Throwing away money....literally!

sneaky · January 23, 2008 4:49AM

So I was at work in the office and saw something that bothered me tremendously. I work at a small police agency. There was a garbage truck parked near the back door and our detectives were throwing away old evidence (disposing of it). I watched as they threw away three coin operated slot machines, and listened as they lifted them, the jingle of quarters. I was disgusted to see when the truck crunched them, gobs and gobs of quarters spilling from the machines. Maybe $100 worth or more, just pouring from the crunching machines.

They told me that they had to dispose of the property and could not keep any of it.

This made me feel sick, so I had to leave as I couldn't watch anymore of it.

Sorry, just had to vent about it.

Mike C

doh · January 23, 2008 4:50AM

That does suck, but it's nice to hear about cops following the law. I've had fireworks confiscated a couple times and I'm sure the cops just took them home to use with their kids.

tahoe98 · January 23, 2008 4:51AM

DIDN'T YOU HAVE YOUR GUN!!!???

rgCoinGuy · January 23, 2008 4:53AM

Wow - you would think they could at least add the quarters to a city auction or something, thats a shame....

guitarwes · January 23, 2008 4:54AM

I thought any confiscated $$$ was used in purchasing equiptment/supplies for the confiscating department or locl government?
What you're saying is like seizing a stolen vehicle with $100,000 in cash in it, the owners don't claim it, then send it to the wrecking yard to be shredded to bits........what dumbness.

wes

droopyd · January 23, 2008 4:55AM

<< They told me that they had to dispose of the property and could not keep any of it. >>

I would think they could auction off unclaimed evidence in the same way that they auction off seized property.

jmj3esq · January 23, 2008 5:07AM

Thats just dumb. That kinda stuff should go to public auction and the money raised should go back to the city or county.

Im guessing the garbage men literaly dove into the back of the truck to retrieve the quarters after they left the police dept.

sneaky · January 23, 2008 5:08AM

Tell me about it. I think it should have been used towards the city(It's a small city department), or maybe new handcuffs for everyone or something of that nature.

Nope, just toss it all! One guy wanted to keep a brand new set of bolt cutters that was in the trash pile but was told he couldn't by the chief.

And yes, I had my gun. What's that have to do with it?

Coinlearner · January 23, 2008 5:10AM

The coins should have been gone through, to rescue any collectable or numismatic coin....so

Weather11am · January 23, 2008 5:10AM

It could have gone to pay off some of the debt!

Broadstruck · January 23, 2008 5:15AM

Im guessing the garbage men literaly dove into the back of the truck to retrieve the quarters after they left the police dept.

I was thinking the same thing, these garbage guys must love your stations trash!

NumisOxide · January 23, 2008 5:16AM

<< Wow - you would think they could at least add the quarters to a city auction or something, thats a shame.... >>

sneaky · January 23, 2008 5:17AM

Unfortunately, I am willing to bet that once the truck leaves, our public works guys will probably get into the dumpster, but probably more for the drug evidence than the quarters. It's actually one of the trash compacting trucks, so it isn't the easiest to get into, but I'm sure those garbage guys will know how.

Burns me up that we all have to watch it get trashed, but I know someone else will go picking through it, probably making some nice scores.

DJCoinz · January 23, 2008 5:21AM

<< Tell me about it. I think it should have been used towards the city(It's a small city department), or maybe new handcuffs for everyone or something of that nature.

Nope, just toss it all! One guy wanted to keep a brand new set of bolt cutters that was in the trash pile but was told he couldn't by the chief.

And yes, I had my gun. What's that have to do with it? >>

jmj3esq · January 23, 2008 5:31AM

I was thinking the same thing, these garbage guys must love your stations trash!

Sorry to go off topic, but I worked the back of a garbage truck one summer. Not fun. I did find a few prizes, though. On one occasion I found an entire box of old records from the 70's including some original Pink Floyd records. Theres a lot of porn in the trash, too.

At the time I would have gladly got in the back of the truck to fetch a piile of quarters. Considering the pile was probably twice a days wages.

RichieURich · January 23, 2008 6:04AM

Only the government could find a way to do something this stupid!

SeaEagleCoins · January 23, 2008 6:23AM

Sneaky ...this is not directed at you... you didn't make the rules...

Why is it that our so-called leaders have so little intelligence and no common sense???

Only answer I can come up with is... any person with half a brain and a bit of sense wouldn't want the job...

I work for the VA...and I could tell some stories about stupidity and waste...but they'd all be OT...

TwoSides2aCoin · January 23, 2008 6:27AM

Did you think about carjackin' the garbage truck ?

robkool · January 23, 2008 6:41AM

Kinda reminds me the day I was looking for cans & bottles to recycle from behind a local bowling alley, when I came across a small glass jar full of US silver coins near the bottom of the trash bin. At first, I was not sure what to think of it, but it soon became appearent, to use the phrase "finders keepers"...

sneaky · January 23, 2008 6:42AM

Yeah, trust me, this hasn't left my brain all day. My buddy wanted to jack the truck, he was like "Where is the truck at, I'll come and take it and split it with you!" I just laughed. I told him money can't buy my morals, but it just seems so wasteful. I was at roll call and even mentioned to my chief how I saw all the quarters and they just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. I then asked what it would have taken to get an order to use the money towards the department and they were just like "I don't know".

