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SCOTT J. CROTEAU
Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts)





The Police Department has seized more than $500,000 in drug money in slightly more than two years, half of which has been directed to the continuation of the department's battle against the drug trade.

Just over $503,000 has been pulled out of drug dealers' hands from 2004 to April 3. The force receives half of the money and the Worcester district attorney's office receives the other half, according to Worcester Lt. Paul B. Saucier of the vice squad.

"We use their money to come back and make a case against them," Lt. Saucier said of the take from drug dealers. "We need so much money to run this unit. Without drug money, you can't make cases."

Any money seized by police first goes to the district attorney's office, where it is held in a law enforcement trust fund, according to District Attorney John J. Conte. The money remains in the fund until a criminal case is completed.

If someone is found not guilty of a drug crime or a case is dropped against them, the person gets their money back. Money, cars and other assets cannot be seized for possession of a drug. The charge must be more than simple possession, such as cocaine trafficking or heroin possession with intent to distribute.

According to Lt. Saucier, in 2004 the department seized $157,406; in 2005 the drug money seized was $265,595; and as of April 3 the department this year has seized $80,982. Since January 2003, roughly 33 cars have been seized during drug investigations. The money has specific uses cited by state law.

"You can't use it to pay salaries or anything like that," Lt. Saucier said. State law says, "such funds shall not be considered a source of revenue to meet the operating needs of such department."

The money can be used to make undercover drug buys during an investigation, buy equipment and training.

"To keep up with all the technology is very costly," Mr. Conte said. Half of all the drug money seized in every police department in the county goes to his office.

The money is essential for long-term drug investigations, Lt. Saucier said.

"If you have a long-term drug investigation and you are buying kilos (kilograms of cocaine) you need money to make buys," he said. The department does not have the money in the budget to spend $2,500 for a kilogram of cocaine, he said. The drug money allows the department to make those types of buys, he said.

"Without this seized money we wouldn't be able to operate," the lieutenant said. "There is no way."

Last year the department spent $98,000 in seized money on investigations.

Police departments almost saw the seized drug money split three ways with a third going to the state. The state Legislature rejected a proposal last year to split the money three ways.

To receive search warrants to go into a suspected drug dealer's home, police must buy drugs from the person and give solid proof drugs are inside the person's home, Lt. Saucier said. Seized money pays for the buys that could lead to an arrest and the seizure of drugs and money.

It can take a couple of years before the seized money becomes available, Lt. Saucier said.

The criminal case must finish in court before the money is released.

Sometimes police have to get a little lucky too. Lt. Saucier said a drug dealer might have a large amount of cash stashed in their home or car, but the money could be gone within days, especially if the dealer spends the money to buy more drugs.

"Sometimes getting the cash is timing," he said. "Sometimes they have separate stash houses for drugs and money as well.

``They'll have a place where they don't even live to hide the drugs and money."

Contact Scott J. Croteau by e-mail at scroteau@telegram.com.

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