A recent state audit found that some law enforcement agencies were taking advantage of vague state forfeiture laws in Kansas.

The audit alleges that proceeds were used to pay for salaries and other operating expenses.

Tony Wolf, Geary County Sheriff was not thrilled with the state’s findings.

“I think it’s one of [the state’s] attempts to start trying to take away that money from the local entities,” said Wolf.

Wolf argues that with many of the “lucrative” crimes, the best way to hit them is financially – and he said that this is something practiced at a local, state and federal level.

“When we were all children and we got in trouble, what did our parents do – they took something from us; and that’s exactly what this basically is,” said Wolf. “If you’re involved in crimes – a lucrative crime, such as drug dealing – we take away what hits them most – their money.”

Wolf said that we hear about these practices everyday in the federal government.

“The federal government talks about trying to stop ISIS and things like that; what is the first thing that they want to do – they want to go after their money and their funding,” said Wolf.

Wolf argues that “this is kind of a domestic situation of a terrorist entity with drug dealing, and drug trafficking; what do you do – you go after their money, you hit them where it hurts them, you go after their funds.”

The state forfeiture laws as they are support law enforcement at all levels being able to deter crime by taking the illegally acquired assets.

“When we make that stop, we determine that the money that individual has or the items that they have are being used to further their criminality, that’s what we do – we seize it,” said Wolf.

Note:  This article does not intend to insinuate that Geary County was cited in the audit. This is the Geary County Sheriff’s response to the information released.