Trump to Lift Ban on Military Gear for Local Police Agencies

The following article by Gopal Ratnam was posted on the Roll Call website August 29, 2017:

A BAE Caiman MRAP acquired by the Summit County Sheriffs Office in Northeast Ohio. (Raymond Wambsgans/CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Trump administration will lift a two-year-old ban on police departments across the United States getting surplus military equipment as part of an overall effort to support local law enforcement agencies.

“I am here to announce that President Trump is issuing an executive order that will make it easier to protect yourselves and your communities,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions told police officers Monday, according to prepared remarks.

“He is rescinding restrictions from the prior administration that limited your agencies’ ability to get equipment through federal programs, including life-saving gear like Kevlar vests and helmets and first responder and rescue equipment like what they’re using in Texas right now,” Sessions said. Continue reading “Trump to Lift Ban on Military Gear for Local Police Agencies”