Military Power

Cash-strapped law enforcement agencies are lining up to take advantage of the Pentagon's generosity. The state game commission in Pennsylvania has a tranquilizer gun for equipping bears with tracking collars. Police in Emmett Township, Mich., have a van for crime scene investigations. Virginia got boats.

The items, which include night-vision goggles, copy machines, bulletproof vests and even helicopters, were worth nearly $124 million.

The Defense Department's giveaway program started in 1990 to transfer surplus military parts to police for anti-drug and anti-terrorism work. Its mission was later broadened.

What do you think about this? I think it is good that police get to use military equipment that they no longer use (and I'm glad we, as taxpayers, only have to pay for the equipment once). Unfortunately, with the bureaucracy of this system, some police forces are not able to afford to get the needed equipment because it costs more money to operate the coordinator's office than the value of the equipment they receive.

Yeah, I found out from my Defensive Tactics instructor that the Metro Nashville Police Department is getting a Huey for their SWAT team.

Very impressive. I didn't even know Nashville had a SWAT team...

Maximus the Destroyer wrote: The state game commission in Pennsylvania has a tranquilizer gun for equipping bears with tracking collars...

Yes, I knew this from experience working with the PGC. The PGC also has some other equipment which they have gotten from surplus, which I do not believe they should have since they are not really a law enforcement agency.

I think it is good that police get to use military equipment that they no longer use (and I'm glad we, as taxpayers, only have to pay for the equipment once).

I agree with you completely Max, unused or no-longer-needed equipment should be passed down to the law enforcement agencies which protect our lives everyday. How many times have police forces been out-gunned in major cities, or even rural area stake-outs? Most police officers are armed with a .40 caliber sidearm, baton, taser and mace. If they are armed and trained to use the equipment which used to military surplus, then they will do a better job at protecting civilians.

Good topic.