Police evidence room being investigated
San Luis Department is part of parallel probes
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — The evidence room at the San Luis Police Department is the subject of parallel investigations by that department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety into possible criminal conduct or improper evidence handling procedures.
Acting San Luis Police Chief Richard Jessup said an unspecified number of police department employees are the subjects of the investigations, but declined to identify them or say whether they have or could face prosecution or disciplinary action.
“It’s a personnel matter and I’m not going to discuss that,” he said. “Obviously there are more than two people involved in this investigation in particular, but I can’t confirm or deny that anyone has been suspended.”
Jessup said the police investigation was launched prior to him assuming interim command of the department in June, and the results of the probe were turned over the Yuma County Attorney’s Office.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has begun a followup investigation at the police department’s request, he said.
Jessup conceded a crime “could have occurred in our evidence room,” but said he’s hoping DPS will be able to answer questions left unresolved in the prior investigation.
The DPS investigation could result in a recommendation to the county attorney’s office that criminal charges be filed, or could simply lead to a recommendation that the department revise its evidence handling procedures, he said.
“It may be there was a crime or maybe a failure to follow policies and procedures. The goal (of the investigation) has to be to find out if (criminal conduct) occurred or if nothing occurred.”
Following proper evidence handling procedures is essential for any law enforcement agency, Jessup said.
“It is an extremely important area,” he said. “There
may be items there related to homicide cases, blood samples that need proper identification or need proper conditions to be preserved. You may have money (in an evidence room), evidence from robberies, weapons, drugs or items that are connected to some crime that is being investigated.”
Jessup added that among other things, the DPS investigation will determine the frequency with which the police department did audits or inventories of its evidence room. He said from his experience, such audits should be done at least once a year but preferably every three months, or even once a month.
He said he hopes to make more details about the investigations public once they are wrapped up. In the meantime, he said, he’s looking at the probes as an opportunity to improve operating procedures.
The evidence room “is within standards in its operation now, but there could be some concerns about quality assurance. I think that we will always be looking at that. There is always room to improve.”