LAUREL POLICE DEPT. USING SEIZED MONEY TO BUY EQUIPMENT

Who says crime doesn't pay?

Using money that has been seized from drug dealers and other criminals, the
Laurel Police Department could soon be spending more than $48,000 to
purchase new protective gear, a car and video and digital equipment. These
purchase requests will be considered by the Laurel City Council during its
Tuesday morning meeting at City Hall.

According to city records, the Laurel Police Department has made the
following requests:

1) To purchase a Waistband Wireless Video System with a black and white
Button Camera and four channel video receiver at the cost of $6,775 from
Law Enforcement Associates, Inc., of Youngsfield, N.C. The money will come
from the DEA Seizure Account;

2) To purchase six SPIDER (Stealth Protection Integrated Design Equipment
Resource) vests from McCain Uniforms of Birmingham at the cost of $11,190.
These vests come with a protective plate that can stop up to a .308 round,
and are designed to take multiple hits without breaking the plate. The
money will come from the Special Revenue Narcotics Forfeiture Account;

3) To purchase a Crown Victoria vehicle, blue lights, sirens and equipment
for $25,526 from Butch Oustalet Ford of Gulfport, which has the state
contract. Funds will be taken from the DEA Seizure Fund;

4) To expand the evidence room in the police department at the cost of
$365. The money will come from the Special Revenue Narcotics Forfeiture
Account;

5) To purchase three digital recorders from Advanced Covert Technology from
Augusta, Ga. for at the cost of $2,490. (This is the only company that
sells this type of recorder that can be used with existing equipment.) The
money will come from the Special Revenue Narcotics Forfeiture Account;

6) To pay off a seized vehicle at the cost of $1,696. The money will come
from the Special Revenue Narcotics Forfeiture Account;

In other actions, the Council will consider:

. The second reading of an ordinance that sets a burial procedure policy
for the Oak Hill No. 2 Cemetery;

. Approving the advertisement for the lighting of the Dixie Majors Baseball
field;

. Approving the second reading of an ordinance closing and vacating the
alley in Block 25 of the Beta Addition of the Westland Plaza next to Kux
Jewelers. The original owners want the property so they can make drainage
improvements;

. The first reading of an ordinance changing the zoning classification from
C-1B (Medical/Professional Commercial District) and R-3 (High Density
Residential Restricted District) to C-2 (General Commercial District) on
the following properties: 1401 Jefferson St., 1427 Jefferson St., 1429
Jefferson St., 1431 Jefferson St., 1431 1/2 Jefferson St., Short 15th Ave.
and a vacant lot on Short 15th St. This property belongs to HONOCO, Inc.,
and Hazel Diane Bates;

. Approving lot cleaning bills at the following addresses: 1) 806-808 S.
5th Ave. in Ward 6, $180; 2) Conti Street, Ward 4, $237;

. A resolution giving the administration authority to proceed with the 2003
Comprehensive Drainage Improvements;

. An order approving the purchase of a riding lawn mower for the cemetery
department;

. A resolution accepting and awarding the bid for a lease of mineral
interests to Saint Mary Land and Exploration Co. of Shreveport, La.;

. An order approving the decrease in mileage disbursement rate in
accordance with IRS regulations for city employees traveling on city
business from .36.5 cents per mile to .36 cents per mile;

. An order approving the payment of $21,038 to the Pine Belt Solid Waste
Management Authority for the city's pro-rata share in legal expenses as of
Dec. 2002 in a federal suit concerning flow control. The total legal bill
for the Pine Belt Solid Waste Authority stands at $123,751. The suit
involved the Authority (made up of Covington County, Jones County, Jones
County, and the cities of Laurel, Hattiesburg and Petal) vs. National Solid
Waste Management Association, BFI Waste Systems of Mississippi, LLC, Waste
Management of Management Inc. and the Pine Belt Waste Systems, LLC

. A resolution approving a paying agent agreement between the city of
Laurel and First Security Bank of Batesville, all in connection with the
issuance of $2,900,000 in General Obligation Bonds, which will be used for
the city's drainage projects;

. Adopting an order accepting a donation from the Hundred Club of Jones
County in the amount of $1,960 for the purchase of four portable
intoxilyzers for the police department;

. Adopting an order authorizing the Laurel Police Department to allow
Durham Auction of Brooklyn, Miss., to auction off confiscated items. These
items were seized by the narcotics division and include cars, computers,
games, cell phones, stereo equipment, speakers, etc.; and,

. Approving the claims docket.