(A) There is hereby created a Criminal Investigation Fund, to be expended by the Sheriff.
(1) The monies deposited in the Criminal Investigation Fund shall not be commingled with, nor shall they be a part of, the general funds of the county.
(2) The Criminal Investigation Fund shall be a non-reverting fund.
(B) (1) The sources of the funds to be placed in the Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Fund shall consist of deposits in the form of money from political subdivisions, voluntarily surrendered funds from criminal defendants, the sale of voluntarily surrendered assets from criminal defendants, donations, reimbursement for law enforcement costs, restitution made pursuant to court order, seizure of assets, funds derived from the public sale of seized property sold in accordance with the provisions of I.C. 34-24-1, funds derived from the sale of seized property disposed of in accordance with the United States Department of Justice seizure policy, any other funds from applicable state, federal, local, and private grants available for the specific uses of the fund, and any other law enforcement fees recovered by or at the direction of the Dearborn County Sheriff which are not required to be deposited in the County General Fund.
(2) Any funds from any of these sources shall immediately be paid over and deposited into the Criminal Investigation Fund by the County Treasurer.
(C) Authorized expenditures from the Criminal Investigation Fund shall be utilized solely for the law enforcement purposes and may include:
(1) Purchase of vehicles and equipment needed for law enforcement functions;
(2) Purchase of weapons and protective equipment;
(3) Purchase of investigation communications equipment;
(4) Payment of unbudgeted salaries and overtime for law enforcement officers;
(5) Purchase of automated data processing and computer equipment and software to be used in support of law enforcement purposes;
(6) Payment of expense for training of law enforcement officers;
(7) Payment of expenses for travel and salaries for law enforcement personnel;
(8) Money to be used as reward money or to pay expenses in the running of a “sting” operation;
(9) Money to be used to make “buys” in connection with anticipated arrests;
(10) Costs associated with the construction, expansion, improvement or operation of detention facilities; and
(11) Costs associated with public education on drug awareness, alcohol abuse or other issues related to prevention of illegal or criminal activity.
(D) Requests for expenditure from the Criminal Investigation Fund shall be made only by the County Sheriff, subject to formal claim approval by the County Council.
(BC Ord. 13-2005, passed 9-20-05; Am. BC Ord. 2008-22, passed 9-16-08; Am. BC Ord. 2023-002, passed 1-17-23)