AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: SEPTEMBER 2017 31 T here are some issues on which people’s opinions can be accurately predicted by whether they support Republicans or Democrats. Asset forfeiture sans criminal conviction is not one of them. Over the last decade or so, there has been a lot of concern and even disap- proval over the current policies and laws that allow law enforcement to seize cash, property and other items of value from those “suspected of committing crimes.” Once someone has been convicted of a crime, disap- proval of asset forfeiture as currently practiced drops significantly. Anytime you can get California Congressman Darryl Issa and HBO’s John Oliver on the same page you know it’s going to be an uphill battle as far as the battle for hearts and minds. After embattled Attorney General Jeff Sessions an- nounced plans to increase asset forfeiture, many poli- ticians immediately put some distance between the AG and themselves. “Instead of revising for- feiture practices in a man- ner to better protect Ameri- cans’ due process rights, the DOJ seems determined to lose in court before it changes its policies for the better,” said Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah. “The Fifth Amendment protects us from the gov- ernment depriving us of our property without due process of law,” read a statement from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Ken- tucky. “Iopposethegovernment overstepping its boundaries by assuming a suspect’s guilt and seizing their prop- erty before they even have their day in court.” “Civil asset forfeiture is unjust and unconstitu- tional,” tweeted Republi- can Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan. “It’s a big-gov- ernment scheme to take people’s property without due process. End it.” “This is a troubling deci- sion for the due-process protections afforded to us under the Fourth Amend- ment as well as the grow- ing consensus we’ve seen nationwide on this issue,” Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California said in a statement. “Criminals shouldn’t be able to keep the proceeds of their crime, but innocent Americans shouldn’t lose their right to due process, or their private property rights, in order to make that happen.” As usual, law enforce- ment is caught in the mid- dle. Because of tax cuts for the wealthy and corpora- tions and anemic economic growth without wage in- creases for American work- ers, many law enforcement agencies now depend on seizures to make payroll, pay vendors and keep the lights on. For instance, the DEA reportedly seized around $4.15 billion in cash alone in 2007. The main beef people have with what’s now re- ferred to as “observe and collect,” is the fact that a criminal conviction is not required for the gov- ernment to take people’s money, property or what- ever else. So how about just tight- ening things up a little bit and we just take the stuff from people who have been convicted of a crime? Most consider it theft LE approval to plummet as cops and feds line up to defend the indefensible The obvious question is how much property the govern- ment deprived innocent Americans of in their quest for cash. And is this really “good luck” for LE? www.bostonleather.com Chemical Holders Baton Holders Handcuff Cases Badge Holders • BOSTON LEATHER SELLS TO DEALERS ONLY • Fine Leather Belts and Accessories boston Crafted with Pride In the USA 1801 Eastwood Drive Sterling, IL 61081 Phone (800) 733-1492 Fax (800) 856-1650 1 3/4” Garrison Belt 6505 1 1/2” Off Duty Belt 6582 1 1/4” Off Duty Belt 6580 1” Off Duty Belt 6581 600 700 400 Saps • Four Sizes from 6 3/4’” to 11” • Durable, heavy leather • Molded lead weight with spring steel shank • 2-ply and 4-ply models available Visit Us in Booth #3409 at IACP October 21-24!