*Feds suspend forfeiture program, keeping $1.2B from local law enforcement agencies
A Gazette check of local agencies’ use of asset forfeiture dollars found that they are spent on everything from the coloring books used in DARE and other community relations programs to operation and maintenance costs for the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office helicopter that is used in aerial marijuana crop identification and eradication.
Equitable sharing dollars have been used to renovate a new headquarters for the Niagara County Drug Task Force and the purchase of the Lewiston Police Department’s drug-sniffing K-9 Tazer.
“Our K-9 has been instrumental for us and other agencies in the area that we share services with,” Lewiston Police Chief Frank Previte said. “This makes no sense. It’s local cases (that lead to seizures) and (the lose of funds) affects local communities.”
In North Tonawanda, asset forfeiture funds have provided improved communications equipment for detectives and covered the costs of directed patrols that target specific community complaints.
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