Pubdate: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2006 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1424/a01.html Author: C. Preston Griffith TRUST THE POLICE ON FORFEITURES Regarding the forfeiture policy that is utilized by the Bradenton Police Department, I say keep up the practice until the document in question is proven to be wrong, in a court of law. To make the leap that this procedure is corrupt because "other police departments" have had corruption in their ranks is nonsensical. Let the police do their job! If It is effective/legal and streamlines the process in confiscating drug monies, all the better for our citizens and society. Believe it or not we do not need lawyers to solve all of our problems. The police, better than anyone, know the "players" in the drug world, and the utilization of this document saves our city time and money as well as keeping officers on the street, fighting crime rather than in court fighting our overburdened legal system. I still place my trust and confidence in the police until proven otherwise. Those who argue that it violates due process are wrong as this issue has been before the courts. This proves the offended party can still have the issue decided in a court of law, that is, due process. Of course the people in the drug trade (they are criminals, by the way) are opposed to this policy. Why let the police take their "hard-earned" money. They risk their lives and well-being in the drug trade. They have to put up with the criminal element associated with their profession: break-ins, robberies, prostitution, drive-by-shootings, etc. Let us all support our police. C. PRESTON GRIFFITH Bradenton