But these are just a small taste of the military-grade arsenal that law enforcement officers have at their disposal – with the military handing them hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, from mine-resistant vehicles and airplanes, to grenade launchers and rifles.
Since 1997, the US Department of Defense has transferred more than $7.2bn in military equipment to law enforcement agencies.
This is through the 1033 programme, which funnels excess military equipment to police forces for a fraction of the original cost.
Department of Defense
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Since inception, the program has transferred over $7.6 Billion worth of equipment (based on the items Original Acquisition Value [OAV]). In Fiscal Year 2022, $160 Million (based on OAV) worth of equipment was conditionally transferred to participating law enforcement agencies.