ASSET SEIZURES DROP OFF; FOUNDATION TAKES STEPS TO GENERATE POLICE FUNDS.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

Preventive crime tactics may have made Simi Valley a safer place to live, but one result was a significant loss of money the Police Department earned from drug busts.

Help may be on the way.

In January city officials formed the Police Foundation, whose purpose is to help replace funds that once came in through the forfeited assets account. Last month, the foundation received its tax-exempt status.

Also, within 30 days, city employees will have the opportunity to contribute funds directly to the Police Foundation or the Cultural Arts Foundation from their paychecks, said City Manager Mike Sedell.

Since joining the forfeiture assets program in 1984, which lets the city share in assets seized in raids on drug deals, the Police Department has generated $5.8 million. With interest, that figure grew to $6.5 million.

Though the amount of revenue varied each year, throughout the late-1980s and early-1990s the city earned anywhere from $179,227 in fiscal year 1987-1988 to $2.6 million in fiscal year 1990-1991.

But the ``big years'' are apparently over, said Bob Heitzman, deputy city manager. The last fiscal year that ended June 30 generated only $3,162. And this year only $20,000 is anticipated.

Heitzman said the revenue has dwindled for two reasons: The Police Department's preventive crime measures are effective, and drug dealers are finding sophisticated ways to shelter their assets.

``The more you do, the less you get,'' he said.

In the past, the forfeiture funds helped pay for up to 10 new police positions, which were eventually absorbed into the Police Department operating budget, he said.

Funds were also earmarked for the Police Department's D.A.R.E. and K-9 programs.

To replace those funds, Councilman Paul Miller helped establish the Police Foundation.

But the foundation, for which Miller serves as president, was also created to properly accept donations from various community groups, which contribute about $10,000 annually to the D.A.R.E. and K-9 programs. Before the foundation was formed, those contributions would be put in the police general fund, then distributed to the appropriate program.

``We've had a lot of offers for donations over the years, but we didn't really have a vehicle for accepting them,'' he said.

It also was Miller who introduced the payroll deduction program, which last month won City Council approval.

``It just occurred to me while thinking about raising funds for the cultural arts center endowment,'' Miller said of his idea to suggest the payroll deduction program.

For now, city employees can only contribute to the United Way through payroll deductions. The new program will allow employees to direct funds to their favorite charities, without having to write a check for a lump sum.