A collection of seized electronic devices had been assigned duplicate inventory codes.
And in several cases, the digital records showed that the items had been removed from the system before the corresponding criminal proceedings had concluded.
Alina knew that evidence could not simply disappear because someone had forgotten to complete a form.
Every transfer required documentation.
Every person who handled an item was supposed to be recorded.
Every disposal required authorization.
If the records were being deliberately altered, the consequences could reach far beyond the police department.
Defendants might have been convicted using evidence whose chain of custody could no longer be trusted.
Other individuals might have escaped prosecution because important evidence had been removed.
And if seized property had been sold or redirected for private benefit, the people responsible could be facing serious criminal charges.
Three days before the inspection, Alina received another message from the anonymous source.
It contained a photograph of an evidence inventory sheet.
Several identification numbers had been circled in red.
At the bottom, someone had written:
"THE RECORDS ARE CLEAN. THE STORAGE ROOM IS NOT."
Alina read the message several times.
Then she requested the original inventory.
The department responded with a digital copy.
It was incomplete.
She requested the transfer certificates.
Several were missing.
She requested the destruction authorizations.
The department claimed that the documents were being retrieved from an archived system.
That was when Alina decided to conduct an unannounced inspection.
She wanted to compare the original records with the federal database before anyone could make additional changes.
At 9:18 a.m., she parked outside Eastbridge Police Department.
She collected her black document case, checked the authorization folder, and entered the building.
The reception area was busy.
A civilian employee sat behind a counter, answering telephone calls while another employee sorted through incoming paperwork.
A uniformed officer walked past carrying a stack of folders.
Two visitors waited near the security checkpoint.
Alina approached the counter.
A woman in her early thirties looked up from her computer.
Her name was Rebecca Lawson.
Rebecca Lawson: "Good morning. How can I help you?"
Alina Brooks: "Good morning. I'm Special Agent Alina Brooks with the Federal Bureau of Law Enforcement Oversight. I'm here to conduct an authorized inspection of the department's evidence inventory."
Rebecca stopped typing.
Rebecca Lawson: "An inspection?"
Alina Brooks: "That's correct. The authorization should have been delivered to the chief's administrative office."
Rebecca glanced at the document case.
Rebecca Lawson: "Do you have a reference number?"
Alina handed her the first page.
Alina Brooks: "It's printed at the top."
Rebecca examined the document.
Her eyes moved across the federal seal, the authorization number, and the signature of the regional oversight director.
She looked up again.
Rebecca Lawson: "I wasn't told anyone was coming today."
Alina Brooks: "The inspection was intentionally unannounced."
Rebecca hesitated.
Rebecca Lawson: "I understand."
She picked up the telephone and contacted the administrative office.
Alina waited while Rebecca explained the situation.
The employee listened for several seconds, then glanced toward the hallway leading to the operations floor.
Rebecca Lawson: "Yes, she's here now."
Another pause.
Rebecca Lawson: "Understood."
She ended the call.
Rebecca Lawson: "The evidence administration supervisor is currently unavailable. Someone from the operations team should come down to assist you."
Alina Brooks: "Thank you."
Rebecca returned the authorization document.
But before Alina could move away, the receptionist lowered her voice.
Rebecca Lawson: "Agent Brooks, may I ask you something?"
Alina Brooks: "Of course."
Rebecca glanced toward the hallway.
Rebecca Lawson: "Are you here because of the missing evidence reports?"
Alina studied her carefully.
Alina Brooks: "What have you heard?"
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
Rebecca Lawson: "Nothing official."
Alina Brooks: "Then tell me what you have personally observed."
Rebecca hesitated.
Rebecca Lawson: "I've seen people coming into the records office after normal working hours. Sometimes they leave with folders. Sometimes the next morning, the files aren't where they were supposed to be."
Alina remained silent.
Rebecca Lawson: "I don't know what they're doing. But a few employees have started asking questions."
Alina Brooks: "Who?"
Rebecca shook her head.
Rebecca Lawson: "I don't want to get anyone into trouble."
Alina Brooks: "You're not in trouble for reporting something you believe may be wrong."
Rebecca looked toward the operations floor again.
Rebecca Lawson: "People here are careful about what they say."