A court ruling has limited the ability of the Kansas City police department to keep much of the money its officers seize during drug raids. The ruling is likely to set a precedent for other cities. The state appeals court says Kansas City police cannot give the drug money to a federal agency without getting a court order first. State law requires proceeds from criminal forfeitures to go to schools. But Kansas City’s department, and others, have been getting around the state law for years by having federal agents handle the seized money. Under federal law, 80% of the seized assets go to the local police agency. None goes to schools.
