The 1033 Program was instituted by the Department of Defense to equip U.S. law enforcement agencies with equipped used by the military without hurting taxpayers.
Law enforcement around Fayetteville, N.C., have taken advantage of that program, acquiring more than $2.3 million worth of weapons and gear, according to the Fayetteville Observer.
Spring Lake Police received 17 rifles. Hope Mills police added 40 rifles, six computers and five utility trucks to their inventory through the program.
Pinehurst Police, which boasts one of the state’s lowest crime rates, added 23 pistols and five rifles between 2006 and 2010.
The Fayetteville Police Department did not receive any weapons through the program, but did add 30 night vision image intensifiers.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office was the only agency to receive a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, according to the database.
While most agencies were law enforcement, other agencies in the state also received military equipment, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Parks and Recreation and the state Department of Health and Human Services.
“If the equipment is appropriate, it can be invaluable. It certainly saves the taxpayers substantial amounts of money in acquiring equipment that’s necessary to keep the peace,” said Ronnie Mitchell, legal counsel for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
