AGENDA TITLE:
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Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of March 30 - April 5, 2025 as National Property and Evidence Professionals Appreciation Week in Lodi (PD)
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MEETING DATE:
April 2, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Andrea Morales, Administrative Assistant
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Mayor Cameron Bregman will present a proclamation proclaiming the week of March 30 - April 5, 2025, as National Property and Evidence Professionals Appreciation Week.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
National Property and Evidence Professionals Appreciation Week is a national event recognizing property and evidence professionals and their essential role in the criminal justice system. Their crucial role involves working closely with investigations, patrol, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the integrity of every item in the department’s possession.
The property department receives all items coming into the police department. Our current tracking system shows records of 384,942 items that entered the department's property room. The Lodi Police Department currently maintains 70,895 items in the property room. Last year, we received 10,679 items and 2,461 items of evidence. Some of the evidence relates to homicides dating back several decades.
Items are frequently booked as evidence and as found property, property for destruction, and items held for safekeeping. The property technician processes, records, and stores every single item. Property technicians may be required to process items of evidence, searching for clues to identify a perpetrator through DNA or fingerprint evidence.
They coordinate the transfer of items to other agencies or laboratories for processing. This may include the examination of firearms, drug testing, DNA testing, or other chemical analysis. They work alongside investigators and district attorneys to share digital and physical evidence and help prepare it for trial.
Property technicians are in charge of attempting to find the owners of lost property, correctly and safely return items held for safekeeping, and destroy property when it can no longer be held. They maintain the security of items held in four different locations in and around the police department. The property department maintains the custody and integrity of evidence used to prosecute crimes.
Lodi Property Technicians perform an essential role in the department. Without their hard work, dedication, commitment, and keen attention to detail, our department would be unable to function. The Lodi Police Department and the City of Lodi thanks them for all their hard work behind the scenes.
STRATEGIC VISION:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not applicable.
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Ricardo Garcia
Police Chief
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Scott R. Carney
City Manager