President Barack Obama announced new restrictions Monday limiting the transfer of military-style equipment to local law enforcement agencies around the country.
Under the new order, state and local police agencies will have to do without a number of surplus items which they have grown accustomed to receiving from the federal government under the 1033 Program. These include grenade launchers, tracked armored vehicles, armed aircraft, bayonets, and firearms and ammunition of .50-caliber or higher. For other items, such as drones and helicopters, local agencies will have to provide a “clear and persuasive explanation” as to why the items are necessary.
The use of military gear by local police forces “can alienate and intimidate local residents and send the wrong message," Obama said during his announcement in Camden, NJ. The president visited the state to tout his administration’s recent efforts to help reform local police departments.
The president’s announcement follows a four-month study by a Cabinet working group tasked with examining the issue. In its report, the group concluded that there is a “substantial risk of misusing or overusing these items,” which “could significantly undermine community trust.”
Concerns over the so-called “militarization” of local law enforcement hit the national spotlight last summer following the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Many were shocked by the images of heavily armed police roaming the streets of Ferguson, MO in armored vehicles to quell violent protests.
A database of military equipment transfers released last year showed that 56 out of 58 California counties received supplies under the 1033 Program between 2006 and 2014. Since then, some cities—including Davis and San Jose—have voluntary relinquished armored vehicles they received from the federal government.
Read more about President Obama’s announcement here.