See What Military Equipment Your CT Town Got In Surplus Program

CONNECTICUT — Police departments in Connecticut have received more than $20.4 million worth of excess military equipment through the federal 1033 program over the course of nearly 30 years. Gov. Ned Lamont recently instructed state police to stop using the program and similar programs that allow state and local law enforcement agencies to obtain military-style gear.

The most expensive surplus item was a helicopter obtained by the Stratford Police Department in 2010 with an estimated value of $922,704. Around 1,000 rifles were distributed to law enforcement agencies across the state.

A federal database (below) shows which Connecticut law enforcements agencies have received such equipment from 1993 to April 2020. Agencies get the items at no cost, but are responsible for shipping.

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armored vehicles, which cost between $412,000 and $767,360, were sent to the following police departments: Bridgeport, Bristol, Farmington, Hartford, Madison, Middletown, New Britain, New London, Newington, Newtown, Norwalk, Norwich, Trumbull, Waterbury, Watertown, Willimantic, Windsor and state police departments.

The Trumbull Police Department put out a statement on Facebook about the use of its MRAP vehicle that it acquired in 2012. The vehicle has only been used during rescue operations, such as heavy flooding events as well as during heavy snowstorms to reach people in medical distress.

“This vehicle has a high clearance from the road and it allows us to get into areas where we need to rescue people during flooding, trees down and heavy snow. Simply, the vehicle is utilized as a Rescue Vehicle,” the department said in a statement.

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which was proposed by Congressional Democrats, would limit police departments from using the 1033 program.

Some of the equipment obtained through the program includes things like generators, vans and air compressors.

President Barack Obama placed restrictions on the program in 2015, such as requiring training to receive certain items and limiting bayonets, grenade launchers and .50-caliber and larger firearms and ammunition.

Prohibited items were ordered returned to federal government, including 126 tracked armored vehicles, 138 grenade launchers and 1,623 bayonets.

President Donald Trump reversed Obama's order in 2017.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 1990-1991 authorized the transfer of excess Department of Defense property to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The program was expanded in 1997, mainly for police to engage in counterterrorism and drug interdiction.

Around 8,200 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies from 49 states have received items through the 1033 program, according to the Defense Logistics Agency.

Items that can’t be obtained through the program include aircraft and vehicles that contain weaponry, .50-caliber or greater weapons and ammunition, military uniforms, body armor and explosives.

The program is one way local and state law enforcement agencies can obtain military-style equipment. There are several other federal grant and other programs that allow departments to use federal funds to obtain gear.

Below is a database of items that police departments have received over the years, search by police department name or item for specifics.