Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jan 2009
Source: Hattiesburg American (MS)
Copyright: 2009 Hattiesburg American
Contact: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1646
Author: Earlesha Butler
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

HPD GETS $1.4M IN FORFEITURE REVENUE

Forfeiture revenue allocated to the Hattiesburg Police Department
over the past six fiscal years has amounted to nearly $1.4 million,
most of which was used to purchase new cars, public documents show.

Documents show the department has used its forfeiture revenue for new
vehicles and other equipment along with training materials and
machinery tools. Recently, HPD allocated forfeiture funds to build a
car service center.

"We want to enhance our effectiveness by equipping our officers with
the best possible equipment," said Assistant Police Chief Frank
Misenhelter, adding that the department's forfeiture revenue varies
from year to year. "Vehicles, cameras, computers, surveillance
equipment, weapons - that's what we utilize these funds for.

"We've got to give our officers the necessary tools to be effective
in fighting crime."

Forfeiture revenue also includes money from different state funds,
not just money that is related to drug seizures. Money from
processing fees and fines also is listed under forfeiture revenue.

The department received the most forfeiture revenue in the 2007
fiscal year - $473,625. In 2006, the HPD saw $386,626 in forfeiture
funds, preceded by $162,716 in 2005 and $237,852 in 2004.

Revenue decreased during the 2008 fiscal year to $120,759. For the
current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, the
department has thus far received $7,890, according to the most recent
numbers.

"Those funds must be considered as an additional budget for our
agency and must be rebudgeted each subsequent year until these funds
are expended," Misenhelter said. "These funds don't replace our
agency's normal budget, (but) may be used for any law enforcement
purpose."

Hattiesburg City Council President Kim Bradley said the department's
forfeiture funds are a tremendous help, especially with the recent
state budget cuts.

"Last year, we brought 10 police cars from the police forfeiture
funds," Bradley said. "It gives the department an opportunity to have
items that they would not normally be able to have," including
specialized computer equipment.

HPD's forfeiture funds have given the department a big boost in
purchasing new cars, which department officials said were badly
needed in 2008.

Records show that the department has spent $864,841 on vehicles from
2004 to the 2009 fiscal year. The number of vehicles the department
purchased with the forfeiture funds was not available Friday.

During that time, the department spent the most money on cars in
2008, with a total amount of $479,579.

Around early August, City Council authorized and approved an
emergency purchase of three Chevrolet Tahoes for the HPD. Officials
said the cost of the vehicles was not to exceed $31,800. Department
officials said the trucks were purchased with grant money.

The department was approved in September to receive 10 new cars for
its patrol unit. The total cost for the vehicles was $237,500. City
officials on Friday said the cars were purchased with forfeiture funds.

In November, the HPD was approved by City Council to buy six new cars
for its detectives. The cars cost about $16,000 each, department
officials said. A portion of the funding to purchase the cars came
from  an Oct. 19 illegal gambling raid at Hyatt's Brothers Discount
Groceries and Seafood.

According to past reports, the department seized more  than $50,000 in
cash from the business.

Another car-related expense is the construction of a  new service
station near Katie Avenue and Edwards Street. The department
allocated $28,298 of its 2009 forfeiture funds for the building of
the station. A completion date for the center was not available.

Of the HPD's total amount in revenue from 2004 to 2009, a total of
$276,402 was collected in narcotic forfeits - assets generated from
drug seizures - and public fines.

Department officials say specialized units have allowed police to
make more drug-related seizures.

HPD's interdiction unit, which was created in March, is made up of
about nine officers who work to make drug arrests along the city's
intestates and highways. Officials said the unit has made about 50
felony arrests since March.

The department's NET and strike team, which was formed in January
2007, also makes drug-related arrests and seizures.

Lt. Keith Crawford, a federal liaison for the department's forfeiture
assets, said the number of seizures varies from year to year.

"I think it would be safe to say there (is) probably around 75 to 100
actually cases (annually) where there (is) an actual seizure
involved," Crawford said. He added that all drugs seized are turned
over to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Crawford said most police seizures are "narcotic-based through drug
possessions or drug sales."

However the department can take valuable assets, such as cars,
furniture and electronic items, seized and auction them for proceeds,
which would later be placed in the department's forfeiture fund.

"They're seizable assets being that it's used as a conveyance of the
narcotics," Crawford said. "We have to be able to show that (the
assets) are derived from drug sales."

Despite the department's reliance on forfeiture funds, Misenhelter
said its biggest reward comes from making drug-related arrests.

"Getting those drugs off the streets and protecting our citizens of
Hattiesburg - that's our goal."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin