Area’s Law Units Share Drug Funds

A record $3.2 million in cash seized in joint federal and local narcotics investigations has been distributed to 11 law enforcement agencies from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in the largest such payment since the federal government began sharing drug forfeiture funds, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

Grace Denton, coordinator of the Justice Department’s equitable-sharing program in Los Angeles, said the amount was the “biggest we have handed out” since Congress established the drug forfeiture program in 1984. The program is designed to reward local police agencies for help provided in federal drug investigations.

Big Check for L.A.

The largest sum awarded in the most recent distribution of cash seized in drug raids, Denton said, was a check for $1.39 million to the Los Angeles Police Department for its work in 10 narcotics investigations from 1985 to early 1987. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department received $965,094 for helping federal agencies in 10 other cases.

Only a month ago, Congress was considering a proposal to delay distribution of seized drug money to local law agencies during the 1988 fiscal year, which started Oct. 1. That plan, however, was rejected by both the House and Senate after a strong lobbying effort by local law enforcement leaders, including Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates and Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block.

While the Justice Department’s program extends to the entire nation, California police agencies have been particularly aggressive in seeking the available federal money to bolster their local budgets. Federal officials say half the money paid out by the program is earmarked for California.

$8 Million So Far

The latest payment to the LAPD raised its share of drug forfeiture funds to more than $8 million, with another $22 million to $27 million expected from drug operations still being processed. The Sheriff’s Department’s total is now almost $3 million, with another $12 million expected to be paid out this year.

U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner called the program “one of the most ingenious acts passed by Congress in the last decade.” He said it has improved relationships between federal and local officials and strengthened overall drug enforcement efforts.

“It should be remembered that these funds represent the money and assets of drug traffickers,” Bonner said. “It is fitting that local law enforcement agencies are getting a substantial percentage of the seized assets back in order to enhance their efforts in attacking the drug problem in our area.”

Also receiving funds for their work in joint drug investigations were the Pasadena Police Department, $433,318; the Azusa Police Department, $240,732; the Los Angeles Harbor Department, $59,031; Los Angeles district attorney’s office, $51,031; Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, $40,000; California Highway Patrol, $25,000; Montebello Police Department, $19,677; San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, $16,471, and the Huntington Park Police Department, $14,791.