(A) There is hereby created within the county a Sheriff's Department Enforcement Aid Fund.
(1) The fund shall consist of deposit in the form of cash assets obtained pursuant to forfeiture proceedings and other law enforcement related seizures recovered by the Sheriff's Department which are not required to be deposited into the County General Fund. No criminal defendant shall be given a reduced sentence as a result of the forfeiture of any assets.
(2) The fund shall also consist of any monies that may be appropriated from time to time by the County Council to be utilized by the Sheriff's Department, in its enforcement of the laws of the state.
(3) The fund shall also consist of any orders of restitution of “buy money” as might be expended by the Sheriff's Department in the enforcement of the narcotics and controlled substances laws of the state.
(B) Monies in the Sheriff's Department Enforcement Aid Fund shall be subject to appropriation in accordance with I.C. 36-2-5-2.
(C) It is the stated intent of the Board of Commissioners in creating this fund, that the Sheriff's Department shall have the right to utilize the funds contained within the Sheriff's Department Enforcement Aid Fund in the pursuit of all lawful law enforcement activities including but necessarily limited to the payment of money to informants; the utilization of funds to purchase controlled substances as a part of a law enforcement investigation; the payment of legitimate expenses incurred in confidential controlled substance investigation and similar type expenditures, and the purchase of enforcement and/or office equipment, or related expenses that will aid in the investigative process as deemed necessary by the Sheriff.
(D) Before utilization of funds in the confidential investigation purpose, the Sheriff's Department shall establish a standard operating procedure and policy for the accounting for said funds.
(E) This section shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and compliance with I.C. 36-2-4-8.
(BC Ord. 1992-3, passed 1-27-92; Am. BC Ord. 2004-17, passed 12-15-04)