Pierce County has utilized over $600,000 in seized drug forfeiture funds to purchase and equip 12 patrol trucks for the sheriff’s office.
“We decided to take the money from the dope dealers and put it to good use serving the citizens and the taxpayers of Pierce County,” said Sheriff Ramsey Bennett.
The funds have been used over a period of 12 years to purchase new patrol vehicles as they wear out and need to be replaced.
Each F-150 patrol truck costs about $45,000 apiece on state contract. Outfitting each patrol truck with equipment adds another $6,000. The amount spent is very close to the value of a single mill in Pierce County ($692,000).
Bennett noted the use of confiscated drug money to purchase and outfit the vehicles benefits taxpayers in two ways. “It saves the county money in the general fund budget and also allows sales tax fund revenues to be used for other needs in the county,” he said.
Once legal proceedings are over for drug cases involving confiscated dollars, the sheriff's office keeps 85%. The other 15% goes to the courts.