How Do Police Departments Get Military Equipment

Key Points Police receive most of their militarized equipment through two federal programs.

How do police departments get military equipment. This is through the 1033 programme which funnels excess military. Louis County Police tactical officers fire tear gas on West Florissant Road on Monday August 11 2014 in Ferguson Mo. It expanded in 1997 and then again after the terrorist attacks of 911. This includes the use of armored personnel carriers APCs assault rifles submachine guns flashbang grenades grenade launchers sniper rifles and Special Weapons and Tactics teams.

Since 1997 the US Department of Defense has transferred more than 72bn in military equipment to law enforcement agencies. The 1033 program allows the Department of Defense to transfer excess. Critics are concerned about police departments getting surplus military gear after President Trump ditched Obama-era reforms on training and supervision. Click image to enlarge.

The Department of Defenses 1033 program which facilitates the transfer of surplus military equipment to police departments makes it too easy for police to get their hands on equipment they dont need. Indeed police departments around the country have in recent months tried to return some expensive military equipment most notably those mine-resistant vehicles after finding that it. How and why local police departments get military surplus equipment St. The militarization of police is the use of military equipment and tactics by law enforcement officers.

The protective gear and vehicles that many state and local agencies are bringing out as protests have grown larger are provided to them as part of an initiative called the 1033 Program which is a. Some especially in larger cities have used federal grant money to buy armored cars and other tactical gear. Some departments buy military equipment with local funding Many police and sheriffs departments use municipal and county taxes fines and forfeiture to buy new militarylike equipment. Local police departments are looking more and more like small armies stocked with billions of dollars worth of military-grade equipment.

The study found that the Department of Defenses DOD 1033 program which offers free surplus military equipment to police departments has transferred at least 16 billion worth of equipment to. The 1033 and the 1122 initiatives. Generally the type of items finding their way into the hands of police officers includes everything from sleeping bags and socks to assault rifles and armored vehicles. Credit Kaye LaFond Michigan Radio.

How does military equipment get into police departments. The militarization of law enforcement is also associated with intelligence agency-style information. Season 30 Episode 20 2m 8s Filmmaker Craig Atkinson explains how military equipment ends up in local police departments. Police departments though are adding more firepower and military gear than ever.

While there are many ways for law enforcement agencies to acquire military-grade equipment including outright purchases and grants the 1033 program remains an important way for agencies to acquire big-ticket items at little to no cost. President Trump is lifting the restrictions former President Obama placed on the program and reinstituting it in full. Thirty Michigan Police Departments have Mine-Resistant Armor-Protected vehicles or MRAPs. The Department of Homeland Security pumped 1 billion into.

For decades police departments have acquired military weaponry like grenade launchers and armored vehicles for little cost through a controversial Defense Department program called 1033.