Reso 2002-446 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(I)...... .,' S. MAR 22 21m MEMORANDUM TO: State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies SUBJECT: Use of Shared Funds to Purchase Food and Beverages The Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury receive numerous inquiries regarding the use of shared funds to purchase food and beverages for local operations, retirement luncheons and other situations. This memorandum serves as a guide in determining whether shared funds may be used for such purchases. . In general, shared funds must be used for a law enforcement purpose, and the purchase of food and beverages for consumption by law enforcement personnel or their guests is not a permissible use of shared funds. Nevertheless, shared funds may be used in certain limited circumstances, to purchase food and beverages as set forth below: 1. Meals During Local Operations. Shared funds may be used to purchase meals if state or local law or rules governing reimbursement of expenses permit officers to be reimbursed for such expenses, e.g. meals, purchased while an officer is on official travel, attending a training conference, or engaged in a disaster operation, such as an earthquake or hurricane. 2. Conference Package Policy. Shared funds may be used to purchase meals that are part of a "conference package." (For example, a hotel conference center that provides complimentary coffee and bagels for breakfast with the rental of its conference room for an authorized training event.) The use of shared funds to pay for entertainment expenses for panies and ceremonies including, but not limited to, tents and musical bands is not permitted because it may create an appearance of impropriety or extravagance or may create opportunity for abuse of shared funds. If you have any questions as to whether shared funds may be used for food and beverages, please contact the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section at (202) 514-1263 or the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture at (202) 622-9600.