Once evidence is received by an officer of the police department, it is placed into an evidence locker. The officer then secures the locker and the evidence remains there until the evidence officer removes it. These items will then be examined and analyzed by chemists. Blood and urine are routinely analyzed to determine the amount of drugs or alcohol in one's body, while narcotics are analyzed for identification and quantification. The transportation of evidence to and from the State Police Laboratory is the sole responsibility of the evidence officer.
Evidence is maintained in a secured environment until the case has been fully adjudicated.
The evidence officer will research the case and once advised of its final determination, application is made with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office for destruction or other disposition of the evidence. When application is approved, the evidence officer will ensure the evidence is disposed of in a manner provided by law. If unclaimed by the rightful owner, they are then offered to the finder. If unwanted by the finder, the item is destroyed or auctioned off by the Township. If a Denville Township Police Officer is the finder of an item, he or she has no legal claim to the item.