ROPERTY
The Property and Evidence Unit securely
PROPERTY & EVIDENCE UNIT receives, stores, and manages evidence and property under the Arlington Police Department’ s custody. It ensures a controlled chain of custody for evidence critical to criminal prosecutions and processes the release or disposal of property per legal statutes.
The Unit consists of 10 technicians who retrieve, process, and catalog evidence from four district storage facilities. In 2024, it handled over 28,000 items, including 5,600 drug-related items, 1,200 firearms, and 1,200 blood samples from DWI cases. Evidence ranges from small drug paraphernalia to large items like rugs from homicide cases.
The Property Room also retrieves and submits evidence from hospitals and regional crime labs, including sexual assault kits and blood specimens, facilitating forensic analysis. In 2024, over 3,900 items were submitted for testing.
To uphold evidentiary integrity, the Unit follows CALEA standards, conducting annual inspections, inventories, and audits. The unit undergoes two semi-annual inspections, one unannounced inspection, quarterly audits, and an independent annual audit to ensure compliance. These rigorous procedures reinforce the Unit’ s commitment to maintaining the integrity of all items in its care.
C
30 2024 ANNUAL REPORT ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT / arlingtonpd. org