If money is power, that is. And indeed it is.

The federal Department of Justice has notified Alamance County that it is withholding Community Oriented Policing Services grant money until Sheriff Terry Johnson negotiates a settlement regarding DOJ’s charges of racial profiling of Latinos.

County Manager Craig Honeycutt responds to DOJ:

“This grant was awarded to Alamance County,” Honeycutt said. “However, the September 18, 2012 letter you cite as the basis for your decision concerns the law enforcement activities of the Alamance County Sheriff. Under the governing North Carolina law, Alamance County is not responsible for the law enforcement activities of the independently elected Sheriff. Therefore, your actions in withholding funding are unjustified and improper.”

Honeycutt added that withholding the grant money, which would go toward a news communications system, will negatively impact the county’s 911 emergency system.