________ will have final authority for determining the method of disposal based upon department policy and Florida State Statute
evidence control supervisor
After final disposition is made, all property records will be sent to the __________
for attachment to the corresponding incident report.
Records Section
Final disposition of found, recovered, or evidentiary property is accomplished as
soon as practical but in no case shall disposition be delayed in excess of ______ after legal requirements have been met.
six months
