Syracuse, NY, Police Deny Asset Forfeiture Details to City Officials

Umm ... They work for who, again?

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—City councilor Jake Barrett chaired a public safety committee meeting Wednesday in hopes of learning more about money and vehicles that flow into the city police department from state and federal asset forfeiture programs.

Faced with a $1.3 million request from police to buy new vehicles, councilors sought information about the off-budget cash, cars or other assets that come to the police department after being seized from criminals.

"There is not a whole lot of information that is known," Barrett said at the top of the meeting. An hour later, not much had changed.

Police Chief Frank Fowler repeatedly told the five councilors at the meeting he would not publicly divulge information about vehicles or equipment obtained through asset forfeiture programs.