RO Evidence Collection & Preservation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting shell casings at a range incident scene, what is the correct order of steps before physically collecting them?
- Collect immediately to prevent loss, then photograph
- Photograph in place, measure distances, mark positions, then collect (Correct answer)
- Mark positions only, then collect and photograph later
- Notify law enforcement and wait without documenting anything
Correct answer: Photograph in place, measure distances, mark positions, then collect
Evidence must be photographed and mapped in place before collection to preserve spatial relationships.
Question 2: Which packaging material is MOST appropriate for collecting a firearm that may bear latent fingerprints?
- Plastic zip-lock bag
- Paper bag or cardboard box (Correct answer)
- Cloth pouch
- Aluminum foil wrap
Correct answer: Paper bag or cardboard box
Paper packaging allows moisture to escape, preventing degradation of biological evidence and latent prints that plastic can destroy.
Question 3: A range officer discovers a bullet lodged in a wooden target backer. The best method to remove the bullet for evidence is:
- Use pliers to pull it out quickly
- Cut the surrounding wood to preserve the bullet without tool contact on the bullet itself (Correct answer)
- Leave it in place and submit the entire backer
- Dig it out with a screwdriver to minimize wood damage
Correct answer: Cut the surrounding wood to preserve the bullet without tool contact on the bullet itself
Cutting the surrounding material avoids tool marks on the bullet that could interfere with ballistic comparison.
Question 4: Gunshot residue (GSR) evidence on a shooter's hands is best preserved by:
- Having the individual wash hands immediately after the incident
- Placing paper bags over the hands and securing at the wrists (Correct answer)
- Wiping hands with a sterile cloth and sealing the cloth
- Photographing the hands without any physical collection
Correct answer: Placing paper bags over the hands and securing at the wrists
Paper bags over the hands prevent GSR loss from air currents and contact while avoiding the moisture buildup that plastic causes.
Question 5: Which of the following actions would MOST compromise the integrity of a chain of custody?
- Logging every person who handled the evidence
- Leaving evidence unattended and unsecured between transfers (Correct answer)
- Using tamper-evident seals on all packaging
- Requiring signatures at each evidence transfer
Correct answer: Leaving evidence unattended and unsecured between transfers
Any gap in custody—where evidence is unattended—creates an opportunity for tampering and breaks the chain of custody.
Question 6: At a range where a shooting incident occurred, the range officer should establish a perimeter primarily to:
- Facilitate faster evidence collection by staff
- Prevent contamination and unauthorized access to the scene (Correct answer)
- Allow media to photograph from a designated area
- Speed up the resumption of normal range operations
Correct answer: Prevent contamination and unauthorized access to the scene
The perimeter protects the scene from contamination and evidence disturbance until law enforcement arrives.
Question 7: When filling out an evidence tag for a cartridge case, which piece of information is LEAST critical to include?
- Location where item was found
- Date and time of collection
- Name of the collector
- Brand preference of the range officer on duty (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Brand preference of the range officer on duty
Personal preferences of staff are irrelevant to evidence documentation; location, time, and collector identity are all essential.
RO Evidence Collection & Preservation 2
When documenting shell casings at a range incident scene, what is the correct order of steps before physically collecting them?