More on the militarization of police

[Peter1469]

More on the militarization of police (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/police-departments-struggle-return-pentagon-military-surplus-gear). The DoD gave this equipment to the states and local communities, but kept title to it.


An officer with the Chelan County Sheriff's Department in central Washington is offering me a tank. (http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1149.html) Three of them, actually.


"We really want to get rid of these," Undersheriff John Wisemore says. "We've been trying to get the military to take them back since 2004."


The tanks came from a vast Defense Department grant program that has furnished American police arsenals, at no charge, with $4.3 billion worth (https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/jus14-warcomeshome-report-web-rel1.pdf) of combat equipment leftover from two foreign wars. The tanks are amphibious, capable of firing 107-mm mortars—and not remotely useful to Wisemore's rural police department. But the county can't seem to unload them. Back in June, Wisemore got an email from a Defense Department liaison promising to explain how Chelan County can get rid of the tanks. Then, nothing. Until further notice, Wisemore says, "they're just going to sit there."

[Private Pickle]

More on the militarization of police (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/police-departments-struggle-return-pentagon-military-surplus-gear). The DoD gave this equipment to the states and local communities, but kept title to it.

That's just great! The Feds are militarizing the country under our noses. Pretty soon all of the State and Local entities will be wrapped under one Federal entity. Can't wait.

[donttread]

More on the militarization of police (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/police-departments-struggle-return-pentagon-military-surplus-gear). The DoD gave this equipment to the states and local communities, but kept title to it.

Great now Barney Fife has a tank! What could go wrong?

[PolWatch]

Great now Barney Fife has a tank! What could go wrong?

instead of keeping his bullet in his pocket, he's gonna need a trailer

[Dr. Who]

More on the militarization of police (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/police-departments-struggle-return-pentagon-military-surplus-gear). The DoD gave this equipment to the states and local communities, but kept title to it.
Yup, a community of 72,453 people - that's the whole county mind you, really needs three tanks. DoD is offloading the warehousing and maintenance of this equipment onto small communities. Were I in charge of one of these communities, I would be listing these white elephants on E-Bay and hoping some South American country would bid.

[Peter1469]

Yup, a community of 72,453 people - that's the whole county mind you, really needs three tanks. DoD is offloading the warehousing and maintenance of this equipment onto small communities. Were I in charge of one of these communities, I would be listing these white elephants on E-Bay and hoping some South American country would bid.

That is why DoD kept title. The items cannot legally be sold without DoD's consent.

[PolWatch]

I seem to remember a clause in the DOD paperwork that says they have to use the equipment or give it back...am I delusional? I can't find it again.

[Dr. Who]

That is why DoD kept title. The items cannot legally be sold without DoD's consent.
There would be some unfortunate fires....

[Green Arrow]

And this is why the MIC is unsustainable. DoD has these lucrative contracts with Halliburton, Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, etc. They spend a shit ton of money to produce stuff they'll never use and then off-load it on police departments, a lot of which don't even want them (bless their souls).

It's a fucked up system at all levels.

[Dr. Who]

And this is why the MIC is unsustainable. DoD has these lucrative contracts with Halliburton, Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, etc. They spend a shit ton of money to produce stuff they'll never use and then off-load it on police departments, a lot of which don't even want them (bless their souls).

It's a fucked up system at all levels.
I think that these PDs should be refusing to take delivery of equipment for which they have no earthly use. This is like a family member storing their stuff in another family member's basement or garage because they don't want to pay storage fees. It always ends in tears.

[Green Arrow]

I think that these PDs should be refusing to take delivery of equipment for which they have no earthly use. This is like a family member storing their stuff in another family member's basement or garage because they don't want to pay storage fees. It always ends in tears.

And shock if you choose to go through Uncle Bernie's boxes and find out just how creepy of a kink Uncle Bernie was...