(a) Property received and taken into the custody of the police department's property and evidence unit, excluding property held as evidence or contraband, shall be retained for a minimum of thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt in an attempt to identify the owner of such property and notify the owner that such property is in the custody of the police department. The notice shall advise the owner that the property must be claimed by a specified date, which shall be no sooner than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of mailing. The notification to the owner shall be by regular mail to the last known address, as listed by either the Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation or police department records.
(b) Property with an estimated market value of over one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) that is uniquely identifiable by means of serial numbers or markings, for which the name and the address of the owner are not known, shall have a notice of disposition posted in a publication of general circulation by the police department. Claimants shall have thirty (30) calendar days to respond to this notice with proof of ownership.
(c) In the event a response is not received from the owner, or if the owner disclaims interest in or ownership of the property, or if the property has an estimated market value of under one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and the owner is unknown, the property shall be offered to the finder who delivered the property to the police department. The finder shall be notified by regular mail at the address provided by the finder. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or finder of the property to notify the police department of any address changes associated with the return of property.
(d) If there is no finder and no one has come forward with a claim after thirty (30) calendar days, or if the finder fails to respond to the notification within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the notification is mailed, the property shall be considered forfeited and shall be disposed of as provided by Subsection (f).
(e) The police department shall maintain appropriate property invoice records concerning all property received. The police department shall list all items of property indicating descriptive nomenclature, make or manufacturer, and serial number. In the absence of identifying criteria, an adequate description of the property shall suffice.
(f) Property with an estimated value of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or less shall be donated to a local charitable organization or disposed of. Property with a value of more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be delivered to the director of procurement for disposition in accordance with Tucson Code sections 28-70 and 28-71. The chief of police shall issue regulations implementing the disposition of property required by this article. Such regulation shall include the method of value appraisal, choice of charitable organizations, maintenance of property invoice records, and any other regulation that insures the integrity of property in the custody of the police department. Property delivered to the director of procurement shall be accompanied by a list of the items transferred, to include the corresponding invoice record number as indicated in subsection (e).
(Ord. No. 10146, § 1, 4-19-05; Ord. No. 10934, § 1, 10-12-11)