Property and Evidence

The Property and Evidence Unit is responsible for the inventory, storage, return, and/or disposal of all property or evidence which is seized or recovered by the Police Department. All audio and video evidence is also maintained by the Property and Evidence Unit.

The hours of operation for the Property and Evidence Unit are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Closed on Observed Holidays).

How to claim property:

PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO CALL BEFORE ARRIVING TO PICK UP PROPERTY ITEMS

If you have lost an item in the City of Gatlinburg and believe that it is in the possession of the Property and Evidence Unit, you can call (865) 436-5181 ext. 1830 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for status and information.

For all found property and released evidence (Except Firearms)

An attempt will be made to establish the owner of the item and contact them. When the owner of an item is unavailable and they cannot be located the information is forwarded to the Comptroller of the State of Tennessee annually and they will assign a disposition. Found property will be held for at least 60 days before it is disposed of.

In Person: (Call ahead appointment is preferred)

NOTE: CURRENCY MAY BE RETURNED AS A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER

Proof of ownership
Proof of identity
If the item is evidence or has been involved in a court case you will need a court order or release from the case officer.

Shipment: (Call or Email for shipping rate information)

Provide the same information as an "In Person Return"
Provide a shipping address
Pay the Shipping and Handling Charges through the City Court Clerk

For found or released evidence firearms

If you are needing to recover a firearm whether it is evidence or found property, there is a set procedure which must be followed.

NOTE: GPD POLICY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE RETURN OR SHIPMENT OF AMMUNITION

In Person: (Call ahead appointment is preferred)

If it is evidence or has been involved in a court case you will need a court order or release from the case officer/detective. (Generally the Property and Evidence Unit will be aware of the status of the firearm)
Provide information which will establish ownership
Provide a government issued photo identification (Driver License, State Identification Card, Passport) *The GPD Property/Evidence unit reserves the right to request additional identification documents*
Provide information for a background check including but not limited to; full name, date of birth, social security number.

Your weapon will not be released if you have any of the following

An active protection order against you
An active warrant or summons
Unpaid fines with the City of Gatlinburg Municipal Court
A disqualifying felony conviction record
A conviction for Domestic Assault (Misdemeanor or Felony) per 18 USC §922(g)(9)
You have been adjudicated as unfit to own/possess a weapon by any court of competent jurisdiction

The firearm release process takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete. If you make an appointment portions of this process can be completed prior to your arrival.

Shipment of firearms:

All firearms are shipped by U.P.S. ground insured package delivery.
You will need to provide all of the information as an "In Person Return"
There is a standard $35.00 shipping/handling fee which must be paid through the City Court Clerk
You will need to provide a receiving contact at the Law Enforcement Agency for the jurisdiction where you reside. WE DO NOT SHIP TO ANY FFL or DEALERS, ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

Due to the workload volume of the evidence unit, necessity of completeing owner background checks, arranging with the receiving agency, and possible ATF firearm trace, the processing and shipment of firearms which are not related to a criminal case can take between four to six weeks to process once all the necessary information has been received.

How to request video and audio copies:

The Police Department utilizes closed circuit cameras and a digital video recorder for recording the booking area of the jail. L-3 Mobile-Vision cameras are used for in-car recording. Phone, Dispatch, and 911 recording is done in a digital format. All of these formats can be reproduced when available.

The Police Department does not reproduce video/audio evidence from third party systems which are recovered from businesses or crime scenes.

Attorney Request Form

Media / Civilian Request Form

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Q. How do I get a copy of a video?
A. Simply select the appropriate online form, fill in as much data as possible, and submit the form.

Q. Can I have a copy of any video?
A. No. Most records are public, however there are times when the release of a video during an ongoing investigation may compromise the investigation. There are other circumstances when release of videos may compromise the safety of covert operations and may not initially be released. The Chief of Police will make the final determination as to release of any video/audio evidence.

Q. How long will it take to get my video?
A. Requests are typically produced within one work week, however volume fluctuates and times vary.
Q. What format will the video/audio be in?
A. The video or audio will be in its original format. VHS will be VHS, DVD for Digital Video, and CD for Audio.

Q. How far back do you store video/audio evidence?
A. VHS Video and booking room DVR video is stored 18 months unless there is a request filed to hold it. In-Car cameras are backed up to DVD and are maintained permanently. Audio is maintained in digital format indefinitely. If you believe that you will need any reproduction or original you should make a written request for the media to be held as evidence.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR INQUERIES NOT ANSWERED BY THIS WEBSITE E-MAIL THE EVIDENCE UNIT AT This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR CALL (865) 436-5181 ext. 1830