CT Police Obtain Military Gear From a Federal Program

Over the last three years, 800 military items have been allocated to police departments all over Connecticut.

The U.S. Government's 'Law Enforcement Support Office' allows police departments from all over the country to take part in the 1033 Program. Once accepted into the program, city and town police departments receive access to web-based applications where they can search and request military equipment.

Controversy has recently surrounded the 1033 Program over the nationwide debate over excess in police departments according to an article in the Hartford Courant. Since 1997, Connecticut police departments have been allocated more than 3,000 items.

According to an article in the Hartford Courant, since the program's inception in 1993, many of CT's cities and towns have cashed in on a variety of military gear and weaponry. Those towns in the greater Danbury area include:

1. Brookfield 
2. Danbury 
3. New Milford
4. Newtown
5. Redding
6. Ridgefield
7. Southbury

The most prevalent items acquired by CT towns and cities are 5.56-millimeter rifles valued at $500. Other military gear include 'Underwater Sound Equipment' valued at $10,000, 'Armored Trucks' ($65,000), 'Night Vision Googles' ($7,641), 'Mine Resistant Vehicles' ($705,000), and 'Pistols' valued at $60.00. For a listing of CT towns that take part in the 1033 Program and the military gear that was dispersed to each town, click on courant.com.