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The citizen’s questions raised to the Council are directly related to the now defunct Gang Strike 51 Force and not my Department. I do not have intimate details of the Gang Strike Force’s former 52 operations but what has been established is some members of the Gang Strike Force 53 disregarded state and federal statutes which dictate the process of seizing and ultimately 54 forfeiting property from suspects in criminal activity. 55 56 These web links will allow access to expanded information on forfeiture guidelines and 57 regulations. 58 59 Forfeitures related to aggravated DWI offenses: 60 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169A.63 61 62 Forfeitures related to other crimes: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.531 63 64 Model policies of POST: https://dps.mn.gov/entity/post/model-policies-learning- 65 objectives/Pages/default.aspx 66 67 The citizen’s questions also address the expenditure of forfeiture funds. State statutes mandate 68 the funds are to be used to “supplement” law enforcement’s activities and budgets. Historically, 69 the Department has used forfeited funds related to aggravated DWI offenses to supplement its 70 efforts in combating DWI. The Department has used forfeited funds related to other crimes in a 71 more general sense in supplementing budgetary limitations. Many times expenses related to the 72 Roseville members of East Metro SWAT are paid by this forfeiture account. 73 74 All expenditures are authorized by the Chief of Police and paid by the Finance Department. 75 76 There is no manner to realistically forecast expected expenditures of these accounts as 77 forfeiture statutes mandate the funds be used to “supplement” the financial needs of a law 78 enforcement agency and not replace budgetary funding. 79 80 The forfeiture accounts have been used to bridge the CIP shortfall and actual needs of the 81 Department in effectively and efficiently providing public safety functions to the citizens, 82 businesses and visitors to Roseville. 83 84 There are many day to day operational items that have been purchased by these funds to 85 include: automobile window tint meters, Tasers, legal defense related to forfeitures which is 86 outside the contract of the city attorney, preliminary alcohol breath test meters, over $100,000 87 was used to purchase the Department’s current mobile computers, Police Reserve appreciation 88 dinner, and many other uses. I expect future expenditures will be similar to the past. 89 90 I hope this memorandum provides enough guidance on the criminal forfeiture process and am 91 willing to answer additional questions. 92 93