Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jan 2002
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: T.A. Ballard
Note: From DMNews Cyberletters
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

ASSET SEIZURE LAW CORRUPTS COPS

I was appalled to learn that Dallas police snitches were setting up 
law-abiding citizens on fake drug charges with hopes of seizing assets. 
Many of these snitches are past or present criminals themselves who receive 
big taxpayer bucks for their deceitful deeds.

Innocence or guilt is irrelevant in this policing-for-profit scheme which 
has corrupted virtually every law enforcement agency in the land.

Snitches generate revenue for police using civil asset forfeiture laws 
which were cleverly designed by politicians to circumvent constitutional 
protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Their cop 
counterparts are promoted based on their dollar amount value to the 
department rather than their service to the community.

As drug dealers get smarter, civil asset forfeitures drop. To compensate, 
crooked cops and snitches set their sights on law-abiding citizens.

T.A. BALLARD, Cleburne
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MAP posted-by: Jackl