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Kennett City council approves $20,000 police forfeiture deposit to SRT fund
Summary
Council voted to place $20,000 in police forfeiture proceeds into a separate Special Response Team (SRT) line item in the police budget; council discussed repayment of a prior loan and a pending smaller forfeiture.
Kennett City Council voted to deposit $20,000 in police forfeiture proceeds into the Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) fund and to create a separate line item so the money does not lapse back into the general fund. The action took place during the council’s regular meeting (date recorded in minutes: 12/03/2024).
Council members and staff said the money comes from a drug-related forfeiture and that the funds remain in evidence pending paperwork before being placed in the city account. A police department representative told the council the department “did receive forfeiture money, $20,000, and, we would like to deposit that into the SRT fund.” The representative also said a second pending forfeiture is expected to be about $13,000–$14,000 but that timing is uncertain and the next payment can take up to two years.
Council discussion focused on where to place the money and whether it should be used for equipment rather than the SRT fund. Council member Peltz asked whether the money would be better used in the equipment fund; the police representative and other council members replied the funds were the direct result of a drug bust and the department preferred to restore the SRT fund for that purpose. A council member asked that the deposit be tracked in a separate budget line so it would not roll into the general fund at year-end.
A motion to deposit the $20,000 into the SRT line item was made and seconded; council members voted in favor and the motion passed. Council members also said staff would return at a future meeting with follow-up details on how the funds will be recorded and spent.
The council discussed, without action, that some officer ballistic vests are reaching the end of their useful life and that staff is pursuing grant opportunities to replace vests and potentially fund cameras; no procurement was approved at the meeting. Separately, a council member said there is a disciplinary matter the council will discuss in closed session later in the meeting.
The deposit was approved and staff will provide follow-up at an upcoming meeting.
