Question

Traditionally, police departments have been allowed to buy military surplus equipment and vehicles for a significantly reduced cost. In recent years, several police forces have come under fire for using this equipment and vehicles on citizens. Police contend that using these items actually saves lives and prevents property damage because they can disperse crowds without directly engaging the people. What do you believe should be the limit, if any, of the use of these items for police forces, and why?

Answer 1

In recent times, protesters in the USA have faced the military assault rifles and the Humvees, among other military-grade equipment. Americans are questioning whether it is right for the law enforcement organizations and agencies like police and FBI to acquire and use military-grade equipment. The National Defence Authorisation Act on the year 1991 provided for the transfer and use of excess defense property to the state and federal agencies, to be used in law enforcement activities. This was in retaliation to the drug war and other sophisticated crimes where criminals were using advanced weapons, armors, and automatic rifles. These supplies of defense-grade equipment were to be used in the counter-drug activities initially. This program was also known as the 1033 Program and counter-terrorism was also added to its scope later on. Its authorization, therefore, came from the Congress (and not the military) and the idea was to give more teeth to the law enforcement agencies with more polished and sophisticated resources. The supplies were in excess and therefore the military would not be using them anyways. As of now, around 8000 law enforcement organizations and agencies of USA are participants of the 1033 program and Pentagon has transferred more than 5.1 billion worth of supplies and property under the program.

The Limit Of Use Of Military Equipment And Supplies By Federal/State Agencies

Police and law enforcement agencies of State and Federal government should not be allowed to use military-grade weapons in the civilian operations. The limit for the program should be that the dangerous weapons of the military, as well as the tactical vehicles that are meant to be used in war zones, should not be transferred to the law enforcement agencies to be used on American streets. Police do not require these sophisticated assault rifles, grenade launchers, and mortars as these are made for war. While state and federal agencies can use the air crafts, ambush-protected vehicles, Humvees, Sniper scopes and other military property in certain ways and to a certain extent, they do not have a use for the higher-grade weaponry. When there will be no weapons of military-grade transferred, there will be no such use of the lethal weapon equipment in the civilian areas, which will save precious lives and property.

This is what has happened as well. Of all the equipment transferred, only around 5% is weapons and less than 1% comprises of the tactical vehicles. The majority of items and property transferred under the 1033 program includes items of non-military nature. These include digital cameras, blankets, office equipment, sleeping bags, binoculars, video recorders, clothing for extreme weather, televisions, first aid boxes, and others. Aircraft and other similar military properties have been downgraded (stripped down) before the transfer and do not include the weapons.

There have been in instances of heavily armed criminals trying to rob banks with bombs and new age assault rifles. For instance, in the California shootout of the year 1997, policemen carried the pistols while the bank robbers (wearing body armors) were carrying automatic AK 47 rifles. Therefore, the more specialized police and law enforcement agencies like SWAT can make use of the more sophisticated rifles of the military, military surveillance items, clothing, and others such items even in the civilian spaces. But in most instances, there are not required by police officials patrolling the streets or facing protestors. A full review of the availability of military-grade items and the scenarios in which they can be used by police should be carried out.

While such arming can reduce wastages, and can enhance the capability of law enforcement agencies in fighting crime and terrorist attacks, it increases the threat to the common citizens and maybe a cause of terrible loss of life and property when uncontrolled. Common citizens may also find police as an occupying force when they are minor moves are resisted by military-grade equipment. Therefore, proper procedures, training, and protocols should also be in place for the deployment and use of military-grade equipment.