The Associated Press
MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) - The Meridian Police Department has used money seized during drug arrests to buy two sport utility vehicles for patrolling the city and to help with drug enforcement.
“It’s beneficial that money that was confiscated from drug-related activity will be used to further the goal of the police department’s drug enforcement,” said Meridian Police Chief Benny DuBose.
DuBose said the Chevrolet Tahoes are custom built for law enforcement and sit lower to the ground than a typical Tahoe. He said the vehicles are designed to make it easier to load and unload drug-detecting dogs and heavy equipment.
Police officials said the SUVs cost $54,000 and were bought from a company in Houston, Texas.
DuBose said this is first time his department has purchased vehicles using forfeited money from drug arrests.
“We don’t publicize how much money we seize from drug arrests for the protection of our drug officers and their families,” he said. “But if there is a drug bust there is a process that we go through to receive the money.”
DuBose said a judge decides if the department should receive the money. Once approved, the money must be used for law enforcement purposes, he said.