INFORMATION #1 03-10-2003Police Department
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Pat Klaers, Mayor and City Council
Assistant Chief Jeffrey A. Beahen
2-19-03
Vehicle forfeiture
On Friday 2-14-03, City Prosecutor Christopher Johnson successfully acquired, via civil
forfeiture, a 1998 4 x 4 Chevrolet extended-cab pick-up truck with 51,000 miles on it. This
truck has an appraised value of almost $17,000. This vehicle was forfeited after Elk River
officers arrested a DWI offender who had multiple prior offenses.
It should be pointed out that our intent is not to arrest DWI offenders in hope of gaining
vehicles. It is also not the prosecutor's job to settle cases with the city budget in mind. This
case does however illustrate what our own prosecution service does for the City when the
situation is right and there is an understanding of the immense benefit of gaining the full
amount of the forfeiture. I commend Mr. Johnson for his tenacity in resolving this case and
his understanding of the difficult economic times facing our City in the next few fiscal years.
We plan on adding this truck to our fleet, replacing the 1998 Ford pick-up currently assigned
to our C.S.O. Unit. The Ford currently has 117,000 miles on it and was due to be replaced
next year. It would have over 150,000 miles on it at that time. We can now eliminate the
need to include a truck in our police budget for 2004 and 2005. The Ford truck will be given
to the Public Works Department for their use along with a new bed-mounted toolbox that is
currently in the back of the Ford truck.
The cost to paint the truck to match our fleet is $1,552, a new topper is $950 and set-up
should mn between $600 and $800. This cost of $3,302 will be taken out of Equipment
Reserves.
Again, I want to express our thanks to our City Prosecutor for his work on this case and the
resulting savings to the City in excess of $30,000 in our projected 2004 budget as well as the
ability to transfer the additional truck and property to the Public Works Department.
Police Department
MEMORANDUM
TO: Pat Klaers
FROM: Jeff Beahen
DATE: 3-5-03
SUBJECT: Vehicle Forfeiture Update
We have received two more vehicles from DWI forfeiture. The '98 Chevrolet Truck I spoke
of earlier has been painted and is awaiting a topper and equipment conversion. This f~rst
forfeiture will make a great addition to our fleet in replacement of the '98 Ford CSO vehicle.
Phil Hals has agreed to accept the '98 Ford into his fleet and that will take place when the
decals are removed, hopefully next week.
We have also received a 1994 Ford pick-up with a rear bed toolbox that is also being given
to Public Works for their use. This truck has a value of just over $5,000.
The last vehicle is a '97 Mercury Marquis with a value of $8,800. This vehicle will be
auctioned off and the proceeds placed into the forfeiture account. There is also a 94 Pontiac
Bonneville that will be auctioned as well that is worth approximately $2,500.
The savings to the City by using the two trucks is significant. That coupled with the
additions to our forfeiture account have made the start of 2003 quite prosperous in terms of
forfeiture revenue. The bad news is that pretty much depletes our current inventory of
seized vehicles. It is very predictable however that more will follow. With the prompt turn
around time with our City Prosecutor we hope that this positive trend continues.