(Washington, D.C.) – The United States Secret Service Washington Field Office has
received the Property and Evidence Accreditation by the International Association for
Property and Evidence (IAPE) making it the first federal field office to achieve such a
ranking. This achievement occurred following the Secret Services Headquarters Forensic
Services Division Laboratory Evidence Accreditation as the first accredited federal
agency with IAPE.
In 2016, the Washington Field Office reviewed and implemented the required standards
to enhance the existing evidence policies and procedures. Both the accreditation of the
evidence vault operations and certification of evidence personnel in all field offices and
at Headquarters was designed to increase the oversight and accountability of evidence
with over 600 requirements related to evidence handling.
All Secret Service field office evidence personnel are trained and certified on best
practices with evidence handling. This higher standard will aid Secret Service personnel
in providing improved and continued accountability and efficiency of evidence handling
within the agency, as well as with external partners who regularly request the Secret
Service’s assistance with investigative and protective operations.