Michigan police get $43 million in military gear

Review: Michigan law agencies get $43 million in ex-military equipment, including M16s, MRAPs

8/17/2014

LANSING, Mich.— A review of public records shows that Michigan police agencies have received $43 million worth of surplus military equipment, including 17 mine-resistant armored fighting vehicles and 1,795 M16 automatic rifles.

The Detroit Free Press  says it reviewed items that the Pentagon transferred to Michigan law enforcement going back to 2006. It says the list also includes 165 utility trucks, nine grenade launchers and three observation helicopters.

Transfers of military equipment has come under scrutiny since the high visibility of such items in Ferguson, Missouri, as authorities responded to protests against the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9.

The newspaper says federal officials won’t identify specific agencies getting the equipment but says the 4,000-resident village of Dundee in Monroe County got a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP.