POLICE GET TO KEEP $2.3 MILLION IN SEIZED CASH

The police department in Pontoon Beach will take in $2.3 million as
part of the largest cash forfeiture ever in Southern Illinois,
authorities said Wednesday.

It's a windfall for the department, which runs on an annual budget of
$1 million. Police Chief Charles Luehmann says he plans to use the
extra money to pay for technology upgrades and new police cars, among
other things.

The story began on March 11, 2005, when Officer John Simmons went to
the Flying J truck stop after a clerk reported that a tractor-trailer
was blocking a driveway.

The driver acted strangely, Simmons said Wednesday. The driver was
reading a map that was upside down and his hands were shaking. His
log book also was not in order, so Simmons asked to search the trailer.

The driver agreed, Simmons said. During that search, Simmons found
roughly $3.3 million in cash.

"It was overwhelming," Simmons said.

Ten officers spent 12 hours counting the cash, mostly $20
bills.

Cocaine residue was found on the money, which was wrapped in fabric
softener sheets, said Madison County State's Attorney Bill Mudge.

His office turned the money over to federal authorities, who began
forfeiture proceedings.

Mudge's office will get $263,000, and the Drug Enforcement
Administration will get $658,000 from the forfeiture.

"Here we have a situation where no one claimed the money," said
Edward McNally, the U.S. attorney for Southern Illinois.

The cash was linked to a Mexican methamphetamine trafficking
operation, McNally said. He would not elaborate other than to say
that the driver has not been charged with a crime in connection with
the money.

When large amounts of cash are found in vehicles, and drivers can't
explain why they are hauling around piles of money, authorities can
seize the money through forfeiture proceedings. The money is then
divided between local and federal authorities, and must be used for
law enforcement.

Luehmann said he'll use the windfall for:

Officer training.

Protective gear for officers, including up to 10 Kevlar
vests.

Two to four new patrol cars.

Equipment and technology upgrades, including a better radio system,
security and up to eight Taser weapons used to subdue suspects.

Security upgrades to the police station including a barrier around
the booking area.

It was the second recent major prize for the department. In May, a
Pontoon Beach officer found $312,000 in a hidden compartment of a
Ford Explorer. Six months later, the department announced that it had
been awarded nearly $219,000 of that money.

Money from seizures cannot replace a budget or be used to give raises
to officers, Luehmann said. "I'm just proud of my guys," he said.

Mudge said his office may use its part of the money to fund the Child
Advocacy Center because many child abuse cases stem from drug use.

* Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.