DALLAS COUNTY SHOULD KEEP SEIZED CASH

The Register's June 27 editorial regarding Dallas County seizures has
one good point ("Dallas Seizures Call for Stronger Oversight").

If there are not statewide procedures for all law-enforcement
jurisdictions to use in these situations, at least some guidelines
for officer conduct and confiscation are needed.

However, I strongly disagree with the content and insinuations in the
rest of the editorial. The subheading, "Law Officers Shouldn't Profit
From Crime," is an allegation that, in fact, they are doing so. The
citizens and taxpayers of Dallas County are the profiteers. The
editorial suggests more oversight.

By whom?

Your proposal is to have all cash and contraband turned into the
state for redistribution. That is a very socialistic idea. Most
observers of world affairs and world history know the outcome of such
approaches. The amount the local officers submit would be returned,
less the cost of the overhead of the distribution and less other
counties' shares. Why should our officers risk personal injury for a
deal like that? Democracy is based on incentives and risk vs. reward.

One suggestion is for all the counties surrounding Des Moines to do
the same as Dallas County officers do, and thus create an Interstate
Highway 80/Interstate Highway 35 crime-prevention "screen." That
would better protect our citizens, and allow jurisdictions to get
more effective equipment without increasing taxes.

Commend those who are doing a good job and suggest specific, valid
improvements for an imperfect and dangerous process.

- -- W.W. VanBuren

Adel.