SE Valley Times

Mesa has inaugurated a 33,000-square-foot facility designed to store police evidence. The City marked the completion of the Police Property Building, located at 154 N. Robson adjacent to Mesa Police Headquarters, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Equipping our Police Officers with the necessary tools to perform their duties effectively remains a top priority for Mesa,” said Mayor Giles. “The new Police Property Building reinforces our commitment to maintaining standards of excellence in evidence handling and storage as our city continues to grow. I’m thankful to Mesa voters for their support of the 2018 and 2022 public safety bonds, which have been instrumental in making this project possible.”

The new building was funded primarily from the 2018 and 2022 public safety bonds approved by voters. Additional funding came from the Public Safety Sales Fund Tax and the General Fund.

“As a retired Mesa fire captain paramedic, I understand the critical role that effective infrastructure plays in ensuring public safety,” said Councilmember Mark Freeman. “The City Council's support for the new Police evidence building is a testament to our commitment to equipping our law enforcement with the necessary resources to uphold justice and protect our community. This facility will enhance the integrity of our police operations and ensure that evidence is handled with the utmost care and security."

“This project marks a significant investment in our police department and is a crucial step towards enhancing public safety. Along with the upcoming rebuilding of police headquarters in downtown Mesa, we are committed to providing our law enforcement with state-of-the-art facilities they need to serve and protect our community effectively,” said Councilmember Jenn Duff.

Since 2008, the Mesa Police Department has received more than 800,000 items of evidence and property, averaging approximately 55,622 items annually.

"This state-of-the-art storage facility is dedicated to the responsible and accountable control of all evidence, including found and safekeeping property, ensuring that every item is preserved and kept safe with the integrity required by the judicial process,” said Police Chief Ken Cost. “In 2023 alone, our evidence section received 56,253 items, underscoring the critical need for this modern, secure facility."

The Evidence Section currently stores approximately 390,000 items in general storage and almost 60,000 items in freezers. The size of the new building accommodates existing items while considering population growth and changes in industry standards on evidence retention.

Current record retention laws require that evidence from homicides, sexual assaults, missing persons cases, officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and terrorism be held for at least 55 years. The new facility is expected to meet these needs for at least two decades.