CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Horry County Police Department says bills to change the state’s civil seizure laws would hurt the department’s funding.
Proposed bills in Columbia would prevent law enforcement from taking money or other items from someone unless that person is convicted of a felony. The legislation would also put the money in the state’s general fund. Right now, most of the money stays with police departments.
At a county public safety committee meeting Tuesday, Lt. Jamie DeBari of Horry County police said seized assets fund different parts of the department.
“We use it for training purposes,” Lt. DeBari said. “We also use it for equipment for narcotics agents, which can range from vehicles to vests.”
Lt. DeBari says it’s unclear just how much civil forfeiture money is used by Horry County PD for funding, but the amount varies from year to year.
