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Welcome IAPE Newsletter Reader
Greetings!
The International Association for Property and Evidence, Inc. wants to remind all of our members to renew your membership so as not to miss out on receiving the first issue of the 2013 Evidence Log that is at the printers.
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ASK JOE
Didn't Know The Bullet Was Loaded!
Q
Dear Joe,
I recently was removing a bag of ammunition with six cartridges from our temporary lockers when the package fell on the floor. You says what's the big deal! Nothing other that one of the cartridges exploded! Fortunately, no one was injured, just scared the "xxxx" out of all of us the property room. Have you ever heard of this happening before and what was the solution? If there is one?
Thanks, Scarred xxxxx
A
Dear Scarred xxxx,
You know that we always talk about Events and Trends in our classes. Several years ago I had the same question from a Evidence Custodian, employed by the Alaska State Patrol in Anchorage as the same thing happened. Shortly thereafter in Sacramento, California, the one time Event became a Trend.
Police Clerk hurt by exploding bullet
Just last week another Evidence Custodian in one of our classes indicated that they had recently encountered the same type of accident. It seems when the cartridges fall if they strike something sharp, including another bullet, they can in fact explode.
After hearing about the Alaska incident we mentioned it in the next Evidence Log, but it seems like we need to again alert all to the dangers and some a few creative solutions. The following was disseminated to employees within the Alaska State Troopers
Notice:
Injury to an Alaska State
Trooper Evidence Custodian
On 4/8/11, an Evidence Custodian with the Alaska State Troopers in Palmer, Alaska was moving several items of evidence from a temporary hallway locker to a more secure evidence room. One of the items being carried was an un-padded manila envelope containing 8 live .45 caliber rounds which were stored loosely in the envelope.
Upon entering the evidence room, the Evidence Custodian inadvertently dropped the envelope from a distance of about 3 feet, on to a vinyl tile cement floor Upon impact with the floor, one of the live cartridges within the envelope discharged. The bullet and cartridge case separated and traveled approximately five feet. The cartridge case fragmented during the explosion and one piece of the metal cartridge case struck the Evidence Custodian in the wrist and traveled under the skin to the employee's palm, requiring surgery.
The two photos below show how the rim of one live cartridge case (at an approximate 90% angle) made contact against the rim and primer of another live cartridge, which then exploded
ABI (Alaska Bureau of Investigation) Evidence Custodian, Jennifer Griggs, began looking for alternative ways to safely package loose ammunition. This message and attached photos are the results of her efforts.
Although the below suggestions are not ideal for packaging ammunition destined for DNA testing or when latent fingerprinting is needed, these methods may be safer when submitting loose ammunition to AST Evidence Rooms and are worthy of your consideration.
Ammunition still in its original factory container or secured within a firearm magazine (as long as the magazines is separated from the firearm), should not need to be repackaged.
Suggestion #1: (See Attached Photos #1-2)
* Cut a piece of cardboard to size. For instance in the attached pictures, the cardboard is about 4 inches by 3 ˝ inches.
* Place the rounds side-by-side, alternating the primer end every other round.
* Tape the rounds to the cardboard using clear tape, completely covering the rounds. There should be perpendicular strips of tape to ensure that the rounds do not come loose.
* After securing the rounds to cardboard, place them into an appropriate sized envelope. Seal with tamper evident tape and tag the item as usual.
 | | Photo 1 |
 | | Photo 2 |
Suggestion #2: Photo #3)
* Using a plastic cartridge holder from a box of ammo, place the loose rounds in the middle of the holder.
* Using clear tape, place a strip around the item, securing the rounds into the cartridge holder.
* After securing the rounds in the cartridge holder, place them into an appropriate sized envelope. Seal with tamper evident tape and tag the item as usual.
 | | Photo 3 |
Suggestion #3: (See Attached Photo #4)
*Place loose rounds into an appropriate size padded envelope - in other words the less room for loose ammo to shift and bounce around within the envelope, the better.
* Seal with tamper evident tape and tag the item as usual.
 | | Photo 4 |
IAPE really appreciates Jennifer's efforts in solving a problems that appears to have impact on many property rooms
across the country.
Thanks Again
Regards,
Joe Latta
Executive Director
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2013
Class Schedule
In 2012 over 1/2 the classes were sold out
Salem, MA
April 10 - 11, 2013
(6 seats left)
Spokane, WA
April 23 - 24, 2013
(7 seats left)
Norman, OK
May 1 - 2, 2013
(Sold Out - Call for wait list)
Winnipeg, Man
May 15 - 16, 2013
(10 seats left)
St. Louis, MO
May 29 - 30, 2013
(Sold Out - Call for wait list)
Winter Haven, FL
June 4 - 5, 2013
(22 seats left)
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June 12 - 13, 2013
(13 seats left)
Harris Co, TX
June 25 - 26, 2013 (19 seats left)
So. Burlington, VT
July 9 - 10, 2013
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July 23 - 24, 2013
(13 seats left)
Moline, IL
August 7 - 8, 2013
(13 seats left)
So. San Fran, CA
August 13 - 14, 2013
Riverside, MO
August 27 - 28, 2013
Albuquerque, NM September 10 - 11, 2013
Warren, OH September 23 - 24, 2013
Harrisburg, PA
September 26 - 27, 2013
Minneapolis, MN
October 1 - 2, 2013
Corrected Date
Sandy, UT October 16 - 17, 2013
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October 29 - 30, 2013
Portland, OR
November 5 - 6, 2013
Harvey, LA (New Orleans) November 19 - 20, 2013
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December 3 - 4, 2013
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FEATURE
EVIDENCE
LOG MAGAZINE
Past Issues
Now Available
2009
Online 1993 - 2009
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There are Two Ways to
Take the IAPE Training Class!
We have noticed many of our classes filling up quickly. If you cannot sign up for the class you want, or a class is not near your city, you can now take the Online Video Class.
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April Photo of the Month - BAD!
 | | Box Storage. |
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April Photo of the Month - GOOD
 | Box Storage
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IAPE continues its relationships with valuable and unique resources for our profession. Each month we will introduce you to companies who offer products and services to improve evidence handling, processes and best practices.
Y our strongest link in the chain of Custody, Spacesaver®, the trusted name in evidence storage systems has designed secure storage solutions to meet the needs of any department's evidence handling processes. Whether you require lockers for your temporary storage of evidence or need the long-term storage solution of our high-density mobile systems. Spacesaver evidence storage solutions can store the most unique objects we know you have, from now to forever. Our public safety storage solutions cover the gamut of the industry that shares a common goal: to protect and serve. Learn more about our department solutions at www.storageforgood.com<http://www.storageforgood.com>.Avoid the Static. ActivRAC® it. Property and evidence piling up on you? Mobilize and organize your property and evidence storage with ActivRAC® mobilized storage system by Spacesaver® that moves your existing or new shelving side-to-side, eliminating aisles and maximizing your square footage. It's the easiest way to add capacity without expanding, no matter the size or budget of the department. Evidence Lockers with ControLoc® Technology
The ControLoc line of secured evidence lockers allows departments to control and review access to each individual locker location in real time. With full network capability, ControLoc® Technology from Spacesaver®, will allow authorized personnel to track and document which officers and evidence technicians access the system, which evidence lockers they entered, and the date and time of every transaction. This can be done on-site or from another building. Access to the individual evidence locker areas is gained through an access card and a numeric control pad providing the highest level of security.
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