Buffalo Police report $345,000 DOJ and $7,500 Treasury asset‑forfeiture receipts; council asks for spending history

Buffalo Police told the Finance Committee the department is accepting federal asset‑forfeiture funds totaling about $345,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice and about $7,500 from the Department of the Treasury.

Committee members asked for a detailed history of how the department has spent asset‑forfeiture proceeds and requested information about any community or public‑facing uses of the money. The police representative said federal guidelines dictate allowable uses and that the department typically plans spending after funds are released.

The police representative said allowable categories in the federal guidance include administrative costs, training and education, equipment for law enforcement, public‑safety operations, contracts for services and travel. “This is just us accepting the the money,” the police representative said when presenting the award. A committee member asked whether forfeiture funds had been used for community events in the past; the police representative said they did not have a ready figure but would provide a breakdown.

Members noted the amount presented is large for a single disbursement and requested staff follow up with line‑item history and suggestions for community‑oriented spending where allowable under federal rules. The meeting recorded acceptance of the funds for the department; committee members asked the police to circulate the federal guideline and a department spending history.

The police representative offered to send the full federal guidance and to provide a ledger of prior forfeiture expenditures to committee members.