Pubdate: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Scott Barker, and Laura Ayo Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) Note: Complete series at http://www.mapinc.org/source/knoxville+news SEIZURE PROFITS FUND POLICE WORK State narcotics laws allow law enforcement agencies to keep cash and all proceeds from the sale of cars seized during drug investigations. Local agencies have come to depend on the money to fund drug investigations, freeing up tax revenues for other uses. The Knoxville Police Department uses the money to underwrite undercover narcotics purchases, pay informants and buy equipment. "It's our primary source for what we do," said Lt. Gary Price, who runs KPD's Organized Crime Unit. "We primarily use it to put back into investigations." Over the past four years, KPD has seized about $551,200 from drug offenders, records show. Cars confiscated during drug investigations and later sold at auction have brought in another $131,100 over the past two years. Agencies are allowed to use vehicles forfeited to them for five years before having to sell them at auction. As the budget's set up now, Price said, narcotics investigations would be crippled without the funding. The Knox County Sheriff's Office did not return phone calls seeking comment on its drug fund usage. State forfeiture records show the Sheriff's Office seized about $523,000 in cash during the past four years. The Sheriff's Office released incomplete records of its auctions of forfeited vehicles, making it impossible to determine how much money the agency has made from the sale of drug-related automobiles - but it's at least $28,200. Records in the Knox County Finance Department show the Sheriff's Office, like KPD, uses the money to fund drug investigations. Those records show the Sheriff's Office also uses the money for parts and maintenance for the helicopter unit, construction materials, uniforms, vehicles and other supplies. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin