Drug dealers are helping the police department in Anthony, Texas, expand. They aren't  outright paying the department, but the assets collected from drug busts called forfeiture funds are helping to open a new substation.

Grants from the state are also aiding with other changes.

Chief Carlos Enriquez of the Anthony Police Department said a lot of changes have been made to the small station in City Hall, but it's not enough to keep up with all the growth around town.

"What we've seen that has increased has been family violence calls, DWI, and we recently had some robberies that have taken place. And again, all these crimes are accruing on the section of town where our response time is extended," he said.

Thanks to Justice Assistance Grant from the Texas governor, the department bought additional vehicles; two BMW bikes and an all-terrain vehicle.

"Those traffic units have been a great assist to the community and to the department. The special response unit or ATV helps us in the rural area that we need to cover, for example the arroyos, canals and Franklin Mountains. We can respond out there in a timely manner with the ATV," said Enriquez.

The grant also put $20,000 towards overtime.

"So officers can be out there on the field more. We can have our shifts supplemented by officers that are off, and it costs nothing to the taxpayers or the town of Anthony," he said.

The department is also getting ready to open a substation by the park.

"The substation, ironically enough, is being paid for by drug dealers. We're using our forfeiture fund, which is basically money that we collect from assets of seized vehicles or monetary seizures that we've done because of drug dealers' interactions. We found the need to create a substation because the town is growing so much and it's growing dramatically in that area that our response times have been delayed because of the mere fact that our headquarter station is here and the paperwork that needs to be done and the main walk-in stuff is here," said Enriquez.

He also said the substation isn't only making room for the small department but is going to serve as a safe house and meeting point for separated and divorced parents to meet and drop off or pick up their kids. 

"Currently, what we have parents doing is meeting up at Burger King or a local gas station, so the availability of them feeling safe isn't that high. We end up getting called out for disputes, so this substation will be a safe meeting point for the parents to hopefully avoid those incidents," he said.

The substation will open in November.