Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | 12:51 p.m.
Boulder City Police plan to start spending more than $431,000 on narcotics enforcement that officers seized last year during a traffic stop.
The City Council Dec. 9 formally accepted the forfeiture funds awarded to the city in July.
Chief Thomas Finn said the money will get the department a new drug-sniffing dog, another canine officer vehicle, laptop computers for patrol cars and a crime scene vehicle. It will also fund drug training and commercial vehicle search training for officers.
It could also buy new furniture for the police station and fund narcotics awareness programs, he said.
Last December, officers seized almost $540,000 of suspected drug money during a traffic stop on U.S. 93. Officers pulled over a Jeep that had caused a stir at the Auto Zone on Canyon Road when its spare tire exploded in the parking lot, showering the asphalt with bills.
The Mexican couple in the car said it wasn't theirs and they didn't know where the money came from, police say. Officers let them go, but turned the money over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Once the deadline for claiming the money passed with no one stepping forward, the DEA took a 20 percent cut and gave Boulder City Police the remaining $431,000.
The federal Asset Forfeiture Program requires the money be spent on training, equipment, vehicles and programs related to drug enforcement.
Finn said the current crime scene vehicle is dilapidated and often needs maintenance, and the computers in patrol cars he described as antique.
More drug and commercial vehicle inspection training is important for officers patrolling U.S. 93 and U.S. 95, especially in anticipation of the Hoover Dam Bypass opening in 2010, he said. The bypass when it opens will allow heavy truck traffic that had been routed through Laughlin to use U.S. 93 through Boulder City again.
Finn said police now have one police dog, Barry, and one drug detection dog, Qwest. Both work with K-9 officer Paul Daly. Finn said the new dog, and officer Alan Nutzman, the one who made the Dec. 14 traffic stop that netted the money, would be trained by Metro's canine unit.
Forfeiture money would cover any expenses for new dog for three to four years, Finn said. The new dog could lead the department to more drug money, he said.
"The drugs and the cash are out there, and if you have the tools and the training, we expect this program to be self-sustaining," he said.
Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].
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