Put that money towards feeding Maines hungry children!!! Stop the greed and help!

Yes, let our legislature get their hands on more money to give away. If we can't use it for police support, why not use it for the roads in the State.

They would rather blow all the money then lay off more cops to encourage crime and perpetuate welfare.

Just what the State Police need, the legislature telling them what they can do. Come on, keep putting in those bills, don't you need the OT pay?

I can just see how big the eyes on the Dems at the state house became when they found out there was money in an account they had not spent. Pathetic. Law enforcement is a high priority. I can't imagine what the state will do with the money. Higher a new Assitant Vice predient to theVice president to the President of the University of Maine with a salary of 200k plus benefits?

To answer darthcyclonis, the state will load up on more "Spokespersons" for the Department of Education. Perhaps even a "Assistent Spokesperson" to the "Spokespersons" at the Maine Maritime Academy. Imagine a country-club college with an enrollment of 900 having their own lobbyist in Augusta and a fully populated Public Relations staff with spokespersons.

Put the $$ back into MDEA since the Feds are having a hard time sending money to keep the Agents going. They are actually earning their own pay this way!

and we can have a legislator on Special Services Teams. They can make SP accountable for ammunition used, maybe there are some old rounds they should use first.

With a financial incentive like this, it's no wonder the police devote so much time enforcing prohibition laws. Maybe the legislature can cut law enforcement funding since it is moving toward self funding.

How about going on EBay and picking up a 182 for less than half of what the SP wants to spend. There are five available between $15,000 to $139,500.

Doesn't hurt to shop around.

I think the issue here is not that the State Police couldn't use the money to bridge their budget issues. The issue is whether or not a new airplane is a wise choice of use for the funds. Obviously, an airplane is a very effective enforcement tool for speeding and surveliance, however the exicsting 182 with a factory new engine would be money spent more wisely. With respect to the so called radio upgrade that they said was needed, I don't see where new radios are all that necessary since most flight operations that the SP uses are done under visual flight rules, which means good weather. You do afterall, need to be able to see the vehicle you are clocking for speed! Put the money where it would be better used such as incersed patrols and GAS!

Maine is bankrupt yet the State Police want a new plane. This kind of financial idiocy has to end. If the Cops want a plane so bad then fire 20 State Police to cover the purchase.

The State police should have used the money now before they pass that bill. the money will then be used for something stupid if the senate gets there hands on it.

stop buying shovels every year for the highway dept to lean on and buy the plane

seriously, what is that pilots life worth and didn`t the old one pay for itself. With fine and drug busts

Better yet put it on a bond issue cauase mainers have never sen a bond they didn`t like.

What the legislature SHOULD DO:

Distribute drug forforfeiture money amoung the state's police agencies depending on their level of participation decided by an impartial panel of senior law enforcement personnel.

What the legislature WILL DO:

Put money in general fund so they can spend it on such things as a study of black flies in Maine.

Yep. Here we go with grandstanding Diamond and the other inept and slightly whacked members of the Criminal Justice Committee (there are a few exceptions). The aircraft has been an effective enforcement tool for 3 decades. Like cruisers, planes wear out-and guess what? You can't pull over and call a wrecker. Before Stan the Man Gerzofsky goes off on a tangent, perhaps he could spend some time on a detail and see how it works. But hey, we're killing fewer than 200 people a year in car crashes so why worry-let's spend the money on a DHHS program-bet they will find a way to either waste or lose it. Of course the planes still have a year or two of useful life. I wonder what part of what year members of the committee would like to spend in the plane day after day wondering when structural failure or some other mechanical failure will cause it to fall. And if they appropriate money to maintain it the way they have taken care of other capital equipment in tough times then God help the pilots.

“I was fortunate enough to go up in one of the aircraft and they are a very effective enforcement tool,”

ONE of the aircraft? How many have we got?

Yes, cruisers wear out and are replaced because it is cost-effective to do so. Planes do wear out, but not the same way and it's possible to keep using them for many. many years. There are bush planes in daily use that have been flying for over 60 years now. Come to think of it, a de Havilland Beaver or Otter would be a better plane for Maine.

holy crap ! the money is from seized funds, they want a new plane let them get it. my MOTHER has a car that will outrun a 172 ..the plane pays for itself and all this is ,is just politics.. keep maines slush fund aka general fund out of it. I dont see our legislators driving 20+ year old cars or any of THEM flying 20+ year old planes, why should our police force? the use of seized funds for the purchase is better than coming out of taxpayers pocket. the fact that someone wants to put their ok on something they had nothing to do with and stops the process cause they were left out speaks for itself. just like anything that comes out of this legislature, no one agrees on anything so nothing gets done. If they don't get the plane and go 2 more years with the old one one fine. but that money that was there for it now..had better be there when the thing dies and not robbed by the legislature. cause down the road you can guarantee this will cost twice as much and it will be taxpayer funded cause the seized funds got general funded to oblivion.

Old planes aren't very comparable to old cars - planes are maintained differently and can last considerably longer than cars. It also sounds like a protocol needs to be established for handling seized assets and it's a little surprising that one doesn't already exist.

Old planes aren't very comparable to old cars - planes are maintained differently and can last considerably longer than cars. It also sounds like a protocol needs to be established for handling seized assets and it's a little surprising that one doesn't already exist.

The money should be destroyed!

Leave it to Bill Diamond to want to spend money like a typical Democrat, Don't give it to the Department that earned it and needs it. Give it to the welfare program so more drugs can be bought. Isn't that just like a Legislature. I guess the families could go to Diamond if the old plane crashes, maybe he will donate some of his wages to the families. The State Police and the MDEA are trying hard to clean this State up and we have lawmakers that don't even stand behind them. Shame on you Lawmakers of Maine..

"spend money like a typical Democrat, Don't give it to the Department that earned it"

Oh, c'mon. "Earned" it? D'ya think maybe it would be easy for, say, Maine DoT to "seize" the odd hundred grand?

And as I said the last time this came around, the SP will no longer act to stop drugs being sold to school kids until they are sure they are gonna make a TON of "seized" money.

"Sorry Johnny is a junkie now, but we couldn't act until we had enough in the kitty for a new plane and a big boat."

Hey - it's only good business sense!

Probably going to use the money to cart junkies back and forth to the Meth. clinic. The money should go to the DEA and be used to hire another agent. That much money could be used to hire one additional agent for 4 years, hopefully that person would produce more arrests and more forfeited property.

Don't forget, though, the planes are probably flying MUCH more in the line of duty than the average hobby pilot's Cessna that gets flown maybe once a week (insert gas price comment here!) I think the SP has 2 airplanes, in answer to someone's earlier question.

pcme2000 I agree.. now it will go and fund one of Baldi's special assisants, a pet project or pay for someone's methadone! I am sure all the Liberal Politicians as foaming at the mouth to get at this money..

-

SteveP depending on what the circumstances are sometimes they use the guard helos and pilots... I assume those are the OTHER aircraft they are mentioning and DOT does't put their lives on the line everyday to protect idiots like yourself... The SP doesn't necessarily seize all the $$ the MDEA does which is run by the SP... and they DO go to the schools...

-

I believe that money collected by drug seizures should go back into the program that will seize more drugs. Why does the legislature have to get their fingers on that money. Let this program work. Let them retire the old plane and purchase the new. It's the pilot's life on the line not the Augusta legislator.

The issue for an aircraft is if it corrosion free ....this 1980 model is immaculate and requires the following for continued airworthyness -there is no.. repeat no safety issue.

engine overhaul at most 30,000 factory new engine shiped via crate.. good for 2000-2400 hours

repaint (optional-no corrosion) 7000 (facility at sanford maine) 10 years exteneded use

new interior 2500-10 years exteneded use

all of this can be paid by interest on the money in the account...

avionics can be done piecemeal -a few thousand a year -plan to use this aircraft for the next ten years ...the aircraft will be worth every dime invested when sold.

if anymore needs to be done we need to look at the historical maintainece costs and ask how it could have been allowed to become substandardly maintained on the budget that was spent on it!! they need to retain the 182 its larger and can accomidate a greater payload -as avionics become lighter weight will no longer be a factor.

follow the money...

aircraft do not suffer from age like cars and people ....many mainers fly 50-60 year old aircraft that look new.

ahhhhhhhh.....politics

Sounds to me as if they deserve a new aircraft. If they brought the money into their department then let them use it to improve the safety of the pilots and allow them to use the money as they deem necessary. Keep the pickpockets in Augusta at bay I say!

I doubt they will ever receive the funding from the Legislature for many years to come.

I hope the SP do not let the fight go down in favor of the Legislature who will find another useless thing to spend it on. I think a panel chosen from the different agencies under the Maine State Police would certainly make a better decision as to where the money should be spent.

Thank you to Commissioner Anne Jordan and the SP who are looking out for me.

HEy give me the money and Ill be able to pay for most of my heating oil bill this winter. Whats left over ill give to my brother when he straigtens up. Hes a hunch back'

Thank you, richard11!

Boys and their toys.

Hmmm, i don't know about this, are we talking about spending blood money here. I have to agree with Listenup, that money should be burned.