WASHINGTON – In response to criticism of law enforcement’s response to protests in Ferguson, Mo., President Obama has ordered the review of programs that supply military equipment to police departments.
The review will most likely include the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Excess Property Program (1033 program), which has assisted law enforcement agencies, including those on U.S. college campuses, in obtaining supplies, furniture, vehicles, officer protective apparel and tactical equipment that they would not otherwise be able to acquire.
“These items have unquestionably improved the safety of our campus police departments’ personnel and ultimately enhanced their ability to protect our college and university communities,” says International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) President David Perry. “As with many of our agencies, my department has seen the benefit of resources acquired through the 1033 Program that have proven invaluable when needed. I am confident upon a detailed review it will become clear that our campus police departments are using the equipment gained from the 1033 Program in a responsible manner with the goal of better serving and protecting the people we serve on campus and enhancing the safety of our officers.”
Perry said that IACLEA is committed to working with the White House on this review.
Since 1997, that program has distributed more than $4.2 billion of equipment to U.S. law enforcement agencies.
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