Reps. Casperson, Marleau, Elsenheimer, Nitz, Hansen, Pastor, Meekhof, LaJoy, Horn, Hoogendyk, Brandenburg, Huizenga, Agema, Ward, Stahl, Hune, Gaffney, Steil, Caswell, Moore, Sheen, McDowell, Opsommer, Meltzer, Sheltrown, Garfield, Moolenaar, Emmons, Robertson, Hildenbrand, Rick Jones, Proos, Knollenberg, Acciavatti, Pavlov, Pearce, Farrah, Lindberg, Lahti, Booher, Walker, Caul, Green, Palsrok, Accavitti, Shaffer, Calley, David Law, Amos, Dean, Hammon, Moss and Simpson offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 85.

            A concurrent resolution to urge the state's law enforcement agencies to consider the distribution of seized materials to our troops overseas when doing so would be feasible, appropriate, and of value to our military personnel.

            Whereas, Each year, law enforcement agencies across our state seize a wide range of materials in the course of protecting our citizens, homes, and businesses. Occasionally, the materials confiscated are of a type and quantity that could be put to better use than being sold or destroyed after they are no longer needed as evidence and when they cannot be returned; and

            Whereas, The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Enforcement Interdiction Unit recently seized a large quantity of counterfeit cigars during the arrest of a known drug trafficker. Rather than eventually destroying this evidence, the Oakland County Sheriff worked with local businesspeople to send the cigars to our military personnel serving in the Middle East. This set in motion a series of generous actions. Business leaders offered to replace the seized cigars with premium quality products and other benefactors donated the funds needed to send them to our troops overseas and to supplement the shipment. With this cascade of generosity, troops who choose to can enjoy a bit of home; and

            Whereas, Any actions that can turn a criminal situation into a gift for the men and women who are defending our country must be encouraged. The imaginative thinking evident in Oakland County can benefit our military personnel in many ways; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the House of Representatives concurring), That we urge the state's law enforcement agencies to consider the distribution of seized materials to our troops overseas when doing so would be feasible, appropriate, and of value to our military personnel; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of State Police, the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.