THUNDER BAY - The Thunder Bay Police Services Board has voted in favour of allowing a portion of $24,000 in unclaimed funds to be used by the police service to upgrade dated furniture and purchase new equipment for police.
A report prepared for Tuesday’s electronic police services board meeting outlines over the years more than $24,000 has been seized in connection with numerous criminal investigations.
“The currency is not subject to any conviction and the owner has been deemed to have relinquished any interest in their funds,” the report said.
Despite numerous attempts to contact the individuals who had money seized through letters and phone calls, they have not approached the police service to have their money returned.
“As such, it is deemed that there is no rightful owner of the seized currency and it is considered ‘abandoned’,” the report prepared by Jackie Caddo, finance manager at the Thunder Bay Police Service said.
The recommendation is to allow Thunder Bay Police Services Board to use the $24,055.00 “as they deem to be in the public interest.”
Chief of Police Sylvie Hauth requested $8,484.91 of the $24,055.00 to be donated back to the police service to replace an outdated work station and purchase a camera and wireless modem for the police service intelligence unit.
The request was unanimously voted in favour on Tuesday but was questioned by board member Kyle Lansdell on why these items were not accounted for in the 2020 furniture budget.
“My question is was there a deficiency in budget planning if we are looking to fund this…how was this not accounted for in the budget or was this not approved when it was asked?,” Lansdell said. “I am just wanting to ensure our budget planning so that there is money available to account for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of these things because this is an outside of the budget money that we may not be coming into every year.”
Hauth explained how the items being requested to replace and purchase came about after the budget meeting had already taken place.
All board members voted in favour of approving the one time expense.
The current furniture in need of replacement is described as aged and was originally donated. Approximately $5,000 would cover the costs of the furniture upgrades for the Corporate Services Superintendent work station.
The equipment purchase for the police service intelligence section is valued at approximately $3,200.
