Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jul 2013
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2013 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Oliver Sachgau

COPS HELPED BY CRIMINALS' CASH

A $356,000 grant from a fund that takes seized criminal property and 
turns it into cash will enable the Winnipeg Police Service to buy new 
equipment and training.

The money is part of more than $1 million that will be distributed 
over the summer as part of the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund, 
which, since 2010, has seized more than $5 million in assets. The 
money is used in part for police and victim services.

Justice Minister Andrew Swan, who made the announcement, said the 
fund is a good way to get money to police.

"It's always a pleasure to be able to support our police... it's even 
better when the funds to do so don't come from tax dollars, but come 
from those people who carry out unlawful activities," he said.

The police service will use the money it receives to buy two cargo 
vans, surveillance equipment, a licence-plate reader and safety 
equipment as well as training, and a "next-generation 911 system," Swan said.

Police also showcased a sonar scanner they use while diving in murky 
water, purchased with money from the fund last year.

The grant was funded largely through operations such as a drug bust 
in Brandon and Dauphin, in which five homes were raided and about $2 
million in assets was seized, though that number is preliminary. 
Property seized, such as cars, real estate and furniture, are 
auctioned off or otherwise sold, and the money goes into the fund. 
Sometimes-large amounts of cash are found, said Gord Schumacher, 
director of the province's criminal property forfeiture branch.

"If it's a house we'll list it; if it's a vehicle we'll auction; and 
if it's cash we're always happy to deposit that," Schumacher said. 
"There's lots of money being discovered."

The fund distributes money to police several times a year. The last 
time was in fall of 2012, Schumacher said. As long as criminal 
property is seized the money will keep coming, Schumacher said. "It 
couldn't be more successful."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom