Leesburg Police Chief Rob Hicks said they were given a MRAP as a replacement, an armored vehicle with wheels. Military surplus equipment is made available to local police through the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, which offers some used equipment for a minimal cost. The directive forced 11 law enforcement agencies in Florida to return their tanks to the federal government. “We’ve seen how military gear can sometimes give people the feeling like there’s an occupying force as opposed to a force that’s part of the community that protecting them and serving them,” he said. When announcing the changes, Obama said gear “made for the battlefield” could “send the wrong message.” Obama signed off on the changes in 2015 after riots in Ferguson, Mo., that drew officers in full riot gear with high-powered rifles and armored vehicles, which led to concern of militarized policing. Judd said not having the vehicles has also been an issue and blasted the Obama administration, saying, “you don’t play politics with public safety.” Chitwood said deputies could have used the vehicle in the woods and had extra cover.
A police dog named Forest was killed after deputies opened fire on the man. He said the tracked vehicle would have come in handy last year when deputies were after a man who ran into a wooded area. “I mean, we see in Texas right now with all these rescues, these vehicles can get to places we can’t and are necessary when needed,” Chitwood said.
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