Grand Junction Police Have an Evidence Issue Few See

According to a recent Grand Junction Police Department National Forensic Science Week release, our local law enforcement collected and processed more than 20,000 physical evidence items in 2025. They are on pace to do roughly the same in 2026.

Behind the scenes, Grand Junction PD also manages over 945,000 items of body-camera footage and digital evidence, while forensic analysts work through nearly 62 terabytes of information. These numbers raise a question: What happens to all that evidence?

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The Numbers Behind GJPD's Evidence Operation

Grand Junction Police Have an Evidence Problem Few See

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Can you imagine being a Colorado evidence technician working through 1,737 items each month? That’s what it’s like for members of GJPD, which works out to roughly 20,844 items annually. In 2025, the department separately reports 20,844 physical evidence items submitted and processed last year. According to the GJPD National Forensic Science Week release, that means technicians see nearly 57 physical evidence items daily.

Nearly 1 Million Digital Evidence Items Does Not Mean 1 Million Physical Objects

Over the course of a year, Grand Junction Police end up with a figure that looks like nearly 1 million pieces of evidence. This number needs clarification. GJPD maintains more than 945,000 items of body-worn-camera footage and other digital evidence, according to the GJPD National Forensic Science Week release. This digital evidence is separate from the department’s physical evidence inventory.

So What Happens When Police Collect Evidence?

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What happens to evidence once it reaches GJPD? The department’s Property and Evidence Unit is responsible for processing, cataloging, storing, and maintaining evidence collected during investigations, while specialized personnel conduct digital, chemical, and other forensic analysis.

This goes far beyond the dramatic types of crime scene evidence. GJPD says its unit also manages digital evidence and property connected to investigations, creating a massive behind-the-scenes system that keeps track of everything from physical items to digital files.