A Deal They Can't Refuse

POLICE FEAST ON MILITARY SURPLUS

It's the stuff that law enforcement dreams are made of: warehouses full of
rifles and bulletproof vests, electrical generators big enough to power
small towns, armored vehicles for riot control, even a helicopter just
waiting to be flown home.

There are no price tags, no fees, not even taxes. If you wear a badge and
have a purpose, it's free for the taking.

And it's taken. Every year, millions of dollars worth of used military
surplus -- from camouflage pants to boats -- are hauled away by law
enforcement agencies across the state.

The program, taken over and reorganized in 1995 by the Defense Logistics
Agency, has been a boon to smaller police departments that would otherwise
have to do without some of the more exotic bells and whistles of the
criminal justice trade.

"Many of the [law enforcement] agencies wouldn't have the property they do
now if it weren't for the program," said Virginia State Police Lt. Michael
Bolton, the state coordinator for the effort. "It's a wonderful deal."

In turn, the program gives the military a way to get rid of its excess
property. And there's a lot of it, most of which sits in warehouses at
Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service Offices across the country. The
closest to Northern Virginia are at Fort Belvoir and the Quantico Marine
Corps Base.

So far, the Fauquier County Sheriff's Department is one of the area's
biggest participants in the program, picking up about $223,000 worth of
vehicles and other equipment in the last two years. That's big money for
Fauquier's force, where budget constraints mean doing more with less.

So far, the department has acquired 13 vehicles, four copy machines, four
fax machines and a portable generator capable of powering four schools.
Like much of the equipment given away by the military, the generator needed
major repairs. The sheriff's department spent about $8,000 to fix the
generator, but that's nothing compared with its estimated value of $90,000.
The acquisition, according to the department, was a tremendous value and a
real no-brainer. "Everything we get offsets local tax dollars," said
Fauquier Sheriff Warren Jenkins. "It's a big help to us. We probably
wouldn't have gotten these things otherwise."

Manassas police also are enthusiastic participants in the program. Last
year, the department picked up $12,700 in goods -- including 110 gas masks
and filters to be used for riots or large-scale disturbances at the Adult
Detention Center, where large amounts of pepper spray could be deployed --
as well as more than a dozen M-16 rifles for the SWAT team. The department
also got nine decorative M-14 rifles that will be used by its honor guard.
Officials said none of the equipment needed repair.

"We saved a tremendous amount of money," said Lt. William Spencer, adding
that the Manassas department is scouting for a Humvee or all-terrain
vehicle for the SWAT team. "I really don't want to go out and spend $20,000
on a Ford that's going to get all shot up."

By using the program, Fauquier officials said, they have been able to free
up money to purchase other vital equipment. For example, the department
acquired a Chevrolet Suburban for use by its SWAT team. As a result, the
department had enough money left in the budget to buy several patrol cars.

"We're a small police department, and we have to spend dollars very
wisely," Lt. Butler Grant said. "A lot of smaller departments just aren't
aware of how much good equipment is out there for minimum expense that can
stretch your budget dollars. . . . Whenever I can find equipment I can use
and the cost is minimal, then we thank the government for doing this."

Although the property is free, agencies must pay to shuttle their new items
from the military facilities where they're stored.

The most popular items are usually aircraft, weapons, Kevlar helmets,
night-vision devices and armored vehicles. Fragmentation vests, which are
worn over bulletproof vests to provide additional protection, also are a
hot-ticket item. In addition, the program is instrumental in providing
departments with more mundane items, such as furniture and computers, that
they need but sometimes can't afford.

Bolton said he's working with Winchester police to upgrade their rifles
from hunting weapons to military sniper rifles. "They make do with what
they have," Bolton said, "but most major law enforcement agencies have
sniper rifles. They don't use them very often, but it's good to have that
type of equipment."

Aircraft are available, and Norfolk police, who are trying to establish an
air wing, have been the first to request one. They will soon be the proud
recipients of a UH-1 Huey helicopter.

The program allows law enforcement agencies to acquire property for any
purpose related to their duties. If several departments are vying for the
same item, officials said, preference is given to whichever department
plans to use the item to counter drugs and terrorism.

Any equipment passed up by local law enforcement is then sent to charitable
programs, and then to public sale. Items such as rocket launchers and tanks
are, of course, excluded.

© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company