Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jul 2005
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Author: Gary Taylor, Sentinel Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

BAD GUYS' MONEY, GOOD CAUSE: CRIMES' CASH HELPS KIDS,
COPS

Cooper Small Has Learned The Rewards Of Reading.

The 10-year-old Longwood Elementary School student, who enters fifth
grade next month, has brought home prizes, including a skateboard and
board games, for participating in the school's reading program.

Trish Small had no idea that drug dealers were helping pay for her
son's goodies.

"Oh, that's funny," Small said when she learned that the Longwood
Police Department helps underwrite the program with money seized from
illegal activities. On the other hand, she has no problem using bad
guys' money to reward good kids. "That works for me," she said.

Incentives for elementary-school students are just one way
law-enforcement agencies spend millions of dollars a year in seized
money and from the sale of seized property. Most is tied to
illegal-drug activities, though vehicles and equipment used in a wide
range of crimes are commonly taken through court proceedings.

The majority of the money is used to improve police services and to
give officers additional tools to do their jobs, such as police dogs,
weapons and motorcycles.

Police and sheriff's agencies in Central Florida spent $2.63 million
in seizure trust funds during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
That was slightly more than half the money available.

Statewide, law-enforcement agencies collected $29.3 million and spent
almost $32 million during the same period. In most years, a balance is
carried into the next period.

For Seminole County agencies, much of the money comes from the
City-County Investigative Bureau, which focuses much of its efforts on
illegal drugs. Seminole's seven municipal police departments and the
Sheriff's Office each get a share of the forfeited money.

Most recently, the eight agencies banded together to contribute
$250,000 toward a classroom and driver-training facility for officers.
The facility, being planned in conjunction with Seminole Community
College, will be near Geneva. The contribution from each agency varied
based on its size. Casselberry contributed $16,471, for example, and
Altamonte Springs gave $27,647.

"The trust fund is really very important to us," Casselberry Deputy
Chief Jim Ruf said. There is great satisfaction, he said, in knowing
his department is paying for needed equipment and training without
going to taxpayers.

Central Florida agencies collected $2.43 million for the fiscal year
that ended Sept. 30 -- from $35 that went to the Volusia County Beach
Police to $457,502 that went to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
During that year, Central Florida agencies spent sums ranging from
$586 by the Melbourne Beach Police Department to $403,863 by the
Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Agencies can't replace worn-out equipment with the trust fund or use
the money to offset normal budget expenses. Instead, they must use it
for enhancements.

Several years ago, for example, Casselberry tapped more than $40,000
from its trust fund to upgrade from revolvers to semiautomatic
handguns for its officers. That might not have been possible -- or
certainly couldn't have been done all at once -- if the agency had to
ask the City Commission for that much money, Ruf said.

More recently, his department armed its officers with Taser stun guns
and put video cameras in six of its patrol cars.

Agencies file reports twice a year to the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, and state statutes require that 15 percent of the money
go back to the community, for programs such as crime prevention, safe
neighborhoods and schools, including school resource officers.

Contributing $2,000 to Longwood Elementary helps meet that
requirement, Longwood police Chief Tom Jackson said. Students earn
points for their reading and use the points to buy items such as
school supplies and bike helmets.

Many agencies use trust-fund money to underwrite Drug Abuse Resistance
Education programs. That might involve paying for a graduation
ceremony at a local school or helping buy T-shirts for students who
complete the program.

The Leesburg Police Department used trust-fund money to help take six
busloads of DARE students to an Orlando Magic basketball game.

"The kids were absolutely great," said Officer Scott Mack, who helped
chaperone last season's trip. "They were just so happy to be there. It
was a lot of fun."

There's another benefit, Mack said: "It's an awesome opportunity for
us as law-enforcement officers to get to spend time with the kids."

The Leesburg department also reached out to underprivileged children
this past year by donating $2,500 to a scholarship fund at the
Leesburg Recreation Department.

Youngsters who couldn't afford fees were able to participate in
activities such as swimming lessons and team sports, assistant
recreation director Troy Houtman said.

Houtman also said he was surprised to learn the source of the money
but said he thinks it's fitting that so many children benefit from the
illegal cash.

"I never thought about where the money came from," he
said.

Meanwhile, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office used almost $65,000
from its trust fund for a communications system for its Hostage
Negotiation Unit and Special Response Team.

The Oviedo Police Department last year spent more than $53,000 on four
motorcycles.

"It's a great feeling to know that the community didn't have to pay
for them," said Lt. William Poff, who heads the agency's traffic unit.

Motorcycles are easier to maneuver on busy highways, but the
department didn't buy them to increase the number of tickets that
officers write, Poff said.

No matter what officers drive, "you can write tickets all day long,"
Poff said. "If you want to educate and change driving habits, you have
to get their attention."

Motorcycle officers frequently stop to talk about their vehicles and
end up discussing traffic safety and law, turning a chance meeting
into a traffic-education experience, Poff said.

This year, the biggest expenditure from the trust fund will be
establishing a police office at Oviedo Marketplace mall.

"There will be displays, demonstrations and hands-on stuff," Oviedo
police Cmdr. Marc Beaulieu said. 
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