Surplus military gear common in Calif. police forces
By Kevin Oliver, KCRA-TV
Local law enforcement agencies across California are recipients of surplus military gear, but some have been suspended from the program because of missing military equipment.
Grenade launchers, bayonets and armored vehicles were given to a number of California police departments.
The Davis Police Department received a mine-resistant vehicle, but decided not to keep it after an uproar by citizens, who said it wasn’t needed and who didn’t want it in their town.
The Amador County Sheriff’s Department and the South Lake Tahoe, Yuba City and Vacaville police departments also got mine-resistant vehicles.
Data requested by KCRA 3 and just released by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services revealed more than 16,000 military surplus items — mostly guns — were turned over to police agencies all across California.