PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "Evidence room scandals erupted in multiple departments in recent years. In Framingham, a hidden key gave some cops access to the evidence room, and one officer was indicted for stealing $20,000 in seized cash from the facility. In Boston, an officer was indicted, accused of stealing $2,000 to put into slot machines at the Plainridge Park Casino."
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I discovered there’s no statewide minimum standards around handling of evidence or auditing or doing inventory checks. It’s up to each department’s internal policies,” (Rep. Mark J. Cusack) Cusack told the Herald. His bill requires departments big or small to audit a random 10 percent of its evidence stores — or at least 10 items for smaller departments — twice a year and file those audits with the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security “to make sure every department is compliant.”
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STORY: "In police dept scandals’ wake, an effort to clean up evidence rooms," by reporter Brian Dowling, published by The Boston Herald on June 12, 2018.
SUB-HEADING: "Bill would require spot audits."
GIST: "A bill up for debate today aims to clean up the state’s
scandal-plagued evidence rooms by ordering police departments file
twice-a-year spot audits with the state, with a full accounting of all
evidence every five years. The measure before the Joint Committee
on the Judiciary was filed by state Rep. Mark J. Cusack of Braintree,
where in 2016 investigators discovered $400,000 missing from the police
department’s evidence lock-up as well as drugs and some 60 firearms. The scandal put hundreds of criminal cases at risk, and the veteran officer responsible for the room took her own life. “I
discovered there’s no statewide minimum standards around handling of
evidence or auditing or doing inventory checks. It’s up to each
department’s internal policies,” Cusack told the Herald.
His bill requires departments big or small to audit a random 10 percent of its evidence stores — or at least 10 items for smaller departments — twice a year and file those audits with the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security “to make sure every department is compliant.” Departments every five years would be required to undertake a full inventory of their evidence rooms. The move has the backing of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, according to its policy director, Chelsea police Chief Brian Kyes. “In terms of furthering interests of transparency and accountability, we think it is a really good idea,” Kyes said. “We are not looking for a weekly or monthly audit — it’s annual in nature. We think it’s more than reasonable.” In Chelsea, the measure would require someone in the department who isn’t involved with the evidence room do random checks in its three evidence rooms that separately hold drugs, firearms and general evidence. Evidence room scandals erupted in multiple departments in recent years. In Framingham, a hidden key gave some cops access to the evidence room, and one officer was indicted for stealing $20,000 in seized cash from the facility. In Boston, an officer was indicted, accused of stealing $2,000 to put into slot machines at the Plainridge Park Casino. Cusack’s bill also required police departments to deposit into an interest-bearing account all cash that isn’t being used as material evidence in a case. It also asks for a study to look into whether more incinerators could be used to destroy drug evidence after trials. Currently some departments have to drive up to two hours to an approved incinerator to get the drugs out of their evidence rooms."
The entire story can be read at:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2018/06/in_police_dept_scandals_wake_an_effort_to_clean_up_evidence_rooms
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/c
His bill requires departments big or small to audit a random 10 percent of its evidence stores — or at least 10 items for smaller departments — twice a year and file those audits with the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security “to make sure every department is compliant.” Departments every five years would be required to undertake a full inventory of their evidence rooms. The move has the backing of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, according to its policy director, Chelsea police Chief Brian Kyes. “In terms of furthering interests of transparency and accountability, we think it is a really good idea,” Kyes said. “We are not looking for a weekly or monthly audit — it’s annual in nature. We think it’s more than reasonable.” In Chelsea, the measure would require someone in the department who isn’t involved with the evidence room do random checks in its three evidence rooms that separately hold drugs, firearms and general evidence. Evidence room scandals erupted in multiple departments in recent years. In Framingham, a hidden key gave some cops access to the evidence room, and one officer was indicted for stealing $20,000 in seized cash from the facility. In Boston, an officer was indicted, accused of stealing $2,000 to put into slot machines at the Plainridge Park Casino. Cusack’s bill also required police departments to deposit into an interest-bearing account all cash that isn’t being used as material evidence in a case. It also asks for a study to look into whether more incinerators could be used to destroy drug evidence after trials. Currently some departments have to drive up to two hours to an approved incinerator to get the drugs out of their evidence rooms."
The entire story can be read at:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2018/06/in_police_dept_scandals_wake_an_effort_to_clean_up_evidence_rooms
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/c
