135.15 LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND.

   (a)   The Law Enforcement Trust Fund shall receive all cash and/or proceeds from sale of vehicles and other property seized under the authority of Ohio R.C. 2981.13.

   (b)   The Mayor is authorized and designated to accept cash, vehicles and other contraband property from the Common Pleas Courts of the State of Ohio in accordance with Ohio R.C. 2981.13 and to place proceeds thereof in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

   (c)   The Mayor shall cause all vehicles and property to be assetted or brass tagged to the Division of Police to be used only for law enforcement purposes, or shall cause said vehicles and property to be sold and the proceeds from the sale to be deposited in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

   (d)   Law Enforcement Trust Fund monies shall be allocated by Council only to the Whitehall Division of Police. However, no proceeds or forfeited monies shall be allocated to or used by the Police Department unless the Police Department has adopted a written internal control policy pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2981.13(C)(2)(a) that addresses the use of monies received from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

   (e)   Law Enforcement Trust Fund monies shall be expended by Council only in accordance with the written internal control policy adopted by the Police Department and may be expended in accordance with Ohio R.C. 2981.13(C)(2)(a), as follows:

      (1)   To pay the costs of protracted or complex investigations or prosecutions;

      (2)   To provide reasonable technical training or expertise;

      (3)   To provide matching funds to obtain federal grants to aid law enforcement, in the support of DARE programs or other programs designed to educate adults or children with respect to the dangers associated with the use of drugs of abuse;

      (4)   To pay the costs of emergency action taken under Ohio R.C. 3745.13 relative to the operation of an illegal methamphetamine laboratory if the forfeited money or property involved was that of a person responsible for the operation of the laboratory; or

      (5)   For other law enforcement purposes that the Council determines to be appropriate.

   (f)   Monies from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund shall not be used to meet operating costs of the City that are unrelated to law enforcement.

(Ord. 030-2016. Passed 3-15-16.)