The chief of police shall act as custodian of all property seized or taken by the police.
All members of the department into whose possession may come any property seized or taken shall deliver the same at once to the chief of police.
The chief of police shall keep a record of all property which may be seized or otherwise taken possession of by the police department. If such property shall not be claimed by the rightful owner thereof and possession surrendered to the owners within sixty (60) days from the date of the final disposition of the court proceedings in connection with which such property was seized or otherwise taken possession of, or, in case there are no such court proceedings, then if such property shall not be claimed by the rightful owner thereof and possession surrendered to the owner within sixty (60) days of the date of such seizure or taking by the police, the chief of police shall cause to be published in a local newspaper a description thereof, together with the date of seizure and shall give notice that if the property be not claimed by the rightful owner thereof within ten (10) days of the date of publication such property will be sold at public auction at such place as the chief of police may direct and in such manner as to expose to the inspection of bidders all property so offered for sale; provided, that the unclaimed property, if deemed by the chief of police to be of use to the department may be retained for the use of the department; and provided further, that no member of the department, directly or indirectly, shall purchase such unclaimed property.
If any property so seized or taken shall be of perishable nature or so bulky or of such a nature as to make it dangerous or inadvisable to retain possession thereof for the length of time herein set forth, the chief of police, with the approval of the chairman of the committee on public safety, may cause such property to be advertised immediately and shall sell the property at public auction at any time after three (3) days shall have elapsed from the seizure or taking thereof, but no sooner than three (3) days after advertising the same. (Ord. 1541, 6-12-2002)