Property and Evidence Supervisor

Overview

Primary Objective Under general direction of the Support Services Manager, the Property and Evidence Supervisor serves as the department’s official custodian of property and evidence and is accountable for the lawful administration, security, integrity, and compliance of the Police Department’s property and evidence system. This is a working supervisor position that performs the full range of technical property and evidence duties while supervising staff, enforcing standards, conducting audits, and coordinating all aspects of evidence management.

The position exercises independent supervisory and program authority over the collection, documentation, storage, auditing, release, and disposal of all property and evidence held by the department. The Property and Evidence Supervisor ensures strict adherence to chain-of-custody protocols and full compliance with International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE) best practices, state and federal laws, accreditation standards, court orders, and department policy, maintaining an inspection-ready system capable of withstanding legal scrutiny and audit review.

• Serve as the department’s official evidence custodian.
• Develop, update, implement, and enforce unit policies, procedures, and SOPs consistent with IAPE standards, accreditation requirements, and departmental policy.
• Conduct and oversee routine and random inventories, internal audits, and reconciliation of discrepancies.
• Coordinate and support external audits, inspections, and accreditation activities.
• Manage unit-level reporting requirements, workload monitoring, performance metrics, and resource planning.
• Oversee procurement and maintenance of equipment, supplies, and storage systems for property and evidence operations.
• Ensure adherence to retention schedules, court requirements, and statutory mandates for all categories of evidence.

• Directly supervise Property Control Specialists and assigned personnel.
• Develop staffing schedules, assign tasks, and oversee daily workflow within the property and evidence unit.
• Participate in the selection, training, evaluation, and discipline of staff; impose corrective and disciplinary action in accordance with departmental policy and subject to command-level approval.
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to staff.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for IAPE standards, best practices, and industry trends; provide guidance and interpretation to staff and leadership.

• Perform the full range of duties of a Property Control Specialist.
• Receive, document, store, safeguard, and maintain chain-of-custody integrity for all incoming evidence and property.
• Ensure proper packaging, labeling, barcoding, and entry of evidence into the management system.
• Assist with the disposition, auction, destruction, or return of property in accordance with legal timelines and departmental policy.
• Monitor and maintain security of all storage facilities, including restricted areas, surveillance systems, and access control logs.
• Respond to subpoenas, provide discovery-related documentation, and testify in court regarding evidence handling and chain of custody.
• Respond to after-hours call-outs for major incidents, urgent evidence intake, or facility security issues.
• Develop and deliver training to department personnel on evidence packaging, submission, and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend process improvements or technological solutions.

• Thorough knowledge of laws, regulations, and professional standards governing the receipt, documentation, storage, release, auditing, retention and disposition of property and evidence, including maintenance of chain of custody.
• Knowledge of International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE) standards and familiarity with CALEA or other accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and other applicable data privacy laws.
• Proficiency in evidence management software, barcode systems, inventory tracking systems, law…