S.D. Police Seek Aircraft Seized in Drug Probes

The San Diego Police Department has taken its first step toward acquiring an air force.

Chief Bill Kolender said Tuesday the department has asked the federal government to give it two helicopters and a twin-engine airplane that were confiscated during drug trafficking investigations.

Kolender made the announcement while being presented with a check for $28,000 by U.S. Marshal Bob Lafoon. It was the city’s share of money seized during drug investigations.

The money is the result of the federal Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, which allows the Drug Enforcement Administration to seize money and property linked to drug-related crime. Under the law, local law-enforcement agencies share in the money and goods seized in drug investigations in which they have taken part. The U.S. marshal’s office administers the program.

The San Diego Police Department has applied for $1.3 million as its share from drug investigations. The $28,000 represented the first money given any law enforcement agency in San Diego County under the law.

Lt. Skip Di Cerchio, commander of the San Diego Police Department’s narcotics detail, said the two Bell Jet Ranger helicopters the department is asking for belonged to a drug dealer sought by San Diego police. They were seized out of state within the past two months.

The twin-engine Cessna was seized in November in El Cajon as part of department’s ongoing investigation of a fugitive drug dealer, Di Cerchio said.

The department has also asked for several cars that were confiscated.

The $28,000 represented partial assets from about 10 cases the narcotics unit has participated in within the past year.

Diogenese K. Galanos, chief Drug Enforcement Administration agent in San Diego, and U.S. Atty. Peter K. Nunez were on hand for the presentation of the check at police headquarters.

Kolender said he hopes the $28,000--which must be used specifically for crime fighting--will be used to buy equipment for analyzing evidence in drug cases in the crime laboratory of the police headquarters now under construction.

Kolender said the helicopters, if received, would be used to patrol the city and integrate operations with the county Sheriff’s helicopter unit, Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies.

Nunez said San Diego police would receive the rest of the $1.3 million as soon as paper work could be processed.