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<br />The citizen’s questions raised to the Council are directly related to the now defunct Gang Strike <br />Force and not my Department. I do not have intimate details of the Gang Strike Force’s former <br />operations but what has been established is some members of the Gang Strike Force <br />disregarded state and federal statutes which dictate the process of seizing and ultimately <br />forfeiting property from suspects in criminal activity. <br /> <br />These web links will allow access to expanded information on forfeiture guidelines and <br />regulations. <br /> <br />Forfeitures related to aggravated DWI offenses: <br />https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169A.63 <br /> <br />Forfeitures related to other crimes: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.531 <br /> <br />Model policies of POST: https://dps.mn.gov/entity/post/model-policies-learning- <br />objectives/Pages/default.aspx <br /> <br />The citizen’s questions also address the expenditure of forfeiture funds. State statutes mandate <br />the funds are to be used to “supplement” law enforcement ’s activities and budgets. Historically, <br />the Department has used forfeited funds related to aggravated DWI offenses to supplement its <br />efforts in combating DWI. The Department has used forfeited funds related to other crimes in a <br />more general sense in supplementing budgetary limitations. Many times expenses related to the <br />Roseville members of East Metro SWAT are paid by this forfeiture account. <br /> <br />All expenditures are authorized by the Chief of Police and paid by the Finance Department. <br /> <br />There is no manner to realistically forecast expected expenditures of these accounts as <br />forfeiture statutes mandate the funds be used to “supplement” the financial needs of a law <br />enforcement agency and not replace budgetary funding. <br /> <br />The forfeiture accounts have been used to bridge the CIP shortfall and actual needs of the <br />Department in effectively and efficiently providing public safety functions to the citizens, <br />businesses and visitors to Roseville. <br /> <br />There are many day to day operational items that have been purchased by these funds to <br />include: automobile window tint meters, Tasers, legal defense related to forfeitures which is <br />outside the contract of the city attorney, preliminary alcohol breath test meters, over $100,000 <br />was used to purchase the Department’s current mobile computers, Police Reserve appreciation <br />dinner, and many other uses. I expect future expenditures will be similar to the past. <br /> <br />I hope this memorandum provides enough guidance on the criminal forfeiture process and am <br />willing to answer additional questions. <br />