A January 19, 2014 article in The Salt Lake Tribune exposed the DoD Excess Property Program, or “1033 program,” run by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) “to transfer leftover military materiel (supplies and equipment) to U.S. state and local civilian law enforcement agencies,” including “grenade launchers, helicopters, military robots, M-16 assault rifles, armored vehicles, riverboats, Battle Dress Uniform clothing, and information technology equipment.”
This past year, the Utah Highway Patrol—totaling about 500 troopers—received a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, known as an MRAP, typically reserved for war zones. According to The Tribune, law enforcement agencies in Utah also received 1,230 rifles, four grenade launchers, 17 .45-caliber pistols and a variety of magazines and accessories through the 1033 program.
Congress initiated the 1033 program in 1997, which “has transferred more than $4.3 billion worth of property to law enforcement,” according to the Law Enforcement Support Office section of DLA’s website.
[…] DoD Program 1033: Militarizing America’s Cops […]