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Public Safety

San Diego Police Don't Know Where $1 Million Went

The San Diego Police Department today was seeking an audit to determine what happened to $1 million seized from drug runners and other criminals.

The audit request comes after local media noted that police submitted a report to the federal government in 2010 that showed a closing balance of $1,153,426 in seized assets and a closing balance of $153,426 a year later, with no explanation as to how $1 million was spent. The funds were passed onto the SDPD by U.S. Treasury agencies under a program that redirects assets from illegal activities to local law enforcement agencies, according to UT San Diego, which first reported the discrepancy.

"We acknowledge you have noted a discrepancy," SDPD spokesman Lt. Kevin Mayer said in a statement. "We have asked the City Comptroller to do a complete review and audit of the seized asset fund to see if there is an error.'"

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