MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - For at least 8 years, evidence has disappeared from the Memphis Police Department's property room.
Employees were charged after drugs and money were reported missing over the years. Recently an audit finally uncovered how it was done and now the city's mayor wants to do something about it.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton says there can be serious problems if any evidence is manipulated.
Property and evidence taken during arrests is supposed to be properly secured at the Criminal Justice Center, but a city auditor found that wasn't the case.
The audit found 10 computer accounts which had improper access privileges that allowed users to delete entries from the property room's logs.
"We don't know who may have deleted these entries," Wharton said. "That troubles us."
Two of those accounts were generic, which means anyone could go in and change something and never be identified.
"We're going to work with our Central Information Technology Office to come up with a system that will make sure that if you delete something you got to have the authority to do that, and we'll know who deleted it and why," Wharton said.
He also says there needs to be more oversight and is suggesting several solutions to ensure the system is airtight.
Wharton said the city may have commissioned police officers working in the property room. Alternately, the city is also considering hiring IT specialists.
Wharton held a meeting with Police Director Toney Armstrong earlier this week to discuss the audit and recommended changes that will have to be made.
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A recent audit uncovered how workers stole evidence from the Memphis Police Department's property room and now the city's mayor wants to do something about it.
