Military surplus equipment for police is back! Aligning with his presidential campaign promises, President Donald Trump re-implemented federal Program 1033 which provides for law enforcement agencies throughout the US receiving military surplus equipment. Today, a once-vibrant program doomed by former president Obama is restored by President Trump’s executive order delivered by the Justice Department.
Given the proverbial duality of outgunned and under-budgeted police forces, the 1033 Program enables otherwise ill-equipped cop shops to attain necessary tools of the trade. Tax-payer funded military apparatus, including protective-shelled vehicles to engage heavy firepower and conduct rescues while under immense attack, facilitate operational successes. Better firepower, ballistic vests, and pieces of technology such as night vision goggles are like manna from Heaven for police officers, especially without expense to taxpayers.
Although oppositionists decry that state, county, and municipal police agencies are militarizing, the stark polarity between naysayers and pro-police factions underscores the perpetual divide regarding how America cares to serve and protect its citizens.
Attorney General Sessions
As a keynote speaker with a most-welcome message, AG Sessions praised law enforcement and bolstered that with a giving nature. Mr. Sessions read from a prepared statement: “Helping law enforcement do their jobs, helping the police get better, and celebrating the noble, honorable, essential and challenging work of our law enforcement communities will always be a top priority of President Trump and thus Department of Justice.” Note the word this inferring a marked difference since the former.
“I am here to announce that President Trump is issuing an executive order that will make it easier to protect yourselves and your communities,” said AG Sessions, ushering back in the previously-rescinded 1033 Program and similar measures for police revitalization.
Hitting the ball out of the park, AG Sessions echoed a long-overdue grand slam on behalf of cops and citizens: “Some of these programs, like the Department of Defense’s 1033 program that Congress signed into law more than 25 years ago, have recycled more than $5.4 billion in used gear and equipment that taxpayers had already purchased, and made it available for your agencies to re-purpose it in the fight against terrorism, crime, and disaster relief.”
It is all imperative, but those very last few words ring a wet bell as we witness the horrific fury of nature in the name of Hurricane Harvey ripping at then drowning our neighbors in Texas. Currently, the “disaster relief” irony is nothing shy of timely, needed, and readily usable.
“The executive order the President will sign today will ensure that you get the lifesaving gear that you need to do your job and send a strong message that we will not allow criminal activity, violence, and lawlessness to become the new normal. And we will save taxpayer money in the meantime,” are the words our AG used to close his statement.
“We have your back and you have our thanks”
“Criminal activity, violence and lawlessness” translating into “the new normal” telegraphs the episode created in Charlottesville, Virginia which procreated elsewhere. Just imagine if law enforcement personnel were not strapped by stand-down orders issued by a lawless politician and/or complicit police executives. There is definitely work to do, and having the necessary tools to conduct proficient policing are once again in the equipment shed thanks to the 1033 Program and leaders with crystal vision.
National Sheriffs’ Association
The boys and girls who wear a star to work praised President Trump’s reversal of Obama’s ban. In a prepared statement, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) echoed, “The equipment sheriffs receive through this program include equipment they could not otherwise afford including additional bullet proof vests and Kevlar helmets, upgraded safety equipment, as well as larger equipment such as helicopters and robotics.”
Giving credit where credit is due, the NSA recognized stalwart law enforcement proponents, saying, “By reinstating this program the President will provide more resources to local law enforcement to keep their communities safe without any additional cost to the tax-payer. This has been a top priority for America’s Sheriffs, so we praise President Trump and Attorney General Sessions for delivering on this important initiative.”
The National Sheriffs’ Association is comprised of over 3,000 of the nation’s sheriffs.
Fraternal Order of Police
The nation’s largest police union representing 330,000 members, the FOP, is headed by Chuck Canterbury who is a frequent flyer to Capitol Hill testifying on behalf of law enforcement. Mr. Canterbury’s statement extended gratitude to Pres. Trump and AG Sessions for re-installing the 1033 Program while also taking a poke at the former odious administration.
Mr. Canterbury reminisced, “The previous Administration was more concerned about the image of law enforcement being too ‘militarized’ than they were about our safety. In an effort to shut down a single program run by the Defense Department, known as the 1033 program, they restricted access to surplus equipment throughout the Federal government.”
“Jeff Sessions is a great friend of the FOP and to law enforcement, and we are pleased that he is with us today and the bearer of such good news,” extended Mr. Canterbury. “Attorney General Sessions announced to the FOP membership that President Trump will issue an Executive Order overturning these restrictions and restore the integrity of these programs,” added Canterbury.
Until today, at the FOP National Biennial Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, AG Sessions on behalf of the Trump Administration announced the rollback to pre-Obama initiatives, restoring the dignity and sanctity of our country’s cops by supplying requisite tools of the trade. Officer Safety is paramount and the Trump camp just delivered not only its promise but the actionable goods to go with it.
“We have your back and you have our thanks,” is the phrase AG Sessions used to salute those who don badges.
Christmas in August? On behalf of our nation’s law enforcement institution…I believe so.
