The Port St. Lucie Police Department is reconsidering its protocols regarding the disposal of evidence after three evidence technicians were accused of taking items for themselves.
None of the items taken were related to open, active cases, according to the department. Only evidence marked for return to owners or destruction due to the case being closed was taken.
Police Chief John Bolduc said during a press conference last week that, as an accredited police agency, there are protocols in place that are expected to be followed.
“We had a lot of faith in those protocols,” Bolduc said, adding that after this incident the agency will need to reevaluate. “We need to beef it up” so this doesn’t happen again.
Evidence technicians Thomas LaBelle Jr., Vernal Taylor and Jeffrey Hunter were arrested on felony warrants approved June 12 following an investigation. Accusations were lodged with supervisors on May 8, prompting the month-long investigation.
LaBelle and Taylor were charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, and Hunter was charged with grand theft. They were placed on administrative leave while the department investigated.
Items the men were accused of taking included pellet guns, firearm magazines, various tools and sporting equipment, as well as household items such as electric toothbrushes and razors.
Investigators found surveillance footage from the previous 67 days that showed the men putting the items in a trash can as they would for disposal and then return to the trash later to collect the items.
All three men had worked with the police department “for years,” according to the agency. Their actions have not affected other police cases.