FORFEITURE CONTRACTS STILL BEING USED

I am Delane Johnson's attorney, who just obtained a favorable ruling
from Judge Peter Dubensky regarding the Bradenton Police Department's
Contraband Forfeiture Agreement procedures.

Friday, I finished a deposition of Detective Mike Skoumal of the
Bradenton Police Department. He testified at a deposition, unrelated
to the Johnson case, that as late as last week (Thursday) he used the
"contract" to take someone's property.

It was reported in your paper that Mayor Wayne Poston said,
"Obviously, we'll do whatever the judge says. If he says we ought not
to do (the waivers), that's fine."

It was also reported that Police Chief Michael Radzilowski said,
before the judge's ruling, "I want to follow the law."

The ruling was signed by the judge on Feb. 9. I wonder why it has
taken so long for the judge's opinion to sink in on the mayor and the
chief of police and for the two of them to communicate to employees
the doubts expressed by the judge.

Whatever the case, the judge's ruling regarding these contracts has
had little effect, if any, on the manner in which the Bradenton
Police Department takes people's property and twists the law!

Varinia Van Ness

Sarasota