President Barack Obama has issued an executive order limiting what military-type equipment can be transferred to local police from federal agencies. The federal government won’t be able to distribute armored vehicles on tracks, camouflage uniforms and grenade launchers to police departments.
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D)
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill says it’s not about denying police departments equipment, it’s about making sure giving them access to it is done right.
“Programs are being reformed to make sure that this life-saving equipment gets to the police departments who need it, that there’s adequate training for this equipment and that there’s communication between the three different programs that fund local police and their equipment needs.”
McCaskill says discussion of whether police should have such equipment began after it was used during demonstrations in Ferguson.
“I saw how some of this equipment saved lives in Ferguson. So I came to the hearings with a really open mind.”
McCaskill says it’s not a protesters versus police issue. “People are getting carried away with the ‘us vs. them’ mentality and not realizing that this is a coming together.”
McCaskill says the St. Louis County Police Chief, St. Louis city Police Chief, Kansas City Police Chief, NAACP, and National Tactical Officers support the efforts.
