If money is found during a SW execution, what do you do?

If money is found during a SW execution, what do you do?

• A. always have 2 witnesses
• B. count, photograph, and secure money
• C. return money to occupants
• D. ignore it

Answer: (B)

Handling money found during a SW execution requires treating it as potential evidence and maintaining the chain of custody. The best practice is to count the money to establish an accurate amount and condition, photograph it to create a clear visual record, and secure it in a tamper-evident container as part of the property/evidence inventory with the case number, date, time, and location. This ensures the money remains identifiable and untampered with, provides a reliable record for the court, and preserves accountability for all who handle it. Simply having witnesses, returning the money to occupants, or ignoring it does not meet evidentiary or safety standards: counting, photographing, and securing protects the operation’s integrity and prevents loss or misreporting. If policy or the warrant allows, the final disposition should follow agency procedures, but the immediate proper action is to document and safeguard the money as evidence.

Handling money found during a SW execution requires treating it as potential evidence and maintaining the chain of custody. The best practice is to count the money to establish an accurate amount and condition, photograph it to create a clear visual record, and secure it in a tamper-evident container as part of the property/evidence inventory with the case number, date, time, and location. This ensures the money remains identifiable and untampered with, provides a reliable record for the court, and preserves accountability for all who handle it. Simply having witnesses, returning the money to occupants, or ignoring it does not meet evidentiary or safety standards: counting, photographing, and securing protects the operation’s integrity and prevents loss or misreporting. If policy or the warrant allows, the final disposition should follow agency procedures, but the immediate proper action is to document and safeguard the money as evidence.