Indiana Sheriff Justifies Military Surplus Purchases By Saying America 'Has Become A War Zone'

Eight different law enforcement agencies in Indiana have purchased massive Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPS) that were formerly used in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mark Alesia reports for the Indy Star.

Pulaski County, home to 13,124 people, is one of the counties that have purchased an 55,000 pound, six-wheeled patrol vehicles, from militayr surplus. When asked to justify the purchase of a former military vehicle, Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer told the Indy Star:

"The United States of America has become a war zone. There's violence in the workplace, there's violence in schools and there's violence in the streets. You are seeing police departments going to a semi-military format because of the threats we have to counteract. If driving a military vehicle is going to protect officers, then that's what I'm going to do."

Actually, crime rates have actually been sharply falling across the U.S. since the mid-1990s.

Law enforcement agencies have increasingly turned to purchasing military surplus in an attempt to protect officers and take advantage of massive bargains. One of the Indiana counties spent only $5,000 for its MRAP, while the government originally purchased the vehicle for $733,000.

The militarization of police is a sweeping trend throughout the country as police departments increasingly try to snatch up what military hardware is available for general purchase. The purchase of used military equipment is substantially cheaper for a police department than the purchase of new equipment designed for police.

h/t Matt Ford