Portion of money seized in K-9 drug bust will pay for unit's new vehicle

BENTON, Mo. -- A new vehicle for Scott County's K-9 unit is not only an approved use of federal drug seizure money, it is also appropriate, according to county officials. It was the drug dog that found the money.

County commissioners approved the purchase of a new car for the K-9 unit during their regular meeting Tuesday. The vehicle it replaces has about 130,000 miles on it, according to Sheriff Rick Walter.

The cost of the vehicle is $21,600 through a state bid plus $1,000 to transfer the kennel and electronics to the new vehicle.

The new K-9 vehicle will be purchased with the county's share of drug money seized in September when the K-9 unit assisted the Miner Police Department with a vehicle search.

"This dog bought its own car," Walter said. "The dog alerted on this money which turned out to be almost $150,000. We ended up with $59,000 from that."

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said he appreciates the sheriff's decision to use the money for a new car as this relieves some of the pressure on the county's law enforcement budget.

"Everything will be funded out of the federal seizure money," Walter said. "This will not cost the taxpayers anything."

The new K-9 vehicle should be in service by Monday or Tuesday, according to Walter.

Commissioners also accepted a bid of $12,870 from MicroComputer Services in Sikeston for telephone and recording equipment at the sheriff's office and jail along with related installation and training.

"That's going to give the sheriff's department the ability to record all phone lines and all the radio traffic," Burger said.

Walter said he will ask the Scott County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund board members to approve funding for this project. "That way it won't affect our regular budget," he said.