Posted on 10/12/2014 8:53:49 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
Police agencies have used hundreds of millions of dollars taken from Americans under federal civil forfeiture law in recent years to buy guns, armored cars and electronic surveillance gear. They have also spent money on luxury vehicles, travel and a clown named Sparkles.
Stop and Seize: In recent years, thousands of people have had cash confiscated by police without being charged with crimes. The Post looks at the police culture behind the seizures and the people who were forced to fight the government to get their money back.
In tight budget periods, and even in times of budget surpluses, using asset forfeiture dollars to purchase equipment and training to stay current with the ever-changing trends in crime fighting helps serve and protect the citizens, said Prince Georges County, Md., police spokeswoman Julie Parker.
Brad Cates, a former director of asset forfeiture programs at the Justice Department, said the spending identified by The Post suggests police are using Equitable Sharing as a free floating slush fund. Cates, who oversaw the program while at Justice from 1985 to 1989, said it has enabled police to sidestep the traditional budget process, in which elected leaders create law enforcement spending priorities.
All of this is fundamentally at odds with the U.S. Constitution, said Cates, who recently co-wrote an article calling for the programs abolition on The Posts editorial page. All of this is at odds with the rights that Americans have.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hey, hey, hey: Police are our friends. They’d never just take your money and spend it on themselves.
All of this is fundamentally at odds with the U.S. Constitution,
HUGE understatement!
Hey, hey, hey...those are Constitutional Patriots, ready to stand against illegitmate government power at a moments notice, just like the Revolutionaries, doncha know!?
You said it! We have no Constitution.
Oh my, where to start.
You make it sound like the police just enter into ANYBODY’s home and take their money and then blow it on goodies for the police dept.
Actually, I think the law allows for police depts to be the recipient of captured dollars (after a conviction of the crooks). This is a good policy .. WHY ..?? Because then we can use those dollars for protective gear for our police; saving tax dollars for city’s, county’s and federal agencies.
If you don’t think the police need protective gear, you should find the video of the raid in LA where several police got killed because they were not in any protective gear, and they were using hand guns against AK-47’s. That incident is the main reason police units are so “geared up” these days. Just watch a few episodes of “COPS” and you’ll find out what it’s like to be out there on the streets in today’s world.
Are all cops good guys ..?? Not possible. They’re just humans and humans make mistakes; they all have a different personality; some are just plain jerks. But, all in all, the majority of police I’ve had to work with were really the good guys.
During the 1990s, there were an average of 450 no-knock raids per month conducted by the NYPD alone, 10% of which were to the wrong address.
It's out of control.
Yes you are right. See below 4th amendment pertaining to illegal search and seizure.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
“Actually, I think the law allows for police depts to be the recipient of captured dollars (after a conviction of the crooks).”
You live under a rock. Do a little research. People’s cash and property is being taken on a regular basis. Many stories on this. The police accuse the property - not the person(s) of a crime or suspected crime. No way to defend that. You will spend way more trying to get back what they took.
How can it be “out of control” if it’s not happening today ..??
If it was happening today, the left would be screaming.
The only incidents I’ve heard about are from the EPA, FDA, etc. These are NOT police - these are govt agencies who have formed their own enforcement units. And, I’m hoping our next President will swiftly disband them.
Your comments are rude and unnecessary.
If you had read a previous post, you would have seen this comment: “The only incidents Ive heard about are from the EPA, FDA, etc. These are NOT police - these are govt agencies who have formed their own enforcement units. And, Im hoping our next President will swiftly disband them.
No conviction is necessary. You must prove you are innocent of a crime. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Some here love this
RICO is wonderful
Some people will defend ALL cops no matter the evidence. They’re no different than those who defend Obama no matter what.
coach the dog to bark LOL yea only if they find explosives or drugs.
Dogs don’t bark at money for crying out loud and then the police take it with out charge, what on earth are you on about
there is good and bad in all professions but to hear a handful of loons to make up stories about police making dogs bark so they can take money is pure B/S and only fits in with the usual crap of hating police by the usual suspects of anarchists
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