POLICE HOLD ON TO SEIZED DRUG MONEY

CINCINNATI (UPI) An analysis of drug money seized by Ohio law enforcement
agencies shows the millions of dollars are not being used the way a 1990
state law requires for drug-fighting equipment or programs.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has examined agencies in nine Ohio counties to
determine how they used money seized in drug raids. The newspaper reported
the agencies took in $33.5 million since 1993, and spent or invested $26
million. The remaining $7.5 million, however, goes unspent even though
police departments request annual budget increases or ask for higher taxes.

The Cincinnati police department has an average balance of $1 million in
confiscated money, while Cleveland's surplus is $949,000 and the Hamilton
County sheriff's office has $828,000.

The Enquirer study also shows:

The Cincinnati Police Division spent $1,000 a year from 1993 to 1996 on
community drug education, while state law required the agency to spend
$119,000 annually.

Interest from $1.2 million in invested drug money goes to the Cuyahoga
County sheriff's office central drug fund, while the remaining confiscated
funds are in bank accounts.

Cleveland police spent $47,000 in 1995 for the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (DARE) program, when a state formula required the city to spend
$166,000.

No state agency monitors the detailed records kept by the sheriffs and
police chiefs.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation superintendent Ted
Almay told the Enquirer he had not heard that Ohio law enforcement agencies
were investing drug money.

The Enquirer found the departments use some of the confiscated funds to
contribute to regional narcotics teams, supply undercover operations, and
match federal grants.

Most law enforcement officials said they have never been questioned over
their use of the confiscated money.

The study included the state's six largest counties and three counties in
southwestern Ohio.