Midstate law enforcement relieved after proposal stalls in the legislature
NewsCentral Producer
Story Created:
Mar 8, 2013 at 6:09 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 8, 2013 at 8:38 PM EDT
Sheriffs and police chiefs from all over Middle Georgia are relieved now that HB1 has been withdrawn form consideration and recommitted in the General Assembly.
The proposal would change the procedure for reporting property seizures and raise the state's burden to seize property from a preponderance of the evidence to clear and convincing proof.
"(I'm) just glad that it's over with, and we could get back to our local jurisdiction, and get back to our sheriffin' business instead of sitting up their at the capital," Deese said.
Deese was one of many law enforcement leaders to speak against the proposal during this year's legislative session. He says the proposal would make seizing property extremely difficult for his agency.
"What would wind up happening is we would just quit asking for forfeitures, the drug dealers and the crooks would continue to keep their money and the local law enforcement agencies would lose out on that money," Deese said.
Deese says seized money is used for a wide range things including buying non-lethal weapons, paying informants, and expanding community outreach programs.
"Things that we need to do as a law enforcement agency, and if we didn't have that seized forfeiture fund, to do it than we would have to go to our commissioners," Deese said.
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