POLICE TO GET REWARDS FOR SEIZING MARIJUANA

AUBURN - An agreement with the Indiana State Police
will allow the Auburn Police Department to collect rewards
for confiscating indoor-grown marijuana plants.

The Auburn Board of Works approved the agreement at its meeting
Thursday morning.

The police department is currently eligible for a $250 reward for one
plant seizure it performed. The reward would be given for plant
confiscation and the paperwork that goes along with the processing
reports.

Money from these rewards is to be used only for training and
equipment.

Police Chief Martin McCoy also sought to have a 1986 General Motors
Hummer declared surplus and of no value. The police force received
three Hummers and used this one for parts to keep or get the other two
running.

The scrap Hummer cannot be available to the public, so it must be
stored or transferred to another police agency or back to the
military, McCoy said.

Clerk-Treasurer Rebecca Fuller saw a problem because there is no
current title on the vehicle. She said the title was still with the
Bureau of Motor Vehicles and she needed to look into it further before
the board could approve the surplus declaration. The board tabled the
issue.

The police department also asked the board to approve the donation of
a 1986 Ford Econoline van from the Steuben County Sheriff's
Department. The van was previously modified to be used as a S.W.A.T.
team vehicle and for surveillance.

The Steuben County agency has received a donation from a local
dealership of a new van to replace the 1986 model.

Auburn's board approved the donation of the van to Auburn
Police.

Officer Mark Smith was promoted by the board to the rank of corporal.
Smith was chosen from three candidates for the promotion.

The board also approved police escorts for two annual parades. DeKalb
High School will have its annual homecoming parade on Friday, Sept.
20, at 6:15 p.m. and the Northeast Indiana Vietnam Veterans will march
Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.