Got a bone to pick with all the LEO's

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Just handled a beautiful nickle 586 that was taken off a suspect and placed into evidence. Why do you guys have to scratch numbers into the side plate. Can't you just put it into a zip lock-seal it and mark the outside-It positively breaks my heart to see a georgeous gun being defiled like that
I don't mind y'all doing it to a lorcin or high point, but a Smith??? or for that matter a Colt 1911??????? I don't know what hurt more, that nickle 586 with the number scratched in it, or that Model 21 recovered that the perp had made into a coach gun.

 

[ingmansinc]

Certainly does seem like a shame. If I had a gun stolen and it was recovered would they do that to my gun while waiting to for the thieves trial to take place? I can only imagine the look on my face as the system hands me my property and tells me the thief got two years probation.

 

[JcMack]

Around here they take the grips off and etch the case # on the frame underneath. I bought a nickel mod 19 years ago. After a couple months I pulled the grips and there was a case #. A friend ran the # and the gun was used by an old gent to commit suicide. I guess his heirs sold it. The gun left my ownership soon after. Now I always take the grips off before buying a gun. Always a good idea anyway, I've learned.

 

[safearm]

A cable tie with a plastic tag through the triggerguard works well. Mark the plastic tag with a Sharpie pen and you'll never lose it.

 

[s&wchad]

My wife's brother is a detective for a local PD. He stopped their department from engraving guns taken into evidence that have a serial number on them, since there's no need to do anything but record the number.

 

[mlk18]

Same here, we use tags and cable ties on the trigger guard. But if I were to engrave a case number on a firearm it would always be on the slide, it would always be large print and it would always be "NOTASMITH584931". 'Cause I wouldn't engrave a Smith.

 

[MaximumLawman]

I write the serial number down in my report along with any distinguishing marks, scratches, etc, unless it's been drilled out. I haven't had any challenged so far.

When I impound a car, I don't inscribe my mark on that...so why would I have to on a gun?

 

[deralte]

In my day we found no reason to deface any weapon we took as evidence. Our only problem was if the gun was coated with blood we could not remove it until after all court proceedings. By then it was probably very rusty.

 

[jag312]

I write the serial number down in my report along with any distinguishing marks, scratches, etc, unless it's been drilled out. I haven't had any challenged so far.

Plus I wrap a piece of colored tape around the trigger guard and write the case number and initials on the tape. There is no need to deface a gun, or any other item of evidence for that matter.

 

[gregintenn]

or that Model 21 recovered that the perp had made into a coach gun.

That should be grounds for an execution!!!

 

[diamonback68]

I voluntarily turned over my Model 36 to the police because my ex-wife hide it on me and wouldn't tell me were it was, but would tell the police. I let them take it for self keeping 'til things cooled down. When I got it back six months later, they had scratched the case number on the bottom of the trigger guard. You have to look close to see it, but my question is WHY must they do this?

 

[Strato]

Seems like it would make sense to ziptie a label to the trigger guard as some have said for convience and log the serial# in case someone switches tags. Engraving someone else's property is vandalism, and isn't that a crime?

 

[zercool]

Huh. My 28-2 has a number engraved into the frame under the grips, TX-something or other. I figured it was a prior owner's driver license number. Wonder if it's got some additional history...

 

[smith revolver cop]

My wife's brother is a detective for a local PD. He stopped their department from engraving guns taken into evidence that have a serial number on them, since there's no need to do anything but record the number.

Good for him! I have never understood having to engrave identifying information on anything with a serial number. When we recover a stolen car, we certainly don't scratch our badge number and date on the hood!!!

 

[kennyb]

we never engraved guns...hang tag and into an evidence bag it went..the REAL shame was how many very nice guns were simply crushed for a host of reasons

 

[michael thornton]

I HAD A FEW SMITHS THAT HAD BEEN DONE LIKE THAT,PRETTY DUMB THING TO DO IF YOU ASK ME

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

That should be grounds for an execution!!!

That was the unanimous acclaimation among the Judge, all the DA's and the defense attorneys present that day. Summary execution without delay

 

[kshock]

I always thought the guns had to be marked by the officer to maintain the chain of custody because those darn lawyers would challenge everything trying to get their crook... I mean client off, even though they were guilty But.. be that as it may, I always marked under the grip if I absolutely had to mark the gun, even on cheapies.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I asked this same question for all of a 45 year career. After latent prints, wipe down, place in an evidence bag, seal with evidence tape, record the make, model, caliber, and serial number on the evidence tag number, post in the evidence log, place in the evidence locker. End of story. Unfortunately every non-gun knowledgeble Officer that touches the weapon feels he/she has to scratch/cut their ID # into the weapon. I waited for years for an owner to bring a law suit against every Officer that caused damage to the weapon.
Jimmy

 

[sheriffoconee]

We don't scratch names/case numbers into firearms, or anything else with a serial number.
Shellcasings, recovered bullets, things like that, yes.....
we don't even scratch up HiPoints....