CASE # 0399: Stockton Police Department
Property Room
Reason For Investigation
In September 1999, The Record
newspaper reported the arrest of a Stockton Police Department employee for
stealing money from the Stockton Police Department Property Room. Members of the San Joaquin County Civil
Grand Jury (SJCCGJ) felt that an investigation into the operation of the
Property room was warranted.
Background
The newspaper article
reported that in addition to the arrest, the Stockton Police Department was
conducting its own investigation into the operation of the property room. The SJCCGJ decided that an additional
investigation was warranted relative to the Property Room operation without
getting involved in the criminal investigation.
Method of Investigation
Members of the Administration
of Justice Committee paid an unannounced visit to the Property Room after the
newspaper article appeared, and found the staff unprepared for the visit. A tour of the Property Room was conducted
and money-booking procedures were explained.
It appeared to members of the committee that there was an inadequate
amount of “Checks and Balances” regarding the handling of money.
On October 28, 1999, members
of the Administration of Justice Committee met, by appointment, with Chief
Chavez and his Administrative Staff to discuss the operation of the Property
Room and any improvements to be implemented.
Chief Chavez stated that new policies and procedures for the operation of
the Property Room were being drafted and should be in effect by December
1999. These were sent to the SJCCGJ on
January 13, 2000.
After receiving the new
policies and procedures, a return visit was made with Chief Chavez and his
staff on February 22, 2000. During that
visit he explained how the new policies and procedures were drafted and
implemented and that they were currently in effect and working efficiently.
Findings and Conclusions
Upon completing the
investigation of the Stockton Police Department Property Room the following
information was learned:
1) The Criminal Investigation of the Property Room theft problem, conducted by the Stockton Police Department, revealed that two individuals were responsible for thefts of money from the Property Room Safe: both acting independent of each other. Upon completion of the investigation, appropriate action was taken by the Stockton Police Department regarding the involved employees.
2) All Staff
assigned to the Property Room prior to January 1999, were reassigned (the two
responsible were in that employee group).
3) The Stockton Police Departments Internal Affairs
Division has temporarily taken over the operation of the Property Room,
including the safe where the money is kept and the corresponding ledger.
4) The Property Room is overcrowded. It will be relocated to a larger facility in
the near future. All existing evidence
will be reviewed and evaluated prior to the relocation.
5) New policies and procedures were drawn up and
implemented in January of 2000. A
twelve page document detailing the handling of money was provided to the SJCCGJ
dated January 13, 2000 and was identified as “General Order” G-3, subject :
“Booking Money”, with an index for:
·
Booking Money
·
Release of Money
·
Transfer of Money to
City Treasury
·
Inspections/Audits
6) The new policies and procedures provided, as in item
#5 above, were accompanied by a cover letter giving a 15 point detailed
synopsis for money control and safeguards.
In conclusion, the SJCCGJ
determined that once the theft problem was identified, the Stockton Police
Department took an aggressive and pro-active approach to correct deficiencies
in money handling within the Property Room, developed and updated policies and
procedures for the Property Room, and prosecuted those responsible for the
thefts.
Recommendations
The SJCCGJ recommends that
all policies and procedures involving the operation of the Property/Evidence
room(s) or facilities be reviewed and evaluated annually and upgraded or
amended as needed.
Response Required
None