Searching vechicles

[Victorunit]

I helped out with a sweep one night and was in charge of taking incoming info from LEO's and evidence. I also got to help out with searching the criminals vehicles. All I had was gloves on. I got a just becareful. Is there any other way besides plastic gloves?

[JD45]

I helped out with a sweep one night and was in charge of taking incoming info from LEO's and evidence. I also got to help out with searching the criminals vehicles. All I had was gloves on. I got a just becareful. Is there any other way besides plastic gloves?

It really depends on what the search is of and for.

[MOCOP]

Never, never, never. Stick your hands in any place you can not see! Between seats under seats, Glove box, console with out doing a visual check.
Use your flashlight, use a pen to sweep the area. Move things away carefully.
Alot of hypes leave needles, razor blades etc out.

You can also purchase spectra or kevlar gloves.

[Piggy]

A straight baton works well too, to pry the seats open or other areas you can't see.

[Victorunit]

Thanks so very much for your heads up and help! Will follow those instructions and will invest in the spectra or kevlar gloves.
We were searching for any weapons or drug and paraphernalia. Ran across some knives and a scale. I was so ever careful I didn't get poked by anything.
Never had training for this situation before, and knew there had to be more than a "just be careful".
Very grateful for your help! Thanks again!

[acreature]

You were allowed to search? Yourself? You got some ballzy Officers. No non-sworn searches anything of mine.

[MOCOP]

You were allowed to search? Yourself? You got some ballzy Officers. No non-sworn searches anything of mine.

Whoa. Didn't even think of that. That could be kinda dicey.

[Victorunit]

You were allowed to search? Yourself? You got some ballzy Officers. No non-sworn searches anything of mine.

Yes, and then some
along with another volunteer and a detective or 2. Depending on how big the job, depends on how many do the search. We help get the vehicle cleared so it can be towed to storage. The LEO's are very busy doing the report on the criminal and getting them ready to be taken to jail. They do not have the normal amount of time during a sweep to do everything.

[Victorunit]

Whoa. Didn't even think of that. That could be kinda dicey.

Dicey? What does that mean?

[MOCOP]

Tainted evidence or accusations of it from the defense attorney. They may try to play it wasn't found by a LEO so it should be excluded.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Yeah, talk about chain of custody issues!

[michiganstud]

Are you just talking about doing the inventory on a car for the impound? If that's the case you are just taking a visual inventory of what is inside the car.

Or are you actually searching for more contraband? I would think that would screw up the chain of evidence.

[Victorunit]

Tainted evidence or accusations of it from the defense attorney. They may try to play it wasn't found by a LEO so it should be excluded.

Oh!

Must not be a problem, because surely the sheriff would not approve it if there was.
I can't even post my picture in a C.O.P., uniform because it has to be approved by the sheriff departments media relations.

Interesting! :confused:

[michiganstud]

Oh!

Must not be a problem, because surely the sheriff would not approve it if there was.
I can't even post my picture in a C.O.P., uniform because it has to be approved by the sheriff departments media relations.

Interesting! :confused:

That's so you don't go posing in Playboy!

[Victorunit]

Are you just talking about doing the inventory on a car for the impound? If that's the case you are just taking a visual inventory of what is inside the car.

Or are you actually searching for more contraband? I would think that would screw up the chain of evidence.

Before impound, I have either searched with an officer, after the officer, or when told to search the vehicle. I also do written inventory of everything in the vehicle.

I then get it signed off by the arresting officer before it is signed by the Tow person. Arresting officer gets their copy, Tow gets there's and etc.
If I find something, I then verbally bring it to the LEO's attention. I do not remove it from the spot it is in.

Yes, I double check for more contraband.