Military Equipment Given To Law Enforcement

2014-08-17T23:46:52-04:00

How do you feel about giving MRAP's to Law Enforcement?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 12:09 AM

2014-08-18T00:09:19-04:00

LEO's having been using old Military equipment for their special capabilities units for a long time. This is not a new thing. Perhaps what is making this new, is that LEO's are making more use of these higher profile vehicles. As well these new vehicles are huge, much larger than the older vehicles which were handed down. As for how I feel about it, I think that these kinds of vehicles, arms and equipment are necessary when you look at the kind of violence being perpetrated and how well the criminal element is being armed. Take for instance the bank robberies in LA a while back where the robbers had head to toe body armor and automatic, armor piercing weapons. the police had what 38's. It is time for the police to be able to defend themselves.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Aug 18 at 2014 12:19 AM

2014-08-18T00:19:36-04:00

Based on recent events where the Government is giving surplus MRAP's to Law Enforcement agencies, and given the current attitude (Ferguson, MO) towards Police with surplus Military vehicles, I'm not sure that MRAP's are going to help the image. Ferguson appears to have just the old Peacekeepers but the press keeps calling them Armored Personnel Carriers.

We have 2 LE Agencies here in Idaho that have received MRAP's and have used them for drug raids and barricaded suspects (stuff we used to do by just sneakin' up on them around 0400). From the civilian viewpoint it looks like overkill and honestly if MRAP's were needed it has gone beyond most enforcement activities that I ever participated in.

Questions: Is there a better use for the MRAP vehicles?
Are they really no longer needed for the Armed Forces now that
we are downsizing and trying to reduce costs (they are given to
LE for no cost)?

Response by TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA made Nov 25 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-11-25T08:53:43-05:00

Here's POTUS recent answer: Takeback

Outrage as military vehicles, equipment taken from officers in wake of Obama order http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/23/outrage-as-military-vehicles-equipment-taken-from-officers-in-wake-obama-order.html

Outrage as military vehicles, equipment taken from officers in wake of Obama order | Fox News

Valuable vehicles and equipment are being yanked from law enforcement agencies across the country by the Obama administration in the wake of the president’s post-Ferguson order -- as sheriffs and lawmakers tell FoxNews.com the equipment is needed, and losing it could put officers and the communities they serve in danger.