GREINER FIGHTS BID TO LIMIT DRUG PROPERTY SEIZURES

Law Enforcement Officials Feel Initiative B Puts The Process In The Hands
Of Drug Dealers And Lawyers

OGDEN -- Police Chief Jon Greiner of Ogden is leading the charge in
opposing a ballot initiative that would limit the power law enforcement
officials have in seizing the property of drug suspects.

Greiner and other law enforcement opponents, under the group name of the
Utah Coalition to Stop Drug Dealer Profits, believe the Utah Property
Protection Act, also known as Initiative B, will severely impact funding
police departments receive in fighting the local drug wars if it passes the
November general election.

"This initiative puts the process in the hands of drug dealers and
lawyers," Greiner said.

Greiner said Initiative B is a "clever rewriting" of 17 existing Utah laws,
which date back to 1965. The source of contention comes from changing the
wording of one of the initiative's section.

What used to say, "property legitimately exchanged for services rendered
..." now reads "property exchanged or to be exchanged for services rendered
in connection with the defense or the charges or any related criminal use."

"The benefactor of this then becomes the drug dealer and his or her defense
attorney, not the Uniform School Fund, because there won't be any funds
left after that process," Greiner said.

He compared the passing of the initiative to a robber using the stolen loot
he took for his de fense trial, and then whatever money is left over, if he
is convicted, is turned over to authorities to distribute.

But the initiative's advocates, Utahns for Property Protection, contend
authorities have abused forfeiture laws and that the public agrees reform
is needed to protect innocent people whose property has been seized.

"We welcome an open debate," said Janet Jenson, who leads the initiative
campaign.

Proponents, including Salt Lake City's Mayor Rocky Anderson, say if the
initiative passes, law enforcement still would be able to seize cash,
vehicles and other property used in crimes, but the authorities no longer
would be able to keep the profits for their departments and property owners
would have a fair system for addressing the seizures.

Greiner's group denies that the government has been abusing its authority
to seize property used in crimes.

He said a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor General
released in November 1999 found no wrong-doing in the seizure of ill-gotten
gains of money and property.

"Contrary to what is said by critics of Utah's forfeiture laws, the law
enforcement community is not abusing their authority to seize and forfeit
assets," the report states.

Critics have claimed that in 80 percent of the cases, where property was
seized by police, the owner of the property was not charged with any crime.

But the audit found that 91 percent of those from whom property was
forfeited were arrested and charged with crimes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.