Property and Evidence
Staffing - Sworn or Civilian
Who takes care of the property and evidence in your agency? Are they Sworn or civilian?
Staffing refers to the selection of employees to work in the property function of the agency. It includes such things as hiring standards, background investigations, assignments, and employee turnover. It is important that the agency’s selection criteria produce qualified employees, and a significant part of that is a thorough background investigation. Whether the employee is sworn or civilian is less important than that they are qualified, committed, and long-term employees.
Employees assigned to the property function may be non-peace officers, as peace officer powers are generally not required. The same reasoning may apply to supervisors or managers of the function. Important career ladders may be established by designating the Property Room supervisor and manager to be civilian positions in the organization, depending upon the size and structure of the agency. (used with permission from Property and Evidence by The Book, Author Lt. Joseph Latta (ret))
I would like to know who takes care of your evidence. Is there a general rule in Montana or does it depend on your current administration?
Email me: tmullikin@scsomt.org
