Oklahoma law enforcement agencies say funds seized from suspected criminals from asset forfeitures are an important part of their financial support.
The Oklahoman reports that police departments in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area have seized nearly $40 million from suspected criminals since the early 1990s. They've also spent millions in seized cash on anything from Medicare payroll costs to high-dollar patrol bikes to police dogs.
An analysis by The Oklahoman of a decades' worth of financial records reveals that the Oklahoma City Police Department has received the lion's share of the suspected ill-gotten cash — $32.8 million in seizures since 1993.
In two of the area's most prominent suburbs, Edmond and Norman, revenues derived from seizures have become a bigger part of their funding pie over the past half-decade.