POLICE PERKS ON WHEELS

It is disappointing that neither Tampa's mayor nor police chief
recognize how unbecoming it is for police brass to drive confiscated
cars. The purpose of property seizure laws is to strip criminals of
their illegal gains; they're not intended to be a honey pot so the
chief and his staff can tool around in luxury cars. Mayor Pam Iorio
should end this practice.

The Tampa Police Department uses 43 seized vehicles, including Lincoln
Navigators, Ford Expeditions, a BMW and a Lexus. Chief Bennie Holder
once cruised around in a $35,000 Navigator - the one that got
burglarized while the chief was eating lunch. Now he drives a $38,000
Chevy Tahoe. Several of his staff drive seized SUVs. Other bay area
law enforcement agencies auction the cars and provide their staff with
department vehicles.

Holder makes two ridiculous arguments, that using seized vehicles
"makes good fiscal sense" and that they're used "for legitimate law
enforcement purposes." This is not about money, and everyone knows it.
There is no "legitimate law enforcement purpose" served by giving the
chief and his senior commanders the use of pricey vehicles. It is a
perk, and they know it.

Tampa's practice is another example of abuse of the forfeiture laws
that allow authorities to confiscate the property of criminal
suspects. If Iorio won't force Holder to close the car lot, she should
at least make clear to his successor, who is expected to take office
in the next several months, that the city has raised its standards.