CONFISCATED DRUG MONEY SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR

I read with disgust the July 17 article under the heading "Police get
cameras for crime scene work." It was datelined Madison.

It states that District Attorney Rick Mitchell "gave" 15 digital cameras
costing $800 each (meaning, we must assume, that a total of $12,000 was
paid to someone for them) to law enforcement agencies in Rankin and Madison
counties. The article later states that the cameras were paid for with
confiscated drug money.

So the DA didn't give anything, they were bought with drug money.

Furthermore, I question the exorbitant price that was paid when an
excellent digital camera, well-suited for this kind of police work, can be
bought in the open market for less than $400.

Confiscated drug money should be accounted for in the same way any other
public monies are, and the above constitutes a flagrant waste of public
funds, regardless of who authorized the purchase.

TOM DARWEN
Gulfport