See how many military surplus grenade launchers and assault vehicles your local police now have at their disposal

This past May, the New York Times requested an accounting from the Pentagon of all the military gear since 2006 which had been transferred from our military to police forces around the United States. What they received in response was a staggering list, including “tens of thousands of machine guns; nearly 200,000 ammunition magazines; thousands of pieces of camouflage and night-vision equipment; and hundreds of silencers, armored cars and aircraft.” And, now, the New York Times has made that data available in a searchable online database, where you can see, broken down by county, what high-tech, war-fighting gadgetry your local police forces now have at their disposal. Here, for your consideration, are the results for Washtenaw, Oakland and Wayne counties.

semichweapons2

And, speaking of military-grade urban assault vehicles, did anyone happen to see today’s SWAT training in downtown Ann Arbor? In light of what’s going on in Missouri right now, the timing seemed odd to me, but I guess they don’t have to worry too much about public sentiment, seeing as how they make all of the rules and have all of the weapons.

[Click here for more information on the militarization of America’s police.]

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12 Comments

  1. anonymous
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 7:11 am | Permalink

    It’s worth noting that, just because Washtenaw County did not get more military gear from the government, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have it. Our force is well funded and my guess is that they’ve bought night vision equipment, for instance.

  2. Mr. Y
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 7:31 am | Permalink

    Maybe it’s just my competitive nature, but part of me was disappointed to see that we only got 4 rifles and a mine resistant vehicle.

  3. idea man
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 7:49 am | Permalink

    What we need is a Google Maps plug in that tells you, as you travel from one jurisdiction to the next, what kind of military hardware you might encounter.

  4. EOS
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 7:54 am | Permalink

    Take a look behind the jail on Washtenaw/Hogback to see the variety of black military style vehicles.

  5. Y.
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 8:21 am | Permalink

    I’d like to see the map showing where assault vehicles have been place overlaid with a map showing communities that are primarily poor and African American.

  6. Dan Richardson
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 8:45 am | Permalink

    My county has more grenade launchers than your three counties put together! Suck it!

  7. 734
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 9:19 am | Permalink

    It was reported by many in Ferguson that they used a sonic weapon to disburse crowds. Was that a military technology?

  8. John Galt
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    I’m conflicted. On one hand I detest big government. On the other though I love having tanks on our streets rolling over hippies.

  9. alan2102
    Posted August 22, 2014 at 7:40 am | Permalink

    “This past May, the New York Times requested an accounting from the Pentagon of all the military gear since 2006”

    Yes. You read it here first:
    http://markmaynard.com/2014/08/the-underlying-message-coming-from-ferguson-get-the-money-out-of-politics-and-the-tanks-off-our-streets/#comment-868412

    But the important point is this: we’ve got to elect democrats to ensure the continuation of these and related policies. Republicans, especially white men, are too crazy and arouse too much resistance. Ideally, maintain the trend toward blacks, women, etc. This way assures a continual, seamless transition to perpetual war, fascism and debt slavery, without a peep of serious objection. Fascism with a friendly, compassionate, inclusive, multicultural face.

  10. Bob Krzewinski
    Posted August 22, 2014 at 12:38 pm | Permalink

    The US or Iraq? Take the photo quiz to guess where you are at! – http://mashable.com/2014/08/13/ferguson-police-protests-vs-iraq/

  11. alan2102
    Posted August 23, 2014 at 5:36 pm | Permalink

    Breaking news: New bill before Congress would ban ordinary citizens’ access
    to body armor.

    A successful fascist state must have a monopoly on serious arms AND
    the means of defense from same.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-21/congress-proposes-law-banning-body-armor-land-free
    Congress Proposes Law Banning Body Armor In The Land Of The Free
    08/21/2014 23:01 -0400
    “They spy. They steal. They wage illegal wars. They authorize military detention of civilians. They assassinate citizens. They intimidate. They terrorize. They torture. They suspend due process when it suits. They destroy anyone who challenges them. And now they want to take away a non-violent means of protecting yourself.”

    Check!

    Welcome to the F.S.A.

  12. Meta
    Posted September 6, 2014 at 4:54 pm | Permalink

    Photos from inside the “Urban Shield” trade show taking place in Oakland.

    http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/urbanshield-oakland-police-militarization

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  1. […] I’ve always been against the militarization of U.S. police forces, and in favor of more transparency, accountability and civilian oversight, I have to confess that […]

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