SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
Evidence Collection
A. The incident scene shall be searched for evidence by the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
technicians. All significant items of evidence shall be carefully recorded by sketch and
photographs prior to removal; evidence shall be properly labeled, packaged and tagged prior to
shipment to a crime laboratory for analysis. At the discretion of the senior EOD technician, the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
may be called to assist in the collection of evidence and evidence may be shared with the FBI,
ATF, and the State Crime Lab for analysis purposes.
B. The Cleveland Fire Department Arson Investigator shall exercise primary responsibility for the
investigation of incendiary devices with the assistance from the EOD Team. It shall be the
responsibility of the senior EOD technician on the scene to contact the Arson Investigator.
Jurisdiction on federally owned property
A. The U. S. Postal Service shall exercise primary jurisdiction in cases involving detonations and
suspected devices at postal facilities or mail in transit,
B. The ATF shall exercise primary jurisdiction in cases involving detonations and suspected devices
at U.S. Treasury facilities and regulations dealing with the use, storage, or transportation of
explosives.
C. The FBI shall exercise primary jurisdiction in cases involving detonations or suspected devices on
U. S. government facilities other than U. S. Postal or Treasury buildings. In addition, explosive
device incidents occurring at universities, the FBI shall handle federally funded facilities or those
that suggest terrorist involvement.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 110
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley