ORDINANCE NO. 3837

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART OF CHAPTER 20 OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO CONVERSION AND DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Recitals.

It is desirable to delete outdated language in Chapter 20, Section 29 of the Grand Junction Code of Ordinances; and

It is desirable to amend Chapter 20, Section 29 of the Grand Junction Code of Ordinances to address disposition of counterfeit money.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION THAT:

Chapter 20, Section 29 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Grand Junction, Colorado, is hereby amended to read as follows:

 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, certain objects and articles of property as described in this article may be kept, held or disposed of as follows:

(1)  Nothing in this article shall be construed as amending any existing ordinances concerning the impoundment and disposition of livestock, dogs, poultry or other animals.

(2)  Unless ordered to the contrary by a court or otherwise required by state or national law, firearms or other weapons which may not lawfully be kept, possessed or retained by the owner or person otherwise entitled to the possession thereof, or which may not otherwise lawfully be released to the owner thereof, or which are unclaimed after notice to the owner, or the owner of which is not known, may be kept and used by the police department in its training program or otherwise, or may be donated to museums or historical societies as the chief of police may order for purposes of historical preservation. If the firearms or weapons are declared surplus by the chief of police, disposition of such firearms or weapons may be made as otherwise provided in this section.

(3)  If the property consists of any of the following: burglar tools of any description; firearms, cartridges, explosives, armored or bulletproof clothing, or other dangerous weapons; gambling apparatus or instruments; beer, wine, spirituous liquor or fermented malt beverages; soiled, bloody or unsanitary clothing; solids or liquids of unknown or uncertain composition; drugs, narcotics, hallucinogenic substances, hypodermic syringes and needles, or other drug paraphernalia; any poisonous, noxious or deleterious solids or liquids; counterfeit bills, coins or other fraudulent negotiable instruments; or any other property which reasonably might result in injury to the health and safety of the public or be subject to unlawful use, the chief of police or his designee may destroy any such article. Any such article may be converted to police department use for training or other legitimate police or governmental purposes.

All other provisions of Chapter 20 shall remain in full force and effect.

INTRODUCED for first reading this 19^th day of October, 2005.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2^nd day of November, 2005 on Second Reading.

/s/ Bruce Hill        

Bruce Hill

President of the Council

Attest:

/s/ Stephanie Tuin      

Stephanie Tuin

City Clerk