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,
I am drowning in my property room with unneeded evidence that could have been purged years ago and they can't seem to get anybody to understand my problem what do I do?
Thanks,
Randi
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Dear Randi,
Last week, the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE) had the privilege of conducting two classes in Anaheim, CA – the enchanting home of Mickey Mouse. The first two days focused on our foundational two-day training course on efficient property room management, while the following day introduced our new program, "Advanced Concepts in Evidence Management" (formerly known as our Supervisor class).
During the Advanced Concepts class, there emerged a significant discussion on a common concern: how to effectively communicate the need for additional personnel to address the challenges faced in evidence management. With a training history that spans over 900 classes, reaching more than 35,000 property and evidence professionals across all 50 states, IAPE is uniquely positioned to shed light on the persistent issue of understaffing in evidence management.
It is undeniable that many police departments in the United States lack adequate personnel to manage their evidence efficiently, resulting in continuous growth in overall inventory and subsequent requests for expanded storage space. As IAPE has consistently emphasized, the crux of the matter lies in the availability of sufficient personnel.
The challenge, however, lies in the fact that police administrators, more often than not, lack firsthand experience in the intricacies of the property room. Consequently, they may struggle to comprehend the daily challenges faced by evidence professionals.
Moreover, unlike other law enforcement metrics, property room data requires a longitudinal perspective, spanning five to ten years. While police executives are adept at analyzing year-to-year crime trends, response times, and clearance rates, the same level of attention is seldom given to evidence management data.
To bridge this gap and communicate your challenges effectively, we propose the creation of a comprehensive table illustrating 5-10 years of data, comparing intake versus purged numbers. Such a visual representation will provide organizational leadership with a clear understanding of the evolving landscape of the property room.
In our experience, a proactive approach that involves presenting tangible data is more likely to capture the attention of police chiefs and other decision-makers. By adopting this visual approach, you can articulate the necessity for additional personnel, offering a snapshot of the property room's current state and its trajectory over time.
We encourage you to consider implementing this strategy as a powerful tool to convey the vital message of the personnel requirements in your property room.
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In Table 1 you can visually see that for every 10 items are received only 3 are being purged. |
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In Table 2 the same data illustrated to show 10 years of growth the inventory was increased by 98,380 items. The question to pose to management, what will this look like in 10 years without intervention. |
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To answer your question, the only way you are ever going to be able to justify any staffing increases is to provide quantifiable data that illustrates the problem. At the same time you must try and project the consequence of failing to act. If you have added 100,000 (as shown in Table 2) the next 10 years will be the same. Is there space? |
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Thank you,
Joe Latta
Executive Director
International Association for Property and Evidence
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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 2024
2-Day Evidence Management Classes
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February
Las Vegas, Nevada
St. John County, Florida
March
Lansing, Michigan
Sacramento, California
Tucson, Arizona
Hutto, Texas
April
Town of Cary, North Carolina
Kansas City, Missouri
Salem, Oregon
Lancaster, Ohio
May
Commerce City, Colorado
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
White County, Illinois
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June
Hurst, Texas
Council Bluffs, Iowa
August
Indianapolis, Indiana
Humble, Texas
September
Union Gap, Washington
Overland Park, Kansas
October
Caldonia, Wisconsin
More Coming in 2024!
Salt Lake City, Utah
Abermarle County, Virginia
Minneapolis, Minnesota
South San Francisco, California
Massillon, Ohio
Joplin, Missouri
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1-Day Advanced Evidence Management Classes
(Formerly Supervisor Classes)
Town of Cary, North Carolina
Union Gap, Washington
Commerce City, Colorado
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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A Former Kentucky officer pleads guilty in connection to drug thefts from evidence room
January 20, 2024
A former Somerset police officer has pleaded guilty in connection with stealing drugs from the evidence room at the police department. Michael Carrell, 45, pleaded guilty Jan. 18 to 11 charges of third-degree burglary; four charges of tapering with physical evidence; two charges of theft of controlled substances; two counts of receiving stolen property; and charges of possession of methamphetamine, illegal access to a computer and unauthorized access to a computer, according to court records.
Carrell was an officer with the Somerset Police Department from 2003 through October 2022. The charges alleged that Carrell did unauthorized computer searches to identify criminal cases with drugs held in evidence, and then, after leaving his job with the department, used electronic entry cards and keys he had kept to get into the building and the evidence room and take items, including drugs.
Correll should have returned the key cards and keys but didn’t, Commonwealth’s Attorney David L. Dalton said in one court document. According to the document, the audit showed more than 8,500 pills were missing from evidence.
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Commentary:
This is an easy one. Comply with the International Association for Property and Evidence Professional Standards 8.6 and Mr Correll would not be going to jail. Editorial Joe Latta
8.6 LOCK AND KEY CHANGES
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8.6.1. Locks, access codes, and combinations to the Property Room will be changed or deactivated with any resignation, termination, retirement, or transfer of Property Room personnel.
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8.6.2. Any time the rekeying or changing of locks is the responsibility of non-Property Room personnel (private vendor, IT, etc.), there will be safeguards in place that ensure these parties cannot gain unauthorized access to the Property Room.
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8.6.3. All hard keys will be marked with a unique identifying number and will be documented on a key log.
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8.6.4. Policy will forbid the duplication of keys without management approval.
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8.6.5. Policy will require that all keys be verified annually and documented by a supervisor.
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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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Have you stopped by the ShopIAPE store lately?
Check out some of our new products and save 25% using code "KRAPOLA"
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Keeper of Krapola Unisex Heavy Blend™ Hooded Sweatshirt
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Kween of Krapola Unisex Tri-Blend 3\4 Raglan Tee
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IAPE | www.IAPE.org | 800-449-4273
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