Struggling To Get Police Dept To Return My Glock

[NavyLCDR]

In a state such as Washington, the ATF trace would be worthless. You would be able to get your gun back via court order because private sales are not registered or tracked in Washington.

In a state that does register/track private sales, as you can see, you're just screwed.

 

[Sixty Gunner]

So why exactly did you wait TEN YEARS before pursuing the return of this firearm? I mean, not to be negative, but ten years? Pretty much any police department is going to treat it as abandoned property and dispose of it long before then, not because they are all "anti gun" but just to make space in their evidence room.

 

[Bigshow281]

I moved to a different state 2 years after I lost it. I had to re-apply for another FOID card to get it back so with me moving, I didn't feel like going through all the hassle plus I didn't trust myself with a gun at that time due to mental issues and alcohol abuse (long story but I'm better now).

I thought it would have been disposed of as well but it isn't. When I spoke to the officer, she told me that after she ran the ATF trace and it came back to someone else, she went and physically checked the gun in the evidence lockup to make sure there wasn't a typo...there wasn't, but the gun is actually still there. The only thing left standing in my way now is proving its mine and having the ATF fix the misfiled gun.

What concerns me even more than the $500 lost on the Glock is the fact that a mistake like this can happen. If my gun is registered to someone else, chances are someone else's gun is registered to me. What if this guy/gal commits a crime with whatever gun that is allegedly registered to me and the police come knocking on my door because the gun used in whatever crime is registered to my name? Also what if I still had MY gun and committed a crime with it and whoever is registered to MY gun has the police knocking on their door because my Glock is registered to them?

Seems to me that registering firearms to someone is serious enough of a matter to warrant some sort added security measures to ensure something like this doesn't happen in the first place. Perhaps sending a photo of the gun's serial number along with the 4473 form (or not keeping a record at all).

Aside from that though, the odds that the number error still resulted in a different (but valid) Glock 19 serial number has to be pretty astronomical.

 

[Guns and more]

You are assuming they are willing to follow the law.

Evidence receipt for sure, then ask to see a supervisor.

I'll bet you get the runaround. "Gee, we can't seem to find it."
They know most folks won't hire an attorney over a $500 gun.

 

[dirtykid]

Sounds like you waited WAY too long to try and recover it, i would go straight to the county's sheriff and kindly explain your dilemma. Although without any proof of original purchase it sounds like your up a creek,good luck !!

 

[Greg528iT]

Pretty much any police department is going to treat it as abandoned property and dispose of it long before then, not because they are all "anti gun" but just to make space in their evidence room.

Agreed.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

In my opinion, a Police Officer should be able to buy a gun that is destined to be destroyed if he wants, no point in letting a fine gun to go to waste. But guns that still have a purpose shouldn't be touched.

Thats my opinion and I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[ForumSurfer]

In my opinion, a Police Officer should be able to buy a gun that is destined to be destroyed if he wants, no point in letting a fine gun to go to waste. But guns that still have a purpose shouldn't be touched.

Thats my opinion and I see nothing wrong with it.

I say change the status if it is listed stolen, auction it off at public auction to raise funds for the department and register it to the new owner. Why let the officers get first dibs on a good buy?

But that would generate bad publicity from the anti's. They would rather have the guns destroyed as they are legally evil objects once the police confiscate them.

 

[Sixty Gunner]

I say change the status if it is listed stolen, auction it off at public auction to raise funds for the department and register it to the new owner.

If it's listed stolen, it needs to be returned to it's rightful owner. You'd want your stolen property back, wouldn't you?

 

[64zebra]

if its still there, you should get it....period, keep their feet to the fire
as others have said, contact as many agencies, reps, senators, etc as you can
there has to be a paper trail for everything you're needing, a FOI act request may be something to do immediately to get the paper work from the PD involved now

our department releases firearms back to people as soon as possible
for those that can't be released because someone can't be contacted or they are convicted, etc, we sell them at auction and the city gets some money from it, and city employees are not eligible to bid, which has frustrated me a couple of times when I found something I wanted for my collection

good luck

 

[Art Eatman]

Enough. The thread's becoming repetitious...