State estimates forfeiture money to area police agencies

Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway this week released a compilation of the 2014 federal forfeiture reports.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the Perryville Police Department received a portion of the value of items seized and turned over to the federal forfeiture system.

Any state or local agency participating in an investigation or prosecution resulting in a federal forfeiture is eligible to request a share of the proceeds, the report states.

Missouri law requires agencies using the system to file an annual report with the auditor's office and the Department of Public Safety.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department received $300 in 2014, down slightly from $363 received in 2013.

Sgt. Adam Glueck of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said the money it receives goes to department and community needs.

"For example, we've used that money before for different types of camera and surveillance equipment, different programs that help make the community safer," Glueck said. "I know there are certain guidelines we have to follow when we use that federally received money, and we're within those guidelines."

Glueck said the money the department receives from the system goes into a designated asset forfeiture account.

"And then we look at that account and try to figure out what needs we have here at the police department and in the community, and that's what we use that money for," Glueck said.

Glueck said a majority of the money the department received in 2014 came from an investigation it was involved in with the Drug Enforcement Agency, adding the amount varies from year to year.

"It just depends on what cases we're involved in."

The city's numbers were small compared with those of other local agencies.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department received $5,510 in 2014. The total value seized by the department last year was $22,579.

The county did not receive any funds from the system in 2013, though the value seized was much higher, at $193,768.

The Perryville Police Department received $15,200, which was also the amount seized. However, the report noted the department's beginning balance, also listed as $15,200, did not agree with the ending balance of zero from Dec. 31, 2013.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety received the largest amount locally.

The department received $22,087 in cash and assets in 2014 out of $46,830 seized. This was an increase over the amount received in 2013: $12,806 in cash out of $27,879 in seizures.

No one from the sheriff's office or Perryvile Police Department was available for comment Tuesday, and a voicemail and email to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety were not returned.

A total of 692 law enforcement agencies in Missouri were potentially eligible for the program in 2014; 134 agencies filed reports indicating they had participated in the program, according to Galloway's office. Those agencies received a total of $9,452,591.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

216 N. Missouri St., Jackson, Mo.

215 N. New Madrid St., Sikeston, Mo.

40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.