SAGINAW, MI — While President Obama and federal lawmakers call for a review of the practice of sending military vehicles and equipment to civilian police forces, the Saginaw News wants to know how readers feel about the issue.
Many readers have already voiced concerns about police receiving a mine-resistant truck in the comments section on MLive, though what seems to be a minority approve of the practice.
Readers commented on an April article that broke the news of the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department receiving a Mine-Resistant Ambush Proof vehicle from the U.S. Army:
Is the Sheriff a serving Soldier? No. He and every other Cop are Civilians too. A fact they seem quick to forget.
In this MLive file photo, Tim Brown, 35, holds daughter Drea, 4, as son Dean, 2 1/2, right, checks out the view from the hatch of the Saginaw Police Department's armored personnel carrier during the EMS Week kick-off at Saginaw Valley Medical Control Authority on Tittabawassee in May 2008.
ROFLMAO - "We're constantly outgunned," he said, noting criminals could be carrying silencers, assault rifles and other heavy duty weapons, adding, "I need every tool I can get." BS! The cops are out of control. They should be disarmed instead of militarized. That'll teach em to treat the taxpayers and citizens with some respect. Vote no on all police millage.
Do not blame the Sheriff for this. This is happening all over the country, and it's coming from much higher up. Everything the so called 'conspiracy nuts' have been blathering on about for the past 20 years is coming to fruition. The revelations about being monitored, the increasing militarization of civilian forces, the economic ruin of the United States. What do need to see to at least consider that the game is rigged?
The men and women that go to work and protect us everyday are entitled to every advantage available. That being said, is there a limit to what is allowable for law enforcement for use under the U.S. Constitution, as there is a limit for what citizens may aquire or do under the same Constitution ? As a seperate thought, is there anything given for free, or is there a chance that one of these vehicles will be used somewhere in the U.S. ?
Sheriff Federspiel announced in mid-August that
and he made plans in July to get rid of the military vehicle. He said in mid-August he was waiting for the U.S. Army to take it back.
Saginaw County remains home to several Humvees at multiple police departments. Below is a before and after image of the Frankenmuth Police Department's Humvee, customized for police use in January 2013.
The Saginaw Police Department has an armored personnel carrier and seven M-16 rifles that it received from the military.
MLive.com and The Saginaw News wants to know: Do you think civilian police forces should accept military vehicles to add to their fleets?
— Brad Devereaux is a public safety reporter for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+