POLICE BENEFIT FROM DRUG FUNDS

Area Departments Are Receiving $500 Checks From Offenders' Seized Assets

Tuscola - Dennis Gire has his eye on a field test kit that would help
police officers identify methamphetamine and establish probable cause to
make drug arrests.

Gire, chief of the Villa Grove Police Department for the past 10 years,
will be closer to his wish today when the Douglas County state's attorney
presents him with a $500 check.

The money comes from assets seized from Douglas County drug offenders
during 1999, said State's Attorney Diane Sipich.

"I'm thrilled I can do this," Sipich said. "I think it's appropriate to
put some of this money back into the local police departments. Most budgets
are tight and can use some extra funds."

Gire agreed. "It really saves the taxpayers' money," he said. "We usually
have to go to our general fund to buy things; this money comes from drug
offenders."

Sipich said she's traveling among six communities in Douglas County to
present $500 checks to the police departments. Besides v\Villa Grove, her
list includes Arcola, Arthur, Atwood, Newman, and Tuscola.

Arthur police Chief Michael Goodman received his department's share Friday,
and the money "came as a very pleasant surprise." He said he plans to
deposit the check into the department's drug enforcement fund, which he
dips into for purchases like cameras for squad cars.

Neither Gire nor Goodman was aware of similar disbursements in previous years.

"We had a very successful year of drug asset forfeitures," Sipich explained.

Sipich said when money is seized from suspected drug offenders at their
arrest, her office conducts an administrative or judicial forfeiture. When
the forfeiture is successfully completed, she said, the state's attorney's
drug enforcement fund receives 12.5 percent of the amount seized and uses
it to fight drug crimes.

That fund is what she's using for the local disbursements.

"The drug problem is real and it's not going away," Sipich said. "We've
seen an increase in the drug crimes, and most police departments are well
aware of what signs to look for."