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/0A ar Sheriff Eric Flowers a ,. .L Indian River County Sheriff's Office December 6th, 2024 The Honorable Joseph Flescher Indian River Board of County Commissioners 1801 27th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960-3388 Re: Forfeiture Trust Fund Dear Chairman Flescher: Florida Statute §932.7055, the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, provides that proceeds and interest earned from the forfeiture of real or personal property shall be used for a number of enumerated purposes. These funds are the direct result of our deputies' diligent law enforcement efforts and are derived mainly from drug related offenses. None of the funds are derived from county tax dollars. Pursuant to Fla. Stat. §932.7055(5)(b), I hereby certify that the requests made below comply the provisions therein, and I am requesting that $142,072 from our Law Enforcement Trust Fund be used to purchase equipment and support the programs and agencies listed below: Under Fla. Stat. §932.7055(5)(a), which permits the Sheriffs Office to use such monies for school resource officer, crime prevention, safe neighborhood, drug abuse education and prevention programs, or for other law enforcement purposes, which include defraying the cost of protracted or complex investigations, providing additional equipment or expertise, purchasing automated external defibrillators for use in law enforcement vehicles, and providing matching funds to obtain federal grants: $131,072 to be used for the purchase of additional equipment and protection for both Law Enforcement and Corrections, as well as life-saving supplies for the Indian River County public, as set forth in greater detail in the breakdown attached to this letter as Exhibit A, none of which. constitute normal operating expenses of my office. Under Fla. Stat. §932.7055(5)(c), which permits an agency or organization, other than the seizing agency, to apply for funds to the Sheriff to use such funds for an authorized purpose, which include school resource officer, crime prevention, safe neighborhood, drug abuse education and prevention programs, or for other law enforcement purposes as this Board deems appropriate: $1,000 to the Executive Roundtable of Indian River County, Inc. Their mission is to identify solutions that will protect and enhance the lives of Indian River County children, individuals, families, and seniors. $1,000 to Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers to help solve crimes. Approximately 22% of all tips result in arrests. Currently, many leads are being investigated. 121