Vertical Storage Solutions › Law Enforcement
Vertical Storage Solutions for Law Enforcement & Evidence Rooms
Automated vertical carousels for police evidence rooms, property storage, and public safety facilities. Maintain chain of custody with secure, trackable storage that maximizes your evidence room capacity.
Solve Your Evidence Room Space Crisis
Police evidence rooms across the country face the same challenge — growing volumes of evidence in facilities that cannot expand. Vertical storage carousels solve this by storing evidence vertically, using ceiling height that traditional shelving cannot reach. A single carousel can replace entire rows of shelving while providing better security, faster retrieval, and bulletproof chain of custody documentation.
Evidence items of all sizes — from jewelry and electronics to weapons, clothing, and bulky items — are stored in designated locations within the carousel. When an item is needed, the operator enters a requestand the carousel brings it directly to the access point in seconds.
Evidence Storage Solutions
Pan Carousels for Small Evidence
Organize electronics, narcotics, jewelry, documents, and small items in compartmentalized pans with full tracking. Each pan rotates to the access window for secure retrieval.
Shelving Carousels for Bulk Evidence
Store larger evidence items — clothing, boxes, equipment, weapons — on motorized shelving that rotates to the operator. Adjustable shelves accommodate evidence of any size.
Chain of Custody & Compliance
Chain of custody is the most critical factor in evidence management. A single break in the chain can compromise a case. Vertical carousel systems provide multiple layers of custody protection:
- Access controls — keypad, badge, or biometric authentication restricts access to authorized evidence technicians
- Automated audit trails — every access event is logged with user ID, timestamp, and item location
- Enclosed, tamper-resistant design — evidence is stored inside a sealed unit, not accessible from open shelving
- Separate intake and retrieval — optional two-point access allows officers to deposit evidence without entering the evidence room
- Remote monitoring — supervisors can review access logsand generate reports for inspectionsand audits
Agencies We Serve
- City and county police departments
- State law enforcement agencies
- Sheriff’s offices
- Federal law enforcement (FBI, DEA, ATF)
- District attorney evidence storage
- Crime laboratories
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much evidence can a vertical carousel store?
A single vertical carousel can store the equivalent of 10-30 standard shelving units depending on ceiling height and configuration. Systems can be expanded with additional units as evidence volumes grow.
Does the system maintain chain of custody?
Yes. Access controls, automated audit trails, and enclosed storage provide continuous chain of custody documentation. Every access event is logged with user ID, timestamp, and item location.
Can evidence be stored at different temperatures?
While standard carousels operate at ambient temperature, they can be installed in climate-controlled evidence rooms. Biological evidence may require separate refrigerated storage.
How do officers submit evidence without entering the evidence room?
Dual-access configurations allow officers to deposit evidence through a pass-through window on one side while evidence technicians retrieve from the other side — maintaining separation of duties.
What is the cost of an evidence room carousel?
Evidence room carousel systems typically range from $30,000 to $100,000+ depending on capacity and features. Municipal purchasing and cooperative contracts are available. We provide free assessmentsand detailed quotes.
How Vertical Carousels Work in Evidence Rooms
Vertical carousels are automated storage systems that use rotating shelves within an enclosed cabinet to deliver evidence items to an ergonomic access window. Instead of walking aislesand climbing ladders to retrieve evidence, technicians enter an item number or barcode and the carousel rotates to bring the correct shelf to the operator.
Automated Retrieval
Evidence technicians use a keypad, barcode scanner, or integrated evidence management software to request items. The carousel rotates to the correct shelf position in seconds, eliminating search time and reducing handling errors.
Access Control & Audit Trails
Each retrieval is logged with operator ID, date, time, and item location. PIN codes, card readers, or biometric access prevent unauthorized use and create a complete chain of custody record for every evidence transaction.
High-Density Storage
Vertical carousels use ceiling height instead of floor space. A single 8-foot-wide carousel can store the equivalent of several rows of static shelving by stacking trays from floor to ceiling inside an enclosed cabinet.
Enclosed & Secure
All evidence is stored inside a closed steel cabinet. Unlike open shelving, vertical carousels prevent visual access, physical contact, and tampering from anyone who is not an authorized operator at the access window.
Best Applications for Vertical Evidence Storage
Vertical carousels are not the right choice for every evidence item. They work best for specific evidence categories where fast retrieval, density, and security are priorities:
- Small packaged evidence — Bagged items, envelopes, small containers, and sealed evidence kits that fit in standard carousel trays
- Narcotics & controlled substances — High-security items that benefit from enclosed storage with access logging. Often paired with DEA-compliant caged areas for larger quantities
- Digital evidence — Hard drives, phones, cameras, USB drives, and other digital media stored in anti-static containers
- High-value items — Jewelry, cash, electronics, and other valuable evidence requiring secure, tamper-evident storage
- Firearms components — Magazines, ammunition, small weapon parts, and ballistic samples (full firearms typically go on dedicated weapon racks)
For oversized items, bulk evidence, and long-term storage, vertical carousels work alongside evidence shelving and mobile shelving systems. Most agencies use a combination of storage types within the evidence room.
Upgrade Your Evidence Room
Free evidence room assessment and layout design. Maximize capacity while maintaining chain of custody.