Original Article Evidence storage revisited in Scottsdale June 2, 2005 By Ryan Gabrielson, Tribune The Scottsdale Police Department must try to contact the owners of confiscated property before selling or destroying it, under a proposed city ordinance mandated to repair numerous faults in its storage and tracking of evidence. Those problems were uncovered in a city audit released in December that found Scottsdales handling of evidence violated state law. As a result, property was likely destroyed that should have been returned to its owners, the audit stated. The audit also detailed a series of problems that led to faulty maintenance and documentation of evidence stored by the department. In many cases, biohazard materials, guns, narcotics and other drugs were not destroyed or could not be located in a timely manner. Under the proposed ordinance, expected to be adopted by the City Council on June 7, police would be required to mail owners of confiscated property worth more than $25 a notice telling them when their items can be reclaimed. "First were going to send you a letter. If you dont respond, then were going to put it in the newspaper," said Helen Gandara-Zavala, police administrative services director. Scottsdale will purchase advertisements in a local newspaper listing what items the city is attempting to return, she said. Police officials included the provision within a list of nine major changes to the ordinance dictating how evidence and property are maintained by the department. The proposal was written by the department, with assistance from city attorneys. Police officials have been retooling their evidence ordinance and operations for months, destroying excess blood, urine and drugs kept in off-site rental facilities, Gandara-Zavala said. The department is building a computer database and barcoding system to allow police to more easily track evidence. To date, property room employees have relied on paper invoices because of difficulties with earlier electronic systems. While the proposed ordinance alters the departments notification system, it gives police officials latitude to fix other evidence storage problems themselves. Much of it was written to reflect how the property room currently operates, Gandara-Zavala said. City Manager Jan Dolan said nearly every shortcoming cited in the audit has been remedied. Dolan has received weekly updates on the property rooms progress since the audits release, she said. Councilman Jim Lane argues that police may be giving themselves too much authority. Lane sits on the audit committee, which oversees City Auditor Cheryl Barcalas work. "It provides the maximum amount of discretion to the police department, which is really not something I was necessarily looking for," Lane said. The proposed ordinance sets broad guidelines for how the department can dispose of firearms, liquor and hazardous materials. Lane and Councilman Bob Littlefield, who also sits on the audit committee, had asked that Barcalas office reaudit the property room this summer. Lane said they dropped the request after meeting resistance from Dolan, who has argued that audits sometimes require excessive staff time. Dolan denied any part in determining what work the auditor does. Councilman Wayne Ecton said Barcala should serve only as an auditor inspecting how the city operates, not enforcing her recommendations. "The chief of police (Alan Rodbell) has been involved in police work for more than 20 years and I think he knows and understands the system and how things are done," Ecton said. Contact Ryan Gabrielson by email, or phone (480) 970-2341