Integrity is an important word in the police world. It is often on department mottos or mission statements and it should be part of every decision made on the job, including in regard to evidence. If evidence is compromised it can lead to potentially losing a case. Just as my other blog discussed chain of custody, it is crucial that the integrity of how evidence is collected as well as how it is stored is preserved.
Evidence collection is not always a daily task for the patrolman. However, it is best to keep up with good practices on how to collect, bag, and tag evidence properly. Even if it takes a few more minutes for you to package that knife it is best if it done well. I have had experiences where knives were placed in paper evidence bags. This is never a good idea-it isn't safe, and when the bag tears, which it will, your item may be exposed/contaminated and potentially compromised. Take those few minutes to secure the knife in a box with zip ties.
Just as you don't let your guard down on the street, don't let your guard down when it comes to evidence collection. You will never regret the outcome if your evidence is properly collected and secured.
