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Drug Busts Along I-95 Help Sheriff's Department
Drug Money Helps Buy Guns, Computers
www.charlotte.com
POSTED: 3:28 pm EST February 21, 2004
UPDATED: 3:38 pm EST February 21, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sheriff's departments are using millions of dollars seized from suspected drug couriers along Interstate 95 in North Carolina to buy guns, computers and even a training center.

The interstate links Florida to the Northeast and is the East Coast's major drug corridor.

Along 182 miles of Interstate 95 in North Carolina, law enforcement officers have seized at least $6.3 million in cash, 440 pounds of marijuana and 110 pounds of cocaine over the past three years, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

The numbers are considered conservative because local officers do not report every bust to the DEA.

State troopers traditionally patrol the interstates. But sheriffs regularly post deputies trained in drug detection on Interstate 95 in Johnston, Cumberland and Robeson counties. Other sheriff's offices said they would like to work Interstate 95 full time but don't have the staff.

A federal program gives law enforcement agencies up to 80 percent of any drug-related cash they seize. Last year, that amounted to more than $2.8 million for sheriff's departments in Johnston, Cumberland, Robeson, Nash, Harnett and Wilson counties.

In Cumberland County, where two deputies monitor Interstate 95 full time, cash seizures are building a $2 million training center with an indoor firing range. The majority of the money came from I-95.

While their chief goal is to destroy narcotics, officers said, seizing money does more damage to the drug trade.

"Where you break the back of the criminal enterprise is to take the profits," said John Boone, acting resident agent in charge for the DEA in Raleigh.

Arnold Loewy, a constitutional law expert, said he is concerned that stopping drivers on a pretext makes it easier for officers to engage in prejudicial profiling.

"I don't know whether race or ethnicity is part of the profile, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is," Loewy said. "It's more likely going to be people who are in a lower socioeconomic strata, that maybe have cars that stand out in a particular way, who maybe don't look like middle-class folks. And that, I do think, is a problem."

Maj. Sam Pennica, of the Cumberland Sheriff's Office, said experience has taught deputies not to make assumptions about class and race.

"I think it makes them more alert not to overlook something, not to assume that everything is OK ... just because they're driving a nice car or have a child with them," Pennica said. "If you try to stereotype or profile, you're going to miss."

Last year alone, more than $415,000 in seized drug money came back to the Johnston Sheriff's Department. By contrast, the sheriff's office in neighboring Wake County, miles from I-95, received $88,000 from seized cash last year.

The Johnston department used its money to buy equipment that many rural sheriffs would covet: 55 laptop computers, six vehicles, more than a dozen guns, 15 bulletproof vests, a narcotics dog, an aluminum boat for searches and rescues, speakers to negotiate with hostage-takers, in-car video cameras and two Honda four-wheelers.

Even deputies who direct traffic will do so in greater comfort, thanks to 100 rain jackets and 100 neon-green traffic vests.

"I probably wouldn't have spent the taxpayers' money buying the rain jackets," said Johnston Sheriff Steve Bizzell. "But I'll let the drug dealers buy them."
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.



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1-95 CRIME
www.myrtlebeachonline.com

Busts a boon for sheriff's offices

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - Sheriff's departments are using millions of dollars seized from suspected drug couriers along Interstate 95 in North Carolina to buy guns, computers and even a training center.

The interstate links Florida to the Northeast and is the East Coast's major drug corridor.

Along 182 miles of Interstate 95 in North Carolina, law enforcement officers have seized at least $6.3 million in cash, 440 pounds of marijuana and 110 pounds of cocaine over the past three years, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

State troopers traditionally patrol the interstates. But sheriffs regularly post deputies trained in drug detection on I-95 in Johnston, Cumberland and Robeson counties. Other sheriff's offices say they would like to work I-95 full time but don't have the staff.

A federal program gives law enforcement agencies up to 80 percent of any drug-related cash they seize. Last year, that amounted to more than $2.8 million for sheriff's departments in Johnston, Cumberland, Robeson, Nash, Harnett and Wilson counties.

In Cumberland County, where two deputies monitor I-95 full time, cash seizures are building a $2 million training center with an indoor firing range.

While their chief goal is to destroy narcotics, officers say, seizing money does more damage to the drug trade.

"Where you break the back of the criminal enterprise is to take the profits," said John Boone, acting resident agent in charge for the DEA in Raleigh.

Arnold Loewy, a constitutional law expert, said he is concerned that stopping drivers on a pretext makes it easier for officers to engage in prejudicial profiling.

"I don't know whether race or ethnicity is part of the profile, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is," Loewy said. "It's more likely going to be people who are in a lower socioeconomic strata, that maybe have cars that stand out in a particular way, who maybe don't look like middle-class folks. And that, I do think, is a problem."

Maj. Sam Pennica, of the Cumberland Sheriff's Office, said experience has taught deputies not to make assumptions about class and race.

"I think it makes them more alert not to overlook something, not to assume that everything is OK ... just because they're driving a nice car or have a child with them," Pennica said. "If you try to stereotype or profile, you're going to miss."

Last year alone, more than $415,000 in seized drug money came back to the Johnston Sheriff's Department. By contrast, the sheriff's office in neighboring Wake County, miles from I-95, got $88,000 from seized cash last year.

The Johnston department used its money to buy equipment that many rural sheriffs would covet: 55 laptop computers, six vehicles, more than a dozen guns, 15 bullet-resistant vests, a narcotics dog, an aluminum boat for searches and rescues, speakers to negotiate with hostage-takers, in-car video cameras and two Honda four-wheelers.

Even deputies who direct traffic will do so in greater comfort, thanks to 100 rain jackets and 100 neon-green traffic vests. "I probably wouldn't have spent the taxpayers' money buying the rain jackets," said Johnston Sheriff Steve Bizzell. "But I'll let the drug dealers buy them."

__________________
Alien Space Signal

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

Fear became the ultimate tool of this government - V.

 

Higher Self

A federal program gives law enforcement agencies up to 80 percent of any drug-related cash they seize. Last year, that amounted to more than $2.8 million for sheriff's departments in Johnston, Cumberland, Robeson, Nash, Harnett and Wilson counties.



Prohibition, power, and money, corrupts. Period.

What do you mean, end the Drug War, it's great for business... these folks are thugs. Alot of it stems from the definition of drug dealer. It only happens to bad guys right? The amount of times this has happened to a 'consumer' who had something the cops wanted, like your cash, or your nice SUV is untold, but the numbers, the lives affected are staggaring...

I had an ex-girlfriend who dated an undercover cop tell me how some of there law enforcement utilize confiscated goods. It was for their personal enjoyment. The particular incident in mind was a great weekend out on the Chesepeake bay, a nice little boating adventure, the fine vessel was 'donated' by a 'drug dealer' and so was the POT they enjoyed that weekend...




The numbers are considered conservative because local officers do not report every bust to the DEA.




Only enough to perpetuate their game and give the appearance of doing 'what is right'. The rest of it is kept for personal cosumption, tax free of course! Doesn't it just give you a warm fuzzy feeling on the inside to know that millions of 'us' actually pay them to do this?

Not appauled yet? Then just wait till happens to you, or someone you care about. Unless change is forced to happen, these injustices will continue to happen.

PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD NEVER INCLUDE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, or it's bound to be abused.