Evidence
Control Officer
Officer Mark Richmond
781-595-2000
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Evidence
lockers used to secure submitted items of evidence.
During
the course of a
year, the Lynn Police Department handles hundreds of seized and recovered
property cases. These cases account for the thousands of pieces of evidence
and property that are securely held by Evidence Control.
Property
Is generally an item which was stolen and then recovered by a citizen or
police officer, or an item which was found by a citizen (Lost & Found) and
turned over to the police department.
When
property is turned in to the department, it is placed into a secure area for
safekeeping while the police attempt to locate the owner. In some cases the
property is easily traced to the owner and released in a matter of days. In
other cases no information exists to begin a search and the property remains
unclaimed. Once all legal processes are completed, unclaimed property is
either destroyed or sold at public auction. All proceeds from the property
sold, as well as unclaimed money, are turned over to the City of Lynn general
fund.
Evidence
An item is considered to be evidence if it
relates to the commission of a crime which is currently under investigation.
Due to the way evidence is used in an investigation and at trial, it is
handled differently from property. Documentation of who examines, handles, or
takes possession of an item (chain of custody), is strictly monitored.
Evidence is kept in a vault where entry is limited to the Evidence Control
Officer.
Evidence or property that is brought to the Evidence Control Officer is examined and then
recorded in the Department's property tracking system. If necessary, the
evidence would then be processed for fingerprints and/or photographed. The
evidence would then be secured in the Evidence Control vault to await a trial or
disposition.
