What happens to infamous criminal's handguns?

[megatronrules]

I've wondered this for a while and was just thinking what happens to the .38 snub nose confiscated from mark david chapman, Or the glock 21 that was siezed from timothy mcvigh? Are these guns destroyed,auctioned,displayed what? I recall reading about the colt cobra .38 snubbie jack ruby killed oswald with went for like $400,000. If anyone here knows in general or what happened to the two guns named here please sound off.

 

[Wanderer]

I bet they probably go into the evidence locker for a bit, then are auctioned to the public by that PD later.

Two .38 snubbie's and a Glock! sounds eeeeeevil! Like something in a bad rap song:

"I was drivin in my turf
packin heat, not nerf
A Snub in each hand
I had lost my Garand
Now I .45 it out
with my G21's spout"

I need to get some sleep....

 

[berettaman]

Not sure about the guns mentioned above,however many of the infamous guns used by the gangsters in the 20's and 30's(as well as many others over the past 200years) are on display at the J.M.Davis Gun and Historical Museum in Claremore Oklahoma.
John Dillenger
Bonny and Clyde
Pretty Boy Floyd
MachineGun Kelly
Ma Barker

 

[Sunray]

I'd bet that no firearm confiscated from recent crime has been auctioned in the last 5 to 10 years. With the possible exception of FBI related cases, I'd bet they've been chopped. Up here, this is certainly the case. The cops think nothing of confiscating property and destroying it before a case is decided one way or the other.

 

[Ky Larry]

These guns are probably stollen by the police officers. Please don't say it doesn't happen. I have personally had a S&W 686 stolen from the locked glove compartmen of my truck after a crash. I know many people this has happened to.

 

[yzguy]

I know many guns are destroyed instead of sold back to the public. It is largely due to PR.... the media would have a field day, if a gun that was confiscated by the cops ended up being used in another crime. Plus each one would have to be checked for liability reasons, they don't know if the guns will blow up, or have been modified dangerously.

 

[dfariswheel]

In the old days, they often wound up in a police dept museum.

Sometimes they were given to, or kept by the involved lawmen.
This is what happened to Bonny and Clyde's guns.
The families have tried for years to get the legal guns back, but Ranger Frank Hamer refused.
They are now in the Texas Ranger Museum at Waco.

Today, famous or very valuable guns are either kept by the dept, destroyed, or returned to the legal owner.

Most guns are kept in evidence rooms for MANY years, in case there's an appeal. Since EVERYBODY appeals, hoping witnesses will forget, disappear, or just plain die of old age, they have to keep them.

Many guns HAVE to be returned to the legal owner. That's how the Ruby gun wound up being auctioned. The family fought for years to get it back, and the court's finally ruled that the police couldn't just confiscate it.

If a gun is stolen, it must be returned to the rightful owner as soon as there is no longer a need to keep it. (see above about appeals).

Some departments, basically ignore the law in keeping or destroying such guns. If you're willing to spend money on lawyers, you can get it back.

These days, few guns wind up in the hands of individual cops. True it does happen, and there are plenty of stories about cases where it is supposed to have happened, but today most cops aren't willing to risk their job and jail just for a gun.

 

[Ala Dan]

Sadly, in some instances I'd have to agree with my
friend KY Larry; as I'm very familiar with a now
deceased police chief of a small town department
that worked on the theory of the Russians;

"Whats mine is mine, and whats YOURS is mine"

meaning that after criminal cases were dismissed,
or the cases were "cleared" he got what he wanted
from the evidence/property room. His actions didn't
just apply to handguns; as he was noted for hunting
with rifles and shotguns that he acquired using the
"Five Finger Discount".

*FootNote- his actions don't make all LEO's bad or
dishonest; but it sure puts an unwanted "black
mark" by the title "Law Enforcement Officer".

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Corey ACP]

If the "infamous criminal" gun or any other item was needed as evidence in a criminal case it would be kept until the case was decided and no longer needed for evidence. Then the prosecuting attorney's office would allow for the gun to be, "released", meaning if it was determined to be stolen property it would be returned to the owner, (if the original owner wanted it back).

Otherwise, The agency that collected the gun as evidence would be responsible for determining how best to dispose of it as with all types of articles placed into the evidence room. Found property, Stolen Property, and evidence of all kinds, knives, axes, chain saws, entrenching tools etc......

Depending on the local political climate, some "evidence" would end up back on the street. I know of departments that take a lot of guns, and allow local gun dealers to submit a sealed bid on the lot. The proceeds were then used for department purchases. This still occours every year in my state.

It would be a violation of the law for any agency to dispose of any type of evidence before the case was finished. At least here in the good old U.S.A.

As far as guns bieng stolen from a locked glove box?, It sux. I am also missing a set of Snap on Tools from my broken down truck. No Law enforcement involvement, Just theiving tow company employees, But what can you prove.... Pre ban high cap mags taken from my range bag while at a shooting range, A wallet taken from my property during a medical appointment, The pistol stolen from my camper while elk hunting, Credit card fraud....it goes on and on.


Ala Dan, ...It sounds like the chief you knew should have been brought up on charges before he passed away,

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Corey ACP My Friend-

Yes, you are so right! But, its a catch 22 situation and I
will explain.

This long time chief was an ex-Marine, and fan favorite
of local politicians. He had served the community for
many, many years; even earning the respect of some
"high government" types.

On May 2nd, 1979 things started going south in a really
big way. Early AM hours saw the destruction of the city
hall; resulting in death and bodily injury to city employees.
A lengthy investigation ensued, and till this day this case
remains a mystery? Anyway, the story has it that this
now deceased chief had crossed ways with the newly
elected public safety commissoner. Supposedly, this
cowardly act was the result of this on going feud. At
any rate, it left a police LT. dead from injury's suffered
in the blast. The commissioner was left blind, and w/o
an arm; and a city clerk blinded as well.

During the course of the lengthy investigation, the old
chief's 0 (as in ZERO) files were removed from
his office and relocated to within his house. Also, at
this same time the police property room was in great
shambles; such as records not being kept properly,
confiscated items missing, etc. But, they did manage
to hang onto their cattle prods; as they needed a
confession or two from a group of thugs!

Later on, and I forget the exact date the old chief
passed away. Former State Attorney General Charles
Graddick thought he had a rock solid case, involving
several departmental personel. He made a case
against a former police SGT. who now worked for
another department. The AG tried to "grand stand"
in front of a packed court room. In the long run, the
ladies and gentlemen of the jury wouldn't buy the
AG's (B.S.) and a mistrial was declared.

Never again has anyone been brought before their
peer's to answer to these charges?

*FootNote- its not real hard to figure out what city
I'm talking about either; cuz it made national headlines!
Names were omitted to protect the innocent; and
if the guilty party is alive and well, they need to be
brought to justice as murder cases remain open.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Corey ACP]

Dan, What a time the 70's were, Not since the 60's had so many been so corrupt. Its too bad it brings to mind the sterotypical, "southern Sheriff" of that era.

I'm sure the wounds inflicted on your community as a result of the selfish acts of a few who believe themselves to above the law will fester for some time.

In the mean time, Keep a sharp eye out for any surplus arms sales in the south. If they happen, hidden jems can be discovered..

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Once upon a time, way back in the 60s, firearms involved in local cases, once the trial was over, were either returned to their legal owner (if applicable) or given to the police department to do with as they saw fit.

Some of these guns were sold and some simply kept by one of the LEOs if they wanted it. One of the handguns in my collection was used in a murder and once the BG was convicted, a LEO gave it to my father (he was an auxiliary officer at the time), who then gave it to me several years later.