Remember that the dollar amounts are what is REPORTED.
Am I saying that the police are corrupt?
What else can you say when the local police department creates an administrative procedure that is, IMHO, in clear violation of the Constitution of the US and then dares anyone to come and get their money back?
The people or persons who wrote this administrative procedure and who signed off on it must be identified, jailed for civil rights violations, and punished . Any law enforcement officer or officer of the court system who knew of this activity and failed to report it must forfeit their jobs immediately.
Over reaction? Read your histories of Europe, Russia in the later 1910’s and Germany in the early 1930’s where administrative procedures lead to …… and remember there is no biological/mental difference between them and us.
Plus, as the practice becomes common, there is temptation to just pocket the money and not report it.