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Military Gear For Riot Control: Obama May Relax Ban On Transfer Of Tactile Military Equipment To Civilian Security Departments

By Alap Naik Desai
Published on: 09:47 PST, Jul 22, 2016

Barack Obama may soon relax a ban on transfer of military equipment to riot control police. The relaxation of ban is being considered due to escalating tensions between the police and citizens that often results into clashes and injuries.

The White House will soon deliberate on the 2015 ban on police forces getting riot gear, armored vehicles and other military-grade equipment from the U.S. armed forces, confirmed two police organization directors, reported Reuters.

The ban had restricted the transfer of tactile military equipment to civilian security personnel and included grenade launchers, tracked armored vehicles, among other equipment after a huge public outcry last year. However, the Obama administration may rethink the ban after multiple encounters between the police and civilians have resulted in bloody confrontations and multiple injuries on both sides.

The recent police shootings in Dallas that left five police officers dead have necessitated a review of the 2015 ban on the use of some military equipment by police, said Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Bill Johnson, the executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, reported Sputnik News. It was shortly after the multiple shootings that resulted in the death of several law enforcement personnel, President Barack Obama agreed to review each banned item, stated the two senior officers.

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The leaders met President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House on July 11 along with eight other police organization chiefs. Together, they persuaded the duo to reconsider the ban. Following the meeting that could soon result in tactile gear being handed to regional law enforcement personnel for active control of riots, three more police officers were killed in Baton Rouge on July 17, reported the Guam Daily Post.

Why was the ban enforced? The ban on transfer of military grade equipment to local law enforcement, and, more specifically, the riot control division, was enforced in 2015 after there was a huge outcry from the general population. The people protested against the police in Ferguson, Missouri, and other cities, using military-grade combat gear and armored vehicles during rallies against police brutality.

The people complained that peaceful protests were threatened by police in full tactical riot gear, driving armored vehicles. The pictures of police in heavily fortified combat gear, driving excessively large vehicles that were combat-ready and armored even against light artillery, made headlines, and sparked a national debate. Following the nationwide outcry, Obama signed an executive order that disallowed the federal government from transferring such equipment to regional police departments.

Incidentally, such military-grade combat and riot gear is openly available on the private market. However, the retail prices of the equipment are far too high for most departments. Accordingly, they have had to rely on Department of Defense’s Excess Property Program. The program is commonly referred to as “1033 Program.” As the Inquisitr had earlier reported, under the program, the military sends unneeded or excess military equipment like weapons and body armor to local police forces at no cost.

While the equipment is intimidating, it is necessary, said Pasco implying the ban on the program was wrong,

“The White House thought this kind of gear was intimidating to people, but they didn’t know the purpose it serves. A grenade launcher can also launch tear gas for crowd control.”

At the meeting to request reconsideration on the ban, police leaders requested Obama to reinstate military equipment such as helmets, grenade launchers, and tracked armored vehicles. They justified the need for the equipment, stating that it would enhance officers’ safety and their ability to respond to violent riots.

Do you think tactile military gear is necessary for the protection of the police force and for better riot control?

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

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