19.4 Currency as Property/Evidence

Exactly as extracted, unformatted — for checking against the original. The readable version is easier to read.

Centreville Police Department
Title: Currency as Property/Evidence Directive #: 19.4
Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 10.1.2016
Approved by: Charles M. Rhodes, Jr.
Chief of Police
A. Policy
Currency will be handled in accordance with this directive.
B. Procedures
1. Currency Not Seized
a. Currency not subject to forfeiture or classified as evidence will be returned to the owner or the
owner’s authorized representative as soon as possible.
b. If the owner cannot be identified, the currency along with a copy of the Property Record will be
forwarded to the Town Finance Officer to be deposited in a special account immediately.
c. Currency considered evidence will be forwarded to the Finance Officer upon conclusion of the court
case with authorization from the State’s Attorney.
d. If ordered by the court to dispose of money, the officer will document the orders from the court in a
supplement to the original incident report as well as on the Property Record which will be forwarded
to the Finance Officer so that the Property Record can be closed.
e. Receipts will be issued for all money or cashier’s checks forwarded to the Finance Officer.
2. Seizing Currency
a. Currency may be seized when there is probable cause to believe it has been used or is intended to be
used in connection with the, distribution, manufacturing or importation of Controlled Dangerous
Substances (CDS), or in connection with illegal gambling or proceeds traceable to the offense. Officers
will not seize currency in cases of misdemeanor possession or when a civil citation is issued for
possession of marijuana less than 10 grams.
b. In addition to other required documentation, officers will complete an Incident Report for all seized
currency.
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c. Anytime an officer seizes currency related to CDS, he will immediately:
(1) contact the local drug task force and they may respond to take custody of the currency.
(2) complete a Property Record
(3) If the task force responds and takes custody of the currency, the Property Record will be placed in
the Lieutenants box.
(4) If the task force does not respond to take custody of the currency, the Property Record will be
attached to the currency and placed into temporary storage.
d. Custodial officers will promptly convert seized currency to a cashier’s check made payable to the
Centreville Police Department.
e. A separate check will be obtained for each person from whom money was seized.
f. The Incident Report number will be written in the lower left corner of the check.
g. A photocopy of the check will be attached to the Property Record.
h. Collector's items, coins or currency worth more than face value, will be retained as originally received
and will not be converted into a cashier’s check.
3. K-9 Scans
a. If an officer develops probable cause to believe currency is associated with the possession,
distribution, manufacturing or importation of CDS and the currency is discovered without the
presence of any suspected CDS, the currency should be scanned.
b. The scan should be conducted prior to the end of the seizing officer’s shift.
c. To prevent contamination:
(1) currency should not be scanned when CDS is present;
(2) currency will be placed in an evidence pouch using new examination gloves; and
(3) if a K-9 scan cannot be performed immediately, the evidence pouch will be sealed until the scan
can be performed and the currency will be stored at a location within an unit not previously
contaminated by CDS.
d. The K-9 handler will review the circumstances of the seizure with the investigating officer to
determine if a scan is permitted and if the currency handling procedures were followed.
e. K-9 handlers should make every effort to ensure the area in which the currency is being stored is free
from contamination.
f. If the dog alerts to the currency, it may be seized.
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