Sheriff Thomas Vaughan’s new vehicle was purchased with money confiscated from drug dealers at no cost to the taxpayers.By JASON PATTERSON
Managing Editor

Drug dealers are always costing the community something, so Sheriff Thomas Vaughan decided it was time they started giving back.
Instead of using taxpayer funds to purchase a new work vehicle, Vaughan used money from the department’s drug fund account.  In the past year, the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department has collected over $39,000 through auctions of vehicles and properties seized in felony drug cases.
“People who sell drugs are a tremendous burden on the taxpayers of Yazoo County,” Vaughan said. “Most crimes are drug-related; either it’s someone stealing to try to finance their drug addiction or making bad decisions because they are under the influence of drugs. This is a way to recover some of that cost. It also helps us be better prepared to fight crime in Yazoo County.”
Vaughan negotiated $4,000 off of the sticker price of the 2011 Ford Taurus with all necessary lights, sirens and other equipment. The final price was $24,995.