A lot of those are surplus and likely given to departments or sold for very little. That practice has contributed a lot to the militarization of police in America.
That should all be taken away from them though. Most of their guns too. A country as developed as the US shouldn’t require an armed para military force to police its citizens and, arguably, the US doesn’t require one.
The thing is they’re still a high financial drain. The military doesn’t give them the ones that are in good enough condition to still be useful, and they’re a maintenance nightmare.
I worked for a city that accepted one, and it broke down while transporting it to the city the day we took possession and ended up costing the city 200 grand on its first day.
This is America. Cars, tactical gear, and military vehicles are cheaper than an employee with benefits like healthcare, workers comp insurance, etc. way way way cheaper.
A lot of police departments moved away from two person patrols years ago. You’d have to look up the specific reasons but my guess is cost reduction.
Yet they have the money for military vehicles strange.
A lot of those are surplus and likely given to departments or sold for very little. That practice has contributed a lot to the militarization of police in America.
That should all be taken away from them though. Most of their guns too. A country as developed as the US shouldn’t require an armed para military force to police its citizens and, arguably, the US doesn’t require one.
The thing is they’re still a high financial drain. The military doesn’t give them the ones that are in good enough condition to still be useful, and they’re a maintenance nightmare.
I worked for a city that accepted one, and it broke down while transporting it to the city the day we took possession and ended up costing the city 200 grand on its first day.
Oh, I know! It’s the equivalent of you or I being given a Peterbilt 579 and they we try using as a daily commuter.
This is America. Cars, tactical gear, and military vehicles are cheaper than an employee with benefits like healthcare, workers comp insurance, etc. way way way cheaper.