Recent tension between demonstrators and police in Ferguson, Missouri prompted the Obama Administration last month to call for a review of a federal program providing military equipment to local law enforcement. Police agencies in Florida have been the most active participants of the program in the past eight years. Southwest Florida police are among them.
Since its inception, the Defense Department’s 1033 program has provided more than $4.3 billion worth of equipment to police agencies around the country. That equipment ranges from assault rifles and armored vehicles to tents and file cabinets. The program was enacted in the 1990s to help combat the war on drugs.
“So they had this program where they’re like, ‘Well, we have all this excess military equipment. Why don’t we sell it to departments on the cheap to help combat domestic issues and things like that?’ said News-Press reporter Jason Cook. “And of course, that was compacted to the war on terror in the early 2000s.”
The Charlotte, Collier and Lee County Sheriffs’ offices have all participated in the program as have the Cape Coral and Fort Myers police Departments. Three of those agencies have acquired mine resistant ambush protected vehicles or MRAPs designed to withstand bullets, grenades and roadside bombs.
This summer the American Civil Liberties Union released its War Comes Home report expressing concern over aggressive police actions and the growing militarization of law enforcement citing the use of armored vehicles in SWAT deployments for search warrants. Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said his department has never used the armored vehicle they acquired through the federal program and he hopes they never have to.
“We’re the first line of defense if anything was to happen. Whether it’s a robbery situation, whether it’s a hostage situation, an active shooter, or God forbid, we have another terrorist attack,” said Prummell. “It’s not the military that’s going to be responding. It’s us that’s going to be responding.”
Both the Charlotte and Collier County sheriff’s offices say the 1033 program helps significantly reduce the costs of their aviation units. Collier Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Karie Partington said purchasing helicopters from the federal government has saved about $8 million in addition to $300,000 - to $500,000 a year in operational costs. They’ve also received items such as generators, water trailers and tents that could be used in the event of a hurricane.