During the 2020 summer protests against the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police, thousands clashed with local law enforcement officers outfitted with military-grade armor, weapons, and apparel. Shocking scenes of armed police confronting protesters in the city have sparked debates about the use of military equipment and tactics by law enforcement, and how and why local police departments obtained federal military equipment. I also ignited the question.
Since the 1990s, the Department of Defense has transferred excess military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies under the 1033 Program. (Also see Most of America’s Big Cities Prioritize Police over Health and Social Support.)
24/7 Wall St. To determine which local police departments have the most federal military equipment, Defense Logistics Agency of the Department of Defense. Law enforcement agencies were ranked based on total military equipment transfers from 1990 to 2022. Statewide agencies were excluded. City and county populations are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
While many of the equipment transfers are non-lethal items such as first aid children, jackets, and binoculars, the program allows some divisions to use camouflage uniforms, helicopters, other aircraft, sniper rifles, and more on the battlefield. I was also able to get more commonly seen items. mine-resistant vehicles, and tactical armored vehicles.
For example, the Buckeye Police Department in Buckeye, Arizona, received two mine-resistant ambush protection vehicles. This is a military vehicle designed to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes. A police department spokesperson said the lightning-protected vehicle is used by his SWAT team for tactical operations such as barricades, search warrants and responding to active shooting scenes.
Most of the states receiving the most federal military equipment overall are the large southern states, such as Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia. However, after adjusting for population, the state with the most federal military equipment per capita is North Dakota. For example, the Jamestown Police Department in Jamestown, North Dakota (a city of about 16,000 people) received over $3 million in surplus military equipment from him in 2021, including an armored Humvee. America’s largest police station.)
Click here to see America’s most militarized local police force.
