FIFTY-FIFTY SPLIT FAIR ON DRUG BUSTS

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics thought it had a great idea a
couple of years ago when it asked the Legislature to change the
formula used in deciding who gets what when a drug bust results in the
confiscation of cash and property.

Up to then, when the state narcotics agency and local lawmen combined
forces on a bust, MBN would get an 80 percent cut of the forfeiture,
with the local law enforcement agencies splitting the other 20 percent.

MBN lobbied the Legislature in 2001 to reverse the formula, thinking
that it would get greater cooperation from local sheriff's and police
departments if they had a larger financial stake in the drug bust.

Now, under a different administration, MBN is ruing the change. It has
put a further crimp on a state agency which has seen its budget cut by
$5.6 million, or 37 percent, over the past four years. In the most
recent year for which data is available, MBN got about $290,000 less
in drug forfeitures than it would have received under the old formula.

Frank Melton, MBN director, is planning to lobby the Legislature, when
it convenes in January, for a 50-50 split on drug forfeitures - that
is, if Melton is still in the job at that time. Given that he was a
political appointee of outgoing Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, his job status
is tenuous.

Whether Melton is retained by Gov.-elect Haley Barbour or not, the
change he recommends is more than fair.

On most of these joint drug busts, MBN is the lead investigating
agency, with local lawmen providing support. If anything, MBN deserves
to get again the 80 percent cut of the take.

Splitting the difference is a good compromise.