The City Council voted tonight 4 to 1 to accept $400,000.00 for the purposes of installing surveillance cameras on Palisade Avenue.
Page 1 of 2 City Council Agenda. Click here.
Definition of Forfeited Properties
We were told that we are allowed to use Forfeited DEA Account money to install Surveillance Cameras. In my research, it has become clear that the use is specified in an application for procurement of Forfeited DEA Funds. You are only allowed to use the money in the way it was requested in the application. The money must be used for surveillance cameras, because that is the way our police applied to use it.
Page 1 of 2 City Council Agenda. Click here.
Definition of Forfeited Properties
We were told that we are allowed to use Forfeited DEA Account money to install Surveillance Cameras. In my research, it has become clear that the use is specified in an application for procurement of Forfeited DEA Funds. You are only allowed to use the money in the way it was requested in the application. The money must be used for surveillance cameras, because that is the way our police applied to use it.The Adoptive Forfeiture Process
The process begins with a request for adoption,† which is then reviewed by the appropriate federal agency. If a forfeiture is adopted, the process continues to unfold as follows:
An agreement is signed, in which the local law enforcement agency promises the proceeds "shall be used for law enforcement purposes in accordance with the statutes and guidelines that govern equitable sharing" and also that 23
they will be used as the local agency specified in the application it submitted requesting
equitable sharing in that case. The agreement also states that "the misuse or misapplication of shared resources is prohibited" and will subject the local agency to sanctions.
When the proceeds from an adoptive forfeiture are shared with the participating local agency (or agencies), this is known as equitable sharing. Equitable sharing proceeds are considerable. During FY2007, for example, more than $400 million was paid out by the U.S. Justice Department's Assets Forfeiture Fund to state and local police agencies.
Despite the possible windfall that can result from an equitable sharing payout, there are a few restrictions on how the proceeds can be spent. First, payments are intended to enhance and supplement police resources and activities. Second, property and funds awarded must be used in accordance with specific federal guidelines:
"Permissible uses of shared property include activities designed to enhance future investigations, such as payment of overtime, provision of police training, purchase of equipment, improvement of police facilities, upgrading of detention facilities, and conducting drug education awareness programs."
24 Third, there is an express requirement that the funds not be used to supplant agency resources.
