The Baldwin Park Stakeholders Oversight Committee on Oct. 14 approved funding of up to $165,000 over three years to contract with a specialized evidence-management professional to address a decades-old backlog in the police department’s property and evidence inventory.

City staff and police representatives told the committee the backlog includes roughly 20,000 to 25,000 items that are eligible for purging or return but are not systematically inventoried or disposed of according to standard retention rules. Staff said correcting the backlog will allow patrol officers to focus on public safety and reduce legal risk in the event of an external audit.

A police presenter described long-standing organizational and process issues, noting an audit in 2003 identified similar shortfalls. The staff report estimates the contractor option at about $55,000 per year for three years (total $165,000) as a cost-effective alternative to paying overtime or hiring an additional full-time, sworn detective (which staff estimated could cost $109,000–$163,000 annually in overtime/compensation). The contractor would be a retired evidence specialist working part time (approximately 20–25 hours per week) under contract to avoid CalPERS conflicts; the department said it is coordinating with CalPERS to finalize terms.

Police staff described steps to improve records and oversight, including a new standard operating procedure, evidence logging manual, and plans to purchase software to create alerts and improve inventory (current records management system—Spillman—lacks mass-purge functionality). Staff said the work will include testing some firearms in the NIBIN/ballistics system where appropriate, refrigeration for DNA evidence (current refrigeration inadequate), and coordination with the district attorney’s office on any administrative purges.

The committee voted to approve the contract funding. Member Hernandez, Member Martha Carcamo, Member Orozco, Member Nguyen and Chair Lara voted yes; Vice Chair Jackson abstained. Chair Lara directed staff to return updates as the work proceeds.

Staff said the contractor’s primary duties are to clear the backlog; the contractor will not replace the department’s full-time property and evidence technician, Diana Huerta, who will continue to manage day-to-day evidence operations and train cadets and staff.