23-139 Department General Order 6.02 "Physical Evidence and Scene Preservation" Update Packet #92

The purpose of this notice is to announce the revised Department General Order 6.02, Physical Evidence and Scene Preservation, adopted by the Police Commission on June 14, 2023. The updates in this policy include, but are not limited to the following:

• Incorporating and renaming DGO 6.01 (Crime Scene Log) into DGO 6.02
• Adding a definition section of forensic terminology
• Identifying and preserving the Crime Scene is the responsibility of the responding officers.
• If CSI or specialized units are not responding, then collection of the evidence is the responsibility of the responding officers.
• Updated safety and contamination issues and considerations
• Updated evidence collection and packaging instructions to account for DNA, Firearms and Ballistic Evidence, Underwater Recoveries, Gunshot Residue, Biological Evidence, Narcotics and Video and Digital Evidence.
• Updated evidence packaging instructions to account for Evidence OnQ.
• Updated list of Crime Laboratory Disciplines
• Updated process for requesting analysis of Evidence by Forensic Services.

Members are expected to have a working knowledge of all directives applicable to their respective assignment and comply with their provisions, per DGO 3.01, Written Communications. Members shall obey all written orders, policies, and procedures of the Department, per DGO 2.01, General Rules of Conduct.

Department General Order update packet #92 is attached to this notice and is available to members on the PowerDMS site.

/s/
AC DAVID LAZAR for
WILLIAM SCOTT
Chief of Police 

Per DN 23-152, all sworn & non-sworn members shall electronically acknowledge this Department document in PowerDMS within (30) thirty calendar days of issuance. Members whose duties are relevant to this document shall be held responsible for compliance. Any questions regarding this policy should be sent to [email protected] who will provide additional information.