Braintree Police Audit Report: Thousands of Pieces of Evidence Missing

BRAINTREE, MA — Thousands of pieces of evidence and over $407,000 went missing from the Braintree Police Department evidence locker, an audit said.

According to the initial findings of the audit, 1,979 pieces of narcotics evidence were examined, 4,709 pieces of narcotics evidence were found to be missing, and 38 pieces of narcotics evidence was found to be compromised.

During a press conference Wednesday, Mayor Joseph Sullivan called the audit "deeply troubling and unacceptable."

The report says that all but 12 firearms missing in the audit have been accounted for, including all firearms seized since 2008. A substantial amount of money and narcotics evidence has also been recovered.

"This audit makes clear that there were significant administrative errors in the handling and storage of evidence by the department. New protocols and procedures on the handling and storage of evidence have already been established," Sullivan said in a statement.

Aside from narcotics evidence, 4,737 pieces of property evidence were examined and 2,490 pieces are missing. Some of the missing property is expected to be found in sealed lab boxes from sexual assault cases, the audit said.

There were 226 seized cash items examined, 440 items were found to be missing, and nine were compromised. The total amount of seized cash missing from the 440 items is $407,988.51.

The audit examined 221 firearms and found that 60 were missing. In the findings, the audit commented that "there is either a serious record keeping error regarding firearms or a need to immediately look into this matter."

Due to the scandal, at least three cases have been dismissed from Norfolk Superior Court and several more could be throw out of court. The Norfolk District Attorney's office has previously said they will not use tainted evidence.

The audit's main focus was cases dating back to 2013.