In anticipation of scheduled travel to Camden, New Jersey, the White House announced that President Obama will ban the provision of certain types of military equipment to police departments throughout the country. This is in response to the violence that took place in Baltimore, Maryland, and Ferguson, Missouri over the past year. The recent violent events prompted a presidential task force report on creating better ways to provide police protection to America. The president is following the task force recommendations.
Free Military Equipment to Police
Beginning in 1997, the government began a program to give excess military equipment to law enforcement agencies through a Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services (DLA). The program has allowed small police agencies to procure equipment that it would not normally be able to afford in their efforts to protect the community.
In 2014, there were 8,000 local police agencies that have joined in the program to recycle unneeded military equipment to police. The dollar amount of equipment transfers has been $5.1 billion since 1997. There were $449 million in transfers just in 2013.
The majority of the equipment that travel to local police agencies through the 1033 Program is medical supplies, ammunition, sleeping bags, electrical wiring, cold weather clothing, sand bags, flashlights and office equipment. Vehicles such as watercraft, aircraft, armored vehicles, and grenade launchers have also been moved.
Most of the police agencies participating in the military equipment to police program have been small to medium-sized police departments. These smaller law enforcement cities don’t have the budget for extra clothing, weapons, or other equipment that larger departments can afford. The departments are responsible for the transportation and storage costs of the equipment and must make use of it within one year.
Program Under Fire for Years
he 1033 Program of military equipment to police has been under fire for many years by the media. It also was highly criticized by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Government Accountability Office in 2003. The two agencies found evidence of abuse, fraud and waste. At the time, President Obama commanded a review be done by a multi-agency taskforce, but it was ultimately decided to continue the program.
The program hasn’t come under a great deal of public scrutiny until recently because of the police responses to riots and unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland. The program is being criticized as contributing to the militarization of local police departments and encouraging an antagonistic atmosphere between the public and law enforcement.
Due to the recent events, the program of military equipment to police has again come under fire and has garnered more public attention. The recent government report noted that some communities and neighborhoods report overuse, misuse and inappropriate use of the military equipment. This has caused a great deal of strain on the communities and their relationship with law enforcement. The report cited events in Ferguson, Missouri, specifically, that occurred last August.
In his speech today in Camden, New Jersey, the president is expected to put the city police department in the spotlight for its successful efforts to improve relations between the community and law enforcement. He is also going to highlight a number of initiatives by his administration to improve transparency in police policies and police-community relations improvements. It is hoped that the new restrictions to the military equipment to police program will improve public relations between law enforcement and their neighborhoods.
In his speech today in Camden, New Jersey, the president is expected to put the city police department in the spotlight for its successful efforts to improve relations between the community and law enforcement. He is also going to highlight a number of initiatives by his administration to improve transparency in police policies and police-community relations improvements. It is hoped that the new restrictions to the military equipment to police program will improve public relations between law enforcement and their neighborhoods.
