The Perry County Sheriff’s Department and the Hazard City Police Department each received more than $14,000 last Friday during a ceremony held at the Rural Law Enforcement Training Center in Hazard. The ceremony was held for Operation UNITE to present checks which came from asset forfeiture funds derived from illegal drug activity to 24 law enforcement agencies from eastern Kentucky.
“This may not seem like that much money, but to a department of our size -- this is tremendous,” said Hazard City Police Chief Ronnie Bryant after receiving a check for $14,461.55 from U.S Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5). The Perry County Sheriff’s Department also received a check for $14,461.55. Sheriff Pat Wooton and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Poff accepted the ceremonial check, along with the actual check for the sheriff’s department.
More than $209,000 in asset forfeiture funds derived from illegal drug activity was distributed last Friday to local law enforcement agencies by Operation UNITE.
Rogers presented checks to 24 law enforcement departments from his district who have participated with UNITE’s law enforcement branch by sponsoring officers. Funds were distributed based upon the length of the agency’s participation.
Participating agencies agree to sponsor one or more officers to work as a UNITE detective. The officers, who must go through an application and review process, remain a member of the sponsoring department. UNITE reimburses the department for his or her salary and fringe benefits.
“UNITE’s drug investigative task forces would be unable to function without the strong support of local police agencies,” said Dan Smoot, director of law enforcement for UNITE. “These officers have made tremendous progress in taking drug-dealers off the streets.”
UNITE reports the money - a total of $209,130.96 - represents 100 percent of forfeited funds awarded by state and federal courts since the inception of UNITE’s law enforcement initiative in January 2004 through September 30 of this year. None of the proceeds have been retained by UNITE.
Forfeited assets may be cash or personal property seized as proceeds of illegal drug activity or because it was used to facilitate a crime. The assets are kept until a judge orders them either returned to the owner or ordered them forfeited.
“Being able to seize assets is an effective way to take the profit motive out of crime,” Smoot said. “Supporting participating agencies by returning these proceeds is one way for UNITE to say thanks.”
The investigative arm of UNITE is comprised of 40 detectives, which includes a six-person Pharmaceutical Diversion Unit to investigate individuals who illegally sell legitimate prescriptions, engage in “doctor shopping,” exceed the 30-day purchase limit of pseudoephedrine - the main ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine - or complaints of illegal activity by medical professionals, according to the agency.
Detectives have jurisdiction throughout all 29 counties in the Fifth Congressional District.
UNITE reports through September 2006 its detectives have: arrested 1,578 individuals; placed 2,990 criminal charges; achieved a 99.2 percent conviction rate; dismantled 42 methamphetamine labs; had 50 cases adopted for federal prosecution; removed or seized drugs with a street value of $6,342,715.92, including 46,104 pills, 18.968 pounds of cocaine, 11.217 pounds of methamphetamine, 102.075 pounds of processed marijuana and 4,138 marijuana plants; and investigated 11,152 calls made to the Drug Tip Line (1-866-424-4382).
UNITE communications director Dale G. Morton contributed to this report.
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