See What Local Police Got From The Pentagon
From suspenders to armored personnel carriers, Pennsylvania police received more than $11.5 million in equipment from the Pentagon since 1990.
The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering America’s criminal justice system, recently collected data on the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, which distributes surplus military equipment of all types to law enforcement at no or low cost.
Since the 1033 program’s inception, the Pentagon has given away $5 billion in equipment nationwide. While much of the items were basic supplies ranging from copiers to desks, other items including tactical military equipment was also doled out, according to The Marshall Project.
Bucks County agencies have benefited from the program.
The Bucks County Department of Corrections received 10 rifles and four pistols, while other departments in the lower and central part of the county have received weapons, suspenders and vehicles.
The South Central Emergency Response Team, which is made up of 14 local police departments, received two Vietnam-era armored personnel carriers. The tracked vehicles were used when a New Jersey police officer opened fire on Doylestown police and caused an hours-long standoff in 2012 and one was recently on display during a community event in Morrisville.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission received $3,000 worth of suspenders, Pennsylvania State Police received $60,000 in rifles while the Department of Homeland Security’s Pennsylvania branch received roughly $2 million in equipment.
The 1033 program came under scrutiny after the public learned police handling the Ferguson protestors received equipment from the military. Despite assertions online, Vice.com reported that Ferguson authorities received many “non-tactical” items through the program and the military-like equipment seen during the protest were not acquired through the 1033 program.
In November, the Department of Defense released data showing items distributed as part of the program.