Makes me sick to waste anything(except a criminal)

TwoSides2aCoin · January 23, 2008 6:50AM

Ya know, it's too bad red tape is so darn thick. If we could cut through it easier, there wouldn't be so much waste. I know you have good morals and all, but those slot machines could have been used for entertainment in the fire department

tahoe98 · January 23, 2008 7:11AM

And yes, I had my gun. What's that have to do with it? >>

that means you coulda stopped them

BlindedByEgo · January 23, 2008 7:22AM

<< Did you think about carjackin' the garbage truck ? >>

Or staking out the dump?

cladking · January 23, 2008 7:24AM

<< Yeah, trust me, this hasn't left my brain all day. My buddy wanted to jack the truck, he was like "Where is the truck at, I'll come and take it and split it with you!" I just laughed. I told him money can't buy my morals, but it just seems so wasteful. I was at roll call and even mentioned to my chief how I saw all the quarters and they just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. I then asked what it would have taken to get an order to use the money towards the department and they were just like "I don't know".

Makes me sick to waste anything(except a criminal) >>

It is wasteful but it's mostly just the value of the metal and fabrication
being lost. The total amount of wealth being destroyed was nominal.
New quarters will be made to replace them and time marches inexorably
forward.

dcarr · January 23, 2008 7:49AM

That is pathetic, and is an indication of poor wasteful management.
The next time I get a call soliciting a $100 donation for the police department (Policeman's Ball or whatever) I'll be tempted to tell them to go get it at the landfill.

vplite · January 23, 2008 7:52AM

Your story reminded of an incident that occurred when I was a LEO.

I was providing security at a site where assets were being seized, about 15 years ago. Since there was no security needed, I was helping take inventory.

One agent was writing an inventory page while I was going over items seized. In one drawer there were a number of medal dollars. mostly circulated Eisenhower dollars with no apparent value. There were also several dozen Morgan and Peace silver dollars. I directed the agent writing the inventory to list XX Eisenhower dollars, XX Silver Morgan and Peace dollars. The Group Manager, who was a know-it-all jackass IMHO, overheard this and ordered that we were not going to waste our time listing individual dollars and insisted that everything be listed as currency, and that's exactly how it was inventoried and deposited in the bank. I presume some bank employee got lucky.

19Lyds · January 23, 2008 8:12AM

<< That does suck, but it's nice to hear about cops following the law >>

That doesn't suck ............. thats just plain stupid!

I can understand the machine getting destroyed but throwing the money out is rediculous. Do you suppose they would do the same thing with a machine that was loaded with bills??

Sorry, I just do not understand!

charley · January 23, 2008 8:40AM

Just curious. Are the slot machines not worth more than $100.00 EACH?. Isn't it legal to privately own a coin operated slot machine for personal use in your home? I see such machines for sale quite frequently. So, the question, isn't the greater loss(in $) the machines, since the sale of same could have GREATLY enhanced the Police Dept. with needed equipment. What is the reason that a court order of disposal, with Proceeds to the Police, couldn't be obtained? Thank You. Regards and Respectfully, John Curlis

tradedollarnut · January 23, 2008 8:42AM

It's ok - they were probably moderns.

mozeppa · January 23, 2008 8:48AM

<< It's ok - they were probably moderns.

>>

one was a 1913 nickel...with a ladys head on it with a big V on the back.

BAJJERFAN · January 23, 2008 9:35AM

<< I thought any confiscated $$$ was used in purchasing equiptment/supplies for the confiscating department or locl government?
What you're saying is like seizing a stolen vehicle with $100,000 in cash in it, the owners don't claim it, then send it to the wrecking yard to be shredded to bits........what dumbness.

wes >>

They may be dumb, but they aint stupid. Of course they don't shred the cash; they keep it and spend it. Several years ago in Western Iowa 2 vehicles were stopped in a realatively short time span [ a few weeks IIRC] and a LARGE amount of cash removed fom each. I doubt the owners claimed it, but the drivers probly had some splainin to do to the owner. I'm sure the state ended up keeping it. I thought the propert had to be returned to the rightful owner if they could be located or wished to claim it. Most of the time after the law gets done abusing it, recovered stolen property usually aint worth much.
The local sheriff's office [at least for firearms] keeps those that they can use if they are not required to be returned from what I was told..

jessewvu · January 23, 2008 9:41AM

you should have arrested them for destruction of government property. Just like Golmer Pyle "Citizens arrest, citizens arrest"

pb2y · January 23, 2008 11:19AM

No one will believe the coins were "thrown away".

oldcameoproofsguy · January 23, 2008 11:22AM

Were they clad quarters or silver?

The clad ones wouldn't bother me nearly as much as silver.

ahooka454 · January 23, 2008 11:31AM

man thats ashame, shoulda done something for public schools or less fortunate kids. theres enough of them. why just trash it. i notice the auction homes, gold, and cars. my neibor is a cop(i love cops btw) and he drives a very nice new sports car thanks to a police auction. nice to think my tax dollars fund this type of ubber madness.

Throwing away money....literally!

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