Proper procedure in collecting, preserving, and transporting electronic devices is best described as including which of the following?

• A. Officer Safety (wear PPE)
• B. Secure the scene - two kinds (Physical-separate people from scene, Electronic-sever connectivity)
• C. Isolate electronic equipment
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Handling electronic devices at a scene requires addressing safety, scene control, and evidence integrity. Wearing PPE protects you and helps prevent contaminating the devices. Securing the scene in two ways—physically restricting access to keep people and distractions away, and electronically severing connectivity to prevent remote access or tampering—protects the evidence from both human and network interference. Isolating the electronic equipment further preserves the device’s current state, prevents data changes, and supports maintaining a clear chain of custody. Taken together, these elements ensure safety, preserve data integrity, and prevent tampering, which is why all of the above describes proper procedure for collecting, preserving, and transporting electronic devices.