From: pat@fitz.uucp (Patrick Fitzgerald)
Subject: if you confiscate it, flaunt it
Summary: newpaper article
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: talk
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 16:49:39 GMT

[copied without permission from "The Huntsville Times", Aug 19, 1992]
				   
	       POLICE MARK CONFISCATED CAR WITH WARNING
			    by Steve Joynt
			Birmingham Post-Herald
 
BIRMINGHAM --- Birmingham police have a luxury patrol car on the
streets, but it comes with a warning label.
 
"If you use...you lose!!" is painted in big red letters across the
hood and trunk of the car.
 
The 1980 Mercedes was confiscated by police a year ago in connection
with the drug arrest of 31-year-old Louis Densmore of Bessemer.  Since
then, the car has been awarded to the department through drug
forfeiture proceedings.
 
Densmore was arrested on federal charges of marijuana distribution ---
"large quantities" Birmingham Capt. Julius Walker said --- and has
since been convicted.  The investigation leading to his arrest lasted
about six months.
 
Originally gold, the Mercedes has been painted white and had police
decals and signal lights added to it.
 
The car will not be used for patrol, department spokeswoman Sgt.
LaFaree King-Walker said.  Instead, it probably will be used by a
school resource officer or a DARE officer, who teaches the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program in schools.
 
Birmingham Police Chief Johnnie Johnson Jr., in unveiling the car to
the members of the media Tuesday morning, said everyone shold know
that police can do more than just arrest drug dealers, they can take
property.
 
"The message we want to really send to mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers," Johnson said, "is if your relatives are dealing drugs, they
shouldn't be able to do it from your car because you might not be able
to drive it to Sunday school some morning.  It might belong to the
police department."
 
Under forfeiture laws, any vehicle used to transport illegal drugs or
make drug deals, or a vehicle purchased with the proceeds of drug
sales, can be seized by police.
 
"I've got an impound lot full of seized vehicles," Walker said.  "Each
of them is waiting on the forfeiture proceedings, though.  That can
take up to a year or two to get through the courts."
 
Among the six or so cars currently in impound is another Mercedes, a
red Porsche and a customized van.
 
Some forfeited vehicles have been a part of the police department's
fleet for years now, including a Suzuki Samurai.  Other forfeited
vehicles that could not easily be converted to police use are
auctioned off, Walker said.
 
"We're a big department, so the few cars that we keep don't have a big
effect on our resources, but every little bit helps," Walker said.
 
Using a Mercedes to spread the word about what police can take from
drug offenders, complete with the words "Confiscated from a convicted
drug dealer" written on the sides, strikes a particular chord, Walker
said.
 
"A vehicle of that nature is what a major drug dealer or somebody who
wants to be thought of as a major drug dealer wants to drive," he
said.  "It's a real status symbol in those circles to have a Mercedes.
Well, look who has it now."
 
And while a Mercedes is considered a luxury car, especially compared
to what officers usually drive, this particular car apparently doesn't
have air conditioning.  It does have black leather seats.
 
"Somebody's going to be mighty hot driving that car in the
summertime," he said.

--
   ______   |o| Patrick Fitzgerald     |o| pat@fitz.b30.ingr.com
  / ___  )  |o| Sr. Software Analyst,  |o| (205) 730-3741
 / __)/ /__ |o| Intergraph Corporation |o| Mailstop GD3002
(_/it(_____)|o| TIM Documentation      |o| Huntsville, AL 35894-0001
-- 
   ______   |o| Patrick Fitzgerald     |o| pat@fitz.b30.ingr.com
  / ___  )  |o| Sr. Software Analyst,  |o| (205) 730-3741
 / __)/ /__ |o| Intergraph Corporation |o| Mailstop GD3002
(_/it(_____)|o| TIM Documentation      |o| Huntsville, AL 35894-0001
Organization: Junior, History, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA