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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS - 485 – PROPERTY & EVIDENCE
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-485 (09/12/2022) Date of Issue: 11/17/2025
I. GENERAL
A. Newport News Police Department employees will properly handle, package, and document items they
submit to the Property & Evidence Unit (P&E Unit). They will protect all recovered property from
contamination, alteration, destruction, and damage. Additionally, take appropriate action to preserve
items that need to be processed for latent prints or laboratory analysis.
B. Photographic and video evidence collected by a body-worn camera or entered into the Evidence.com or
DataWorks systems will be considered original secured images/footage for evidentiary purposes.
C. Accurate documentation of property that comes into the possession of department personnel meeting
any type of property defined below is essential. Chain of custody records that documents everyone who
took possession of physical evidence, from its initial collection through disposal, is required. Any
handwritten entries on evidence forms and reports will be neat and legible. [83.2.1(d)]
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Evidence - Tangible and intangible items needed to prosecute a case under criminal investigation,
including DVDs, CDs, or other electronic media on which evidentiary photos, audio, or videos are
recorded.
B. Narcotic Evidence - Illegal drugs and/or controlled substances.
C. Contraband - Items that by law are illegal to own or possess.
D. Found Property - Items of value that appear to have been lost and not discarded by the owner. This does
not include junk or items of little or no value.
E. Release to Owner – When items of value are no longer needed for court purposes and can be returned to
the rightful owner.
F. Property & Evidence (P&E) Facility – property and evidence at headquarters.
G. Remote Storage Location – temporary property storage locker located at each precinct and the Major
Crimes Division.
H. Safekeeping – non-evidentiary property stored by the department with a known owner and a reasonable
expectation that the property can be claimed and returned to the owner.
1. Tobacco products and alcohol will not be stored for safekeeping and will be disposed of in a dumpster
located at any police facility.
2. Legalized narcotics and prescription medications will be submitted to P&E for disposal and not
returned to the owner.
I. Prisoner Property - Any personal items remaining with a prisoner not related to the criminal charge(s)
that are to be processed and accepted by the Sheriff’s Department during booking.
NOTE: The Sheriff’s Department may not accept larger items, such as a backpack/gym bag. These may
be placed in P & E.
J. Worthless Property – abandoned or found property with no known owner and no legitimate value. This
includes items designed for disposal and damaged beyond use that are not considered evidence or
contraband.
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