Weapons of the Drug War
How the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department is upgrading their tools to fight crime without further burdening taxpayers
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER

Cherokee County Sheriff 's deputies are carrying new handguns at the expense of criminals, not taxpayers. Sheriff James Campbell said the department's new Glock model-22, 40-caliber pistols were bought using seized drug money and property.

"The drug dealers are helping us buy new guns," Sheriff Campbell said. "The money used to purchase the Glocks were from the seized money we had placed in a law enforcement fund."

Sheriff Campbell explained when deputies seize drugs and drug related property and cash, the Sheriff's department files a "seizure affidavit" in district court. A hearing is then scheduled, allowing the property owner to fight the seizure. If the Sheriff 's department wins the hearing, the property is then sold, and the funds raised go into a special fund the department uses to upgrade its equipment.

Sheriff Campbell said the department does not seize everything.

"We don't seize vehicles with liens on them, or a vehicle that belongs to another," he said. "We won't seize grandma's car."

In addition to seizing cash and selling seized cars to put money into the fund, the department has also sold firearms and a diesel truck.

"We once sold 24 firearms seized from a drug deal," he said. "That added $3,300 to the account."

Sheriff Campbell noted, "We only sell firearms to licensed gun dealers. All the other stuff gets sold to the general public."

He said the reason is so no one buys a gun from his department, robs a store, then claims he bought the gun from the sheriff 's department.

Sheriff Campbell said when an item is to be sold, it is advertised in the newspaper and auctioned off. The funds raised then go to purchasing new equipment, in this case, Glock-22, 40-caliber handguns.

"We decided to buy new weapons and they (deputies) wanted Glocks," Sheriff Campbell said, adding that Glock supplies 78 percent of the law enforcement market.

Lt. David Womack said he prefers Glocks because they are lightweight, have a lighter trigger-pull and hold more rounds in the magazine and are durable.

"They have a durable finish, you can't make one rust," he said. "Glock also has a good follow-up program. You can send someone to Glock-Armor School to learn how to fix them."

Sheriff Campbell said he plans to send Lt. Womack and one other deputy to the school in the coming weeks.

Sheriff Campbell said the department bought 28 new handguns, so they would have two extra guns in case one malfunctions and has to be sent for repair.

The Glocks come equipped with three clips and nightsights for a price of $429 each. The Department traded in their old weapons, Sig model- 23, 40-caliber handguns, for $255 each. The net price paid for the new Glocks was $4,872.

Sheriff Campbell said by using seized money to purchase the guns, he would not have to rely on the taxpayers to purchase new weapons.