Sec. 7-285. Sale of unclaimed goods by police departments. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 7-285. Sale of unclaimed goods by police departments. The Commissioner of Public Safety, the board of police commissioners, the chief of police, superintendent of police or other authority having charge of a police department may sell by public auction any and all articles found and which have remained in the possession thereof for one year or more. Before such sale, such authority shall cause the time and place thereof, and a description of such of the articles as are of the appraised value of fifty dollars or more, to be advertised at least once a week, for two successive weeks, at least two weeks prior to the actual sale date, in a daily newspaper published in the county in which such articles were found or recovered. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the expenses thereof, shall be paid to the State Treasurer or the treasurer of the municipality, who shall keep the same as a separate fund to be used and applied for the relief of sick, injured or disabled policemen, to be expended under the sole direction of such commissioners or other authority in charge and upon their orders only. In any municipality where such a fund is otherwise provided for, such proceeds shall be deposited in its general fund.

      (1949 Rev., S. 667; 1961, P.A. 586; P.A. 75-530, S. 21, 35; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 93-65.)

      History: 1961 act broadened section formerly applicable only to city departments to include all police departments and added provision governing deposit of proceeds in general fund; P.A. 75-530 deleted provision allowing sale of stolen articles; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of public safety for commissioner of state police, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-65 amended section to increase the value of property which must be noticed prior to its auction from $5 to $50 and provided for its advertisement at least two weeks prior to the sale.

      See Sec. 7-296 re reserve funds of police departments.

      See Secs. 50-9 to 50-14, inclusive, re towns' adoption of procedure with regard to lost goods.