1). Full Name, Department you work for, How long at Department, Number of officers, official title.

Full name: Laura Hilgers

Department: Moorhead Police Department – Moorhead, MN

How long at Department: 22 years

Number of officers: 55

Official Title: Technical Office Specialist, Evidence Technician, Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst

2). Who is in the evidence department with you?

A sergeant supervises the evidence room, I do all of the day to day evidence related tasks.

3). What is your involvement with MAPET?

Member

4). What are some of your favorite evidence technician/property room manager tasks?

I enjoy all evidence technician/property room tasks.

5). What is the most unique/weird item currently in your Property room?

A 5 foot tall, 4 foot wide (at the bottom) medieval type sword/weapon. Not sure what to call it. All I know is that it’s heavy!

6). What is currently your biggest challenge?

Finding time to return found property. Our evidence system is an all-inclusive records system that does not allow for notifications when found property can be returned. I have to run a report of the locations and property type to obtain a list of found property and then search our records system for owners to contact. It is a very tedious process, and I do not have time to do this as often as it should be done.

7). Recent victory in your property room?

We received confirmation that we can start researching stand-alone property/evidence systems that may make notifications and searching easier.

8). What advice would you give to new techs in the field?

Attend a training through IAPE – it is a very good training. Become a member of MAPET. There is very good information discussed at these meetings that are helpful for information regarding property/evidence in Minnesota. Find your own system of managing the evidence room that works for you.