My neighbor died last summer, I knew him pretty well and knew that he kept a glock 22 in his mini-van.
He died of a heart attack, but at first the cause was unknown. An officer came over and asked me some questions, a question came up and I let the officer know that he usually kept it in his vehicle. The mans father was on the scene by this time. The officer went over said something to his father, then got in the van, cleared the pistol and handed it immediatly over to the deceased mans father who put it in his own vehicle....
I don't know if what happened with you was standard or not, this is just how I saw it done.
Sorry for your loss.
I am really not trying to be a butt I just really don't understand when a GUN makes such a big hairy difference.
Firstly, sorry for your loss OP
You hint at the reasoning that why the OP's brother's firearm was taken, but I'll flat out spell it out. The immediate area where a person is found deceased, is initially considered a crime scene. In all the other cases of deaths people have relayed within this thread, their weapons had been stored or placed elsewhere. In the OP's brother's instance, a gun was found on the nightstand next to the bed. Any sane PD isnt going to let that think walk off, until clarification of cause of death has been made (and you cant do that in 20 minutes).
How do they know the robber didnt forget the watch on the dresser?
Call up the department and tell them they took your gun that you were letting your brother borrow.
Is a watch a deadly weapon a robber could have brought with him to use in a murder?
Well, unless he has a gunshot wound, then no, it doesn't.
Did the gun find a way to strangle him in his sleep and now it has to be held for questioning?
Wait wait I know. An assassin gave him heart attack drops and forgot to take his gun when he slipped out the window. Now they are going to get the assassins prints from the wayward gun.
Purple because I don't really mean to offend, I just don't get it.
I'm sorry I really don't see the big deal.
Except for the misconception that it is a SCARY EVIIIILLL GUN.
You tell me.
What could that gun possibly add to the investigation that would not apply to a table lamp?
Edit to the OP:
I am sorry for your loss...
Sorry for your loss. I am also disturbed by the ease to which anyone can enter into a crime scene and just start stealing stuff. If it is a crime scene then secure the area take pictures of the room and such and list all the items taken for the investigation. If anyone removes personnal items from a crime scene and doesn't provide documentation of what they are taking, then I would treat their actions as stealing. I am sure department regulations were broken in this case. Secure the crime scene, which means don't disturb the victim or the surrounding area, call for a detective , coroner, crime scene investigator and the chief etc, don't put your crubby paws all over the place, especially on a gun which may have been used in a crime. I have zero formal training in securing a crime scene, but even a rookie knows better than to tamper with any and all evidence at a crime scene.