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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury
• 2011-2012
San Luis Obispo County Law Enforcement Property and Evidence Management
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 15 findings
F1
Page 174
The Police Departments of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Paso Robles, and the Sheriff’s Department are not in full compliance with their respective policies pertaining to evidence room inspections.
F2
Page 174
The Police Departments of Atascadero, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and the City of San Luis Obispo are in compliance with their respective policies pertaining to evidence room inspections.
F3
Page 174
The Grover Beach Police Department is currently conducting a full inventory of its evidence room.
F4
Page 174
Morro Bay Police Department advised that it will complete a full inventory of its evidence room with the hiring of a new Property/Evidence Technician.
F5
Page 174
Paso Robles Police Department was unable to advise the number of evidence items purged due to a data entry error that occurred routinely over a period of time.
F6
Page 174
Paso Robles Police Department has advised the Grand Jury that it will complete a full inventory within the year.
F7
Page 174
Paso Robles Police Department does not store guns, money and drugs in a neat and orderly manner.
F8
Page 174
In the Paso Robles Police Department, five people have access to the evidence room and staff rotates every two to four years.
F9
Page 174
Arroyo Grande Police Department and the Grover Beach Police Department do not have ventilated property/evidence rooms for storage of drugs/narcotics.
F10
Page 174
The San Luis Obispo Police Department does not store handguns in a neat and orderly manner.
F11
Page 174
The San Luis Obispo Police Department is planning a full inventory within the year.
F12
Page 174
The Sheriff’s Department has advised that it will move its property/evidence room operation to a new facility.
F13
Page 174
The District Attorney’s office does not have formal, written property/evidence retention policies.
F14
Page 174
The District Attorney’s Office is currently establishing a Memorandum of Understanding with each jurisdiction regarding the retention/destruction of medical marijuana.
F15
Page 174
As a result of the Grand Jury audit, changes are already being made to improve the property/evidence room function in some of the law enforcement agencies in the county. 2011-2012 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 162
Recommendations 13
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R1Page 173All law enforcement agencies in the County should adhere to their respective policies relating to property/evidence room inspections.
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R2Page 173The Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach Police Departments should ventilate their evidence rooms containing drugs/narcotics.
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R3Page 173The Paso Robles Police Department should maintain their property/evidence room in a neat and orderly manner.
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R4Page 173The Paso Robles Police Department should consider using the services of POST or an independent consulting service to conduct a full review of its property/evidence room function.
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R5Page 173To reduce audit-related personnel costs, the Paso Robles Police Department should consider staffing the property/evidence room with a single dedicated Property/Evidence Technician.
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R6Page 173The San Luis Obispo Police Department should store handguns in a safe, neat and orderly manner.
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R7Page 173The District Attorney’s Office should develop a formal property retention policy that will assist each law enforcement agency with the proper retention/destruction of property evidence.
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R8Page 173The District Attorney’s Office should establish a liaison between its office and each law enforcement jurisdiction to regularly review existing and new property/evidence laws and procedures.
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R9Page 173All personnel assigned to property/evidence rooms in the county should continue their training and/or update their knowledge through professional organizations. It is also highly recommended that they join the county chapter of CAPE.
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R10Page 173The Grand Jury encourages the county law enforcement agencies to utilize the services of either POST for management assistance or a qualified consultant specializing in property/evidence room management.
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R11Page 174The following police departments shall submit evidence of a full property/evidence room audit to the Grand Jury: Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and the Sheriff’s Department.
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R12Page 174The Grand Jury recommends that the police chiefs and County Sheriff explore the feasibility of a county-wide property/evidence room consolidation, possibly under a joint powers agreement.
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R13Page 174While the Grand Jury does not have jurisdiction over a state agency, it would highly recommend that the California POST Commission consider a statewide certification program for Property/Evidence Technicians that establishes minimum training, education and experience requirements. 2011-2012 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 163