Ask Joe...Whenever you find yourself pondering over property and evidence room queries, fret not! Simply turn to the knowledgeable and experienced Joe Latta, IAPE's primary instructor and Executive Director. Each month, Joe graciously shares his wisdom by addressing one of your burning questions. Feel free to submit your own inquiry to Joe and tap into his wealth of expertise. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your understanding and streamline your property and evidence management processes. Ask Joe

Dear Joe,

Recently I was  assigned to the property room replacing a veteran of 20 years. One of the things I first noticed while looking in our money safe were dozens of cases with counterfeit money dating back at least 20 years. I researched all of the cases and none of them had ever be filed on. Neither my Sergeant nor Lieutenant had any idea of what do, any thoughts? 

Regards

Monet

Dear Monet,

Per a local Field Office, the U.S. Secret Service would like all reporting of counterfeit U.S. currency to be done through the included website. You will need to make an account, and it may take up to 15 days for approval. Under the organization name, Police Department will populate, and the rest of the required information will need to be entered by the individual employee. Once your account is approved,you will have access to the below Counterfed Note Report. Once the form is complete you can mail or drop off at a local Secret Service office.

Thank you,

Joe Latta

Executive Director

International Association for Property and Evidence

Training

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Evidence & Property Room Management

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.

Evidence Management Training Classes 2024

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The online course option is a great choice if you want the same curriculum taught in the Live classes but without the travel and time away from the department. The IAPE Property and Evidence Management video Course is approximately 16 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).

For information about the Property and Evidence Accreditation Program, please contact IAPE Accreditation Program Manager Alexis Grochmal at accreditation@iape.org.

Headlines

Breaking News: Ashville (OH) Police Chief Placed on Suspension Amid Allegations of Theft

OM

July 18, 2024

Ashville, OH – In a shocking turn of events, Ashville Police Chief Jeff George was walked out of the department and placed on investigative suspension with pay on Thursday Morning. The move comes after video evidence surfaced, allegedly showing the chief removing a high-end fishing pole from the evidence room and taking it home.

On Monday, the Ashville Council held an executive session to review the evidence presented to them. While they voted not to remove the chief, they did indicate that the sheriff’s department may launch their own investigation into the matter.

In a surprising development today, a sergeant from the Pickaway County sheriff’s office along with HR escorted Chief George out of the department. Some circumstances surrounding the chief’s departure are still unclear, but sources suggest that the investigation is ongoing.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to unfold. The community is eagerly awaiting answers regarding the allegations against Chief George and the future of the Ashville Police Department.

Editorial: The Great Ashville Fishing Pole Caper:

In the sleepy town of Ashville, Ohio, where the biggest crime of the year is usually a cat stuck in a tree, a scandal of epic proportions has rocked the local police department. It’s not a daring heist or a high-speed chase that’s making headlines, but something much more fishy—quite literally. It seems that our very own police chief was caught red-handed on security cameras stealing a fishing pole from the evidence room.

Yes, you read that right. A fishing pole. Not gold bars, not a secret dossier, but a humble fishing pole. The kind you'd find leaning against a cabin wall in any self-respecting Midwestern town. Apparently, the chief couldn’t resist the lure of the pole, which was part of an evidence haul from a recent case of “unlicensed fishing.” Ashville doesn’t mess around when it comes to fishing licenses, folks.

The security footage, which has now gone viral (because why wouldn’t it?), shows the chief sneaking out of the building. He glanced nervously around, perhaps expecting a SWAT team to burst in at any moment. But the only witness to this “crime” was the unblinking eye of the security camera.

Now, we can only speculate what was going through his mind. Maybe the chief had been itching for a quiet day at the lake, far away from the hustle and bustle of Ashville’s thrilling law enforcement scene. Or perhaps he just couldn’t resist the allure of the one that got away—after all, every great angler has their white whale. Or, in this case, a bass that was probably not even worth the price of bait.

But in all seriousness, what makes this whole affair truly noteworthy is the sheer absurdity of it. A police chief, a man sworn to uphold the law, pilfering a fishing pole from the evidence room like a kid sneaking cookies from the jar. The residents of Ashville are having a field day with this one, and the local paper is flooded with letters suggesting that perhaps the chief should switch careers—from law enforcement to competitive fishing.

Of course, the city has launched an “internal investigation” into the incident. Translation: they’re probably going to have a stern conversation and then chuckle about it over coffee. Because in a town like Ashville, where the biggest scandal now involves a fishing pole, it’s hard to take things too seriously.



In the end, maybe the chief’s greatest crime wasn’t the theft itself, but the fact that he didn’t even try to deny it. When confronted, he reportedly shrugged and said, “I just really wanted to go fishing.” Well, Chief, the only thing you caught this time was a whole lot of trouble—and maybe, just maybe, the biggest laugh Ashville has had in years.

So here’s to the great Ashville fishing pole caper: a tale of temptation, security cameras, and one man’s quest for the perfect cast. May we all find something as passion-inducing as that fishing pole—just, hopefully, without the security footage.

You can’t make this stuff up!

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