Rockford area law enforcement weigh in on military surplus program

Sept. 04--Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble said he wouldn't mind adding a $700,000 armored truck to his department's fleet of vehicles, and Freeport Police Chief Todd Barkalow would like to purchase a diesel generator or two.

The chiefs aren't asking their respective city councils to approve more money for the items. Instead, the items when available, can be obtained at little to no cost to a city, county and state law enforcement agency through the Department of Defense's controversial military surplus program.

President Barack Obama curtailed the program in 2015 and stopped the federal government from providing battlefield weapons and heavy equipment amid a national debate over police interactions with minority communities stemming from a string of high-profile deaths of black men at the hands of the police. People who protested police use of deadly force were met in some communities with armored vehicles and heavily armed police officers.

On the heels of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the anniversary of the 2014 fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, President Donald Trump last week rolled back Obama's order and issued an executive order allowing the federal government to give police departments access to grenade launchers, high-caliber weapons, armored vehicles and other restricted military weaponry.

Noble also said he is aware of the controversy surrounding the program.

"Ninety-eight percent of the police departments in the United States acquired and utilized (military weapons, vehicles and equipment) in the proper manner," he said. "Unfortunately, the 2 percent who used it in the improper way have left a trail for us to straighten out."

Since 2014, Belvidere police has acquired two Humvees and several M16s and M14s rifles.

"These are items that we continue to use today," Noble said. "One of the Humvees is our tactical response vehicle, and the other is for parades and our VIPs (volunteers in police service) and public events. The patrol division utilizes the M16s. We were able to save about $25,000."

Noble said there are no immediate plans to acquire another vehicle, but said, "We are taking a look at the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) as a shared resource. There are none here in Boone County. If we have to rescue a citizen or a down police officer under heavy gunfire, it would be extremely important."

Freeport police acquired 20 M16s and a Humvee through the military surplus program.

"There is some equipment that we are kind of keeping our eye out on like big diesel generators that we can use on a mobile command unit and big portable lights to use on a crime scene," Freeport Chief Todd Barkalow said.

Barkalow said the government program is "incredibly beneficial" to smaller departments operating on a limited budget, and he, too, is aware of the scrutiny the program has received.

"We obviously don't want to militarize our police department. We want to be approachable. That's why we aren't necessarily looking to get any tanks or armored vehicles. If we do have a situation where we may need that kind of equipment, we can go through ILEAS (Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System)."

Speaking before the Fraternal Order of Police at a convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Aug. 28 that Trump would fully reinstate the military surplus program, effective immediately, and told the law enforcement officers the order "will make it easier to protect yourselves and your communities."

That same day, attorney Kanya Bennett also issued a statement on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union: "Tensions between law enforcement and communities remain high, yet the president and the attorney general are giving the police military-grade weaponry instead of practical, effective ways to protect and serve everyone."

The Rockford Police Department acquired an MRAP vehicle in 2014 through the military surplus program.

"The MRAP is for SWAT callouts and operations," Chief Dan O'Shea said. "It is also what we use for water rescues in the floods like we just had a month ago in the viaducts and intersections. We also use it for public displays and events to let kids climb all over."

O'Shea said there are no plans in place to seek more equipment or firearms.

"Of course that could change down the road. If we find something we need or would use, we definitely would rather get it for free and save money."

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department has yet to take advantage of the program. Sheriff Gary Caruana said of the much-coveted MRAP: "It doesn't suit my purpose. It's too big. Where do I put this thing? Just to get it and not use it, I appreciate it, but not really."

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; [email protected]: @chrisfgreen

Military equipment transferred to area law enforcement since 1994

Agency City or Item Quantity Value NSN (National Stock Number) Dates Transferred

County Description

Belvidere Police Dept. 1-1/4 Ton Armored Humvee 1 $50,458 2013/09/18

M1025 Armament Carrier

Belvidere Police Dept. Belvidere 1-1/4 Ton Humvee M998A1 1 $47,023 2320-01-371-9577 2013/05/23

Troop Carrier

Belvidere Police Dept. Belvidere M16A2 Rifle 32 $23,968 1005-01-128-9936 2014/09/23; 2014/09/24

Belvidere Police Dept. Belvidere M16A1 Rifle 9 $4,491 1005-00-073-9421 2008/03/11

Belvidere Police Dept. Belvidere M14 Rifle 6 $828 1005-00-589-1271 2006/10/05

Freeport Police Dept. Freeport 1-1/4 Ton Armored Humvee 1 $49,897 2320-01-128-9552 2014/06/17

M1026 Armament Carrier

Freeport Police Dept. Freeport M16A2 Rifle 20 $14,980 1005-01-128-9936 2014/09/24

Rockford Police Dept. Rockford Mine Resistant Vehicle 1 $733,000 2355-01-590-1660 2014/02/13

Rockford Police Dept. Rockford Armored truck 1 $65,070 2320-01-074-7642 2000/10/23

Rockford Police Dept. Rockford 1-1/4 Ton Armored Humvee 1 $50,458 2320-01-128-9551 2013/06/20

M1025 Armament Carrier

Rockford Police Dept. Rockford M14 Rifle 8 $1,104 1005-00-589-1271 2006/10/20

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Mine Resistant Vehicle 1 $733,000 2355-01-590-1660 2014/05/01

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Helicopter 1 $190,817 1520-01-020-4216 2006/11/17

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Truck, snow removal equip. 1 $154,006 3825-01-205-0450 2014/05/20

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Loader,scoop 1 $75,450 3805-01-052-9043 2014/06/27

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Rough terrain forklift 1 $70,000 3930-01-533-0855 2015/01/14

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Truck tractor 1 $57,454 2320-01-125-2640 2014/12/22

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Generator set, diesel engine, 1 $44,776 6115-01-134-0165 2015/01/14

trailer mounted

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. 4WD utility vehicle 2 $19,662.14 2340-01-420-2816 2014/04/08

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Wheel, pneumatic tire 9 $19,593 2530-01-593-8426 2014/05/06

Stephenson Co. Sheriff Dept. Stephenson Co. Pressure jet steam cleaner 1 $18,528 4940-01-025-9856 2014/04/24

Source: Chicago Tribune: http://apps.chicagotribune.com/news/local/illinois-dod-transfers/

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