Here's the bottom line--nothing gets "transferred" without a request, first. Instead of saying "The school district RECEIVED..." how about TPM making it clear what is going on, with "The local governments, on behalf of their school districts, REQUESTