Monday, February 4, 2013
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
CONYERS -- Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett has said he opposes legislation that would take control of seized and forfeited assets away from the law enforcement agencies that seize them and give that control to the commissioners in the county where the property was seized. Commissioners would determine what law enforcement purposes were appropriate for the seized assets.
"I am joining other sheriffs and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association in opposing House Bill 1," Levett said in a statement. "The ability to seize unlawfully obtained money and assets is a great tool in combatting criminal activity. House Bill 1 would change the seizure process by taking away my discretion of how the seized property may be used to further reduce crime in Rockdale County."
Terry Norris, executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, said the legislation is "vigorously opposed by the sheriffs of Georgia."
"It effectively negates any need to seize the ill-gotten assets of hoodlums," he said.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, president of the Sheriffs' Association, wrote in a message on the Putnam Sheriff's Office website that a law enforcement agency's ability to seize property and cash in drug cases is one of the "most effective and valuable" tools to combat illicit drug activity.
"These laws have enabled us, after judicial processes are completed, to take the cars, cash and property of criminals," wrote Sills. "This, in the end, seems to be the only thing that really hurts them."
Sills points out that seized property and cash save taxpayers money and provide greater assets for crime-fighting to the law enforcement agencies.
"I can categorically say that the provisions of this bill will only benefit criminals and the lawyers who represent them," Sills wrote. " ... If it is passed, it will literally demoralize the law enforcement community to a point where we will see little public benefit in enforcing the law when it comes to drug dealers and other criminal entrepreneurs."
More like this story
- Levett says he supports Second Amendment rights ( January 31, 2013 )
- Sheriff Levett implements reorganization plan ( April 15, 2013 )
- Levett says he will work to unite community ( October 27, 2012 )
- RCSO finds stockpile of drugs, guns ( January 29, 2010 )
- Law enforcement reacts to new ruling on synthetic pot ( June 18, 2012 )
Comments
Clark 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Oh good grief! This law is designed to protect citizens from overzealous law enforcement officials. There's one town in Texas where if you have an out of state tag, you might as well just expect all your valuables to be stolen for potentially being used in "drug activity." Separating the beneficiaries from the collectors helps remove any temptation for "fudging things" as the Texas town does and shaking down an innocent person. Good job on the state officials for this new legislation!
superman 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't know enough about the pro/cons of this bill, but I know Levett has plans for drug seizures. I also know how our wonderful commissioner's office would abuse the power. I have much more faith in Levett than Oden.
BUBBA 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm with you superman let levett deside what to use it on. But Clark does have a good point. Do we have any other choices
superman 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I will echo some of the same points Lorenzo stated below- but if there is an "overzealous" law enforcement official it is the responsibility of the people to remove that person from power. But it will only work if voters educate themselves on current events from the local office and not just voting for a person because of their party affiliation.
ClaytonBigsby 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I hope Levett has plans to reintroduce interstate drug interdiction patrols. As much as I liked his predecessor, I did fault him for shying away from this.
Elmo 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Just Think of the additional portraits and teleprompters OdenBama will be able to procure with all these assets. Maybe next year's SOTC speech will feature rappers and a light show.
I, too, would trust the law enforcement more than the county "leaders" with said assets.
Clark 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Except the county leaders can't themselves take the stuff! As I pointed out, separating the getters from the users will serve to reduce the potential for abuse, not increase it. Sure, there's a chance for collaboration, but with the new bill, you'd be spreading the corruption across at least two different departments, which increases the chance of being caught. So either it'll be easier to catch corrupt people participating in unlawful seizures, or they just won't do it due to greater chance of being caught.
Back2reality 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Not sure why we the people allow a law enforcement officer to agree or disagree with new laws. Its his job to enforce the current laws. Too much politicing going on here. His job is to enforce the laws and from what i see there is plenty of laws being broken so mr lawman.... Get back to reality and do your enforcement job. Leave the law making for the other hired guns
Elmo 3 months, 2 weeks ago
So far as I know, law enforcement officers are still citizens of the United States and are entitled to their opinions.
They are not the military, and are free to resign anytime they pleas.
Robotic, mind-numbed police have historically been called the "Gestappo".
travelingman 3 months, 2 weeks ago
So far all of your comments have brought up some excellent points. It just goes to show that no matter how well the law may be written it is of no value if you have the wrong people in the applicable positions. You need a good system and you need good people, but having good people is more important than the letter of the law itself. It is too bad that so many have taken their positions for granted.
Lorenzo 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Citizens don't need protection from Law Enforcement, criminals want protection. I'm sure criminals would love to see this pass. I doubt (please read I'm calling BS) that there is any town in Texas or any other state where if you have an out of state tag you are pulled over and all your property is taken. Please name that town and the occasions. I have absolutely no faith in Oden's ability to monitor anything to include cash or assets. Giving Oden or Nesbitt the ability to have access to a new source of money only means that they have a new opportunity to mismanage that money. The individual responsible for drafting this bill says it will give Law Enforcement "spending power". Sounds like it's going to give politicians spending power. I think politicians have more than enough spending power and that is something that needs to be monitored.
BUBBA 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Lorenzo there was a town in Texas where this did happen. There were several articals written on the story and a few lawmen and a judge all quit thier jobs over. Sorry but I don't remember the name of the town. That being said it would be a lot harder to do in a county this size. BUT I would not want Oden and Nesbitt spending more money when they have such a bad record of spending now.
Frustrated 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Rules are already in place that dictates what the money and assets can and cannot be used for. There is a process whereby the person the assets were seized can petition to get the money and property returned. Some overzealous county commissioner saw a way to get their hands on more money. This is a bad idea all the way around.
Staci_Trebarwith 3 months, 2 weeks ago
This has seemed a conflict of interest to me for a while, especially when the burden of proving what assets are seizable is very low. I don't know if the proposed alternative would be better, but the sheriffs quoted in this article sound petulant and childish. There's "no point" to enforcing the laws if they don't get the spoils? What happened to their sworn duty to protect and serve??
Rob 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Why in the world would anybody propose such a moronic idea? What makes the Commissioners qualified to make ANY decisions regarding law enforcement? This is absurd!
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