Herkimer PD changes evidence procedures following investigator indictment

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By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jun 4, 2009 at 10:25 AM EST

Story Updated: Jun 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM EST

HERKIMER, N.Y. (WKTV) - No more simply key in the door; the evidence preservation at the Herkimer Police Department will soon more closely resemble Fort Knox, after a grand jury yesterday indicted investigator Robert Risi on a grand larceny charge and other charges relating to the theft of more than $9,000 from the department's evidence room.

"First is a card swipe system to even enter the evidence room to track date and time there'll be a security camera inside the evidence room that's recording 24 hours a day ; we're going to institute a two-key safe system for money, drugs and guns, one officer will have one key-one officer will have another; it will always take two people to enter the safe that's in the evidence room," says Police Chief Joe Malone.

Prosecutors say that Risi indicated in statements to state police that he acted alone and stole the money to feed a legal gambling habit; that he was hoping to win it back. Risi is free on $20,000 bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment yesterday.

The first step toward strengthening evidence preservation at the Herkimer Police Department is a complete audit of 40 years worth of evidence. That will begin Monday and is expected to take at least a week.

Chief Malone says a federal grant will pay for most of the new security systems.

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