Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson says his department is returning its tracked armored vehicles because of new federal guidelines from the Obama Administration.
Amerson has called a press briefing for Wednesday morning to outline the policy change.
The tracked vehicles, which are armored but have no artillery or weapons, were acquired in 2004 through the federal 1033 program, which transferred excess military equipment to civilian law enforcement agencies at no cost - only shipping and handling fees.
In a news release, Amerson's office said the vehicles were obtained a few years after an incident that illustrated their need. In January 2001, a mentally ill person shot three Anniston police officers, and officers had no protection to remove the wounded from the area.
Amerson cited the 2011 shooting of Anniston police officer Justin Sollohub, and the manhunt that resulted with the shooter tracked to a wooded area. It was also used during a search last September, as well as for transportation needs during ice storms.
"The majority of the vehicles' uses were for outreach programs," stated the sheriff's news release. "The tanks were regularly requested for festivals and parades. The Sheriff's Office used the vehicles as talking points at the festivals and regularly allowed children to play and ride on the vehicles."
However, a review earlier this year by the Obama Administration of 1033 policy restricted the use of tracked vehicles to law enforcement agencies. This came following public criticism of the use of military equipment during police responses to unrest in Ferguson, Mo. and Baltimore, Md.
In a statement, Amerson said losing the vehicles will make both police and the community less safe.
"The absence of these vehicles pose a serious threat to law enforcement and citizens if we were to face another active shooter incident," he said.