WASHINGTON — The White House is set to prohibit federal agencies from providing local Police Departments with “military-style” equipment used in emergency situations, such as standoffs and riots.
Certain types of equipment would be prohibited such as drones, grenade launchers, high-caliber weapons bayonets and other riot control equipment, the report said.
From CNN: “The new prohibitions are part of an executive order President Barack Obama issued for federal agencies to review the types of equipment they provide to local and state police.
Obama plans to travel Monday to Camden, N.J., to highlight crime reduction and community policing tactics that the administration hopes can be a model around the country. A spate of officer-involved shootings and the deaths of African-Americans in confrontations with police has made policing an issue the administration is forced to grapple with.
Agencies including the Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security departments help provide equipment to local police.”
The executive order will establish a “controlled equipment” list, with tightened requirements before federal agencies can transfer equipment to local cops.
