Central to the crucial debates about policing and racism that Americans are engaged in is the growing militarization of U.S. law enforcement: adoption of the equipment, tactics and mindset of the military, along with the overwhelmingly disproportionate use of SWAT teams and military-grade weapons in communities of color. Communities acquire surplus military equipment at no direct cost under the federal government’s Law Enforcement Support Program, also known as the 1033 Program.
Now a new tool, Mapping Police Militarization, allows you to examine the connections between the military and local police departments in the U.S. by tracking the dollar amount of military equipment distributed on a county-by-county basis. As we work to fundamentally change the role of police in our society, to reduce the size and scope of police departments and invest the money saved in services that better meet community needs, knowing where the weapons and mentality of militarization are is vital.
