Thread: White House orders more communities to return military vehicles

-Michigan law enforcement agencies are returning donated surplus military equipment to the federal government this month — including tracked armored vehicles that metro Detroit sheriff's offices have had for more than a decade— under orders of the White House, and they are not happy about it.

"It really upsets me. We have a great asset. We have not abused it, and in just a blanket order we can no longer have it," Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said of the tracked armored vehicle his office has had for its SWAT team since 2004. "Look what's happening around the country — mass shootings, barricaded gunman. An armored vehicle gives law enforcement the upper hand."

But Friday, that piece of now-stripped equipment will get picked up and hauled away, supposedly to a Department of Defense military training range to use as a more realistic target for aviators and ground forces. Next week, Wickersham plans to ask Macomb County commissioners whether he can roll over about $350,000 in savings from his office from this fiscal year to next fiscal year to buy a wheeled vehicle as a replacement...

..."This administration has done an about-face on supporting law enforcement," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "As a result," he said, "America is less prepared for a variety of situations," like the attacks in Paris.

"We're actually taking away a proven asset from law enforcement all over the country, destroying on many levels our ability to handle a very big situation, any situation like Paris," Bouchard said. "Those are going to be handled by the local police and this is the type of equipment needed."

The images in Ferguson — a police force dressed in full combat gear and riding around in armored vehicles —prompted a nationwide call to end the militarization of police and all or part of the federal surplus program known as the 1033 program...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...turn/76605640/

Well I have mixed emotions about it. But I do agree somewhat that the police are being 'militarized'.

Originally Posted by fuego

Well I have mixed emotions about it. But I do agree somewhat that the police are being 'militarized'.

But doesn't it make you wonder why the government wants to demilitarize them all of a sudden?
Could this be viewed as a step to DISARM non-military personnel to some degree?

Originally Posted by fuego

Well I have mixed emotions about it. But I do agree somewhat that the police are being 'militarized'.

The problem here is that the gangs and drug dealers are also "militarized"

Originally Posted by krystian

-Michigan law enforcement agencies are returning donated surplus military equipment to the federal government this month — including tracked armored vehicles that metro Detroit sheriff's offices have had for more than a decade— under orders of the White House, and they are not happy about it.

"It really upsets me. We have a great asset. We have not abused it, and in just a blanket order we can no longer have it," Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said of the tracked armored vehicle his office has had for its SWAT team since 2004. "Look what's happening around the country — mass shootings, barricaded gunman. An armored vehicle gives law enforcement the upper hand."

But Friday, that piece of now-stripped equipment will get picked up and hauled away, supposedly to a Department of Defense military training range to use as a more realistic target for aviators and ground forces. Next week, Wickersham plans to ask Macomb County commissioners whether he can roll over about $350,000 in savings from his office from this fiscal year to next fiscal year to buy a wheeled vehicle as a replacement...

..."This administration has done an about-face on supporting law enforcement," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "As a result," he said, "America is less prepared for a variety of situations," like the attacks in Paris.

"We're actually taking away a proven asset from law enforcement all over the country, destroying on many levels our ability to handle a very big situation, any situation like Paris," Bouchard said. "Those are going to be handled by the local police and this is the type of equipment needed."

The images in Ferguson — a police force dressed in full combat gear and riding around in armored vehicles —prompted a nationwide call to end the militarization of police and all or part of the federal surplus program known as the 1033 program...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...turn/76605640/

As a retired federal auditor I don't believe he has a right to request this as long as the excess equipment is being used for its stated purpose...I'd have to check to see if the regulations have been changed, but used to be, excess government equipment, once donated, was not allowed to be requested back as long as it was being used for its stated purpose...and then that is pushing it - once the government excesses equipment it is no longer of use to the Feds and can be sold, abandoned in place, or given away...

Originally Posted by Alone-4-God

As a retired federal auditor I don't believe he has a right to request this as long as the excess equipment is being used for its stated purpose...I'd have to check to see if the regulations have been changed, but used to be, excess government equipment, once donated, was not allowed to be requested back as long as it was being used for its stated purpose...and then that is pushing it - once the government excesses equipment it is no longer of use to the Feds and can be sold, abandoned in place, or given away...

Its not just Michigan that he's doing it to, many other states are being ordered to return properly used equipment that can save the lives of not only law enforcement but innocent citizens as well just because he doesn't like the 'image' that he feels that type of equipment creates.

I think he pushed the authorization thru on another one of his 'executive orders':

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/def...port_final.pdf

Hmmm I was just thinking..not long ago we had a thread the denounced the use of military equipment by the local police...feels like a roller coaster ride..

Originally Posted by Quest

Hmmm I was just thinking..not long ago we had a thread the denounced the use of military equipment by the local police...feels like a roller coaster ride..

I think that thread was more so about mis-use, overkill in situations that didn't warrant it...and sure, that does happen at times. But especially in light of recent events it makes sense to have law enforcement properly prepared.

Originally Posted by krystian

I think that thread was more so about mis-use, overkill in situations that didn't warrant it...and sure, that does happen at times. But especially in light of recent events it makes sense to have law enforcement properly prepared.

It does make sense if you really think about the population of Michigan and the attitudes of our president. He doesn't want us upsetting the Muslims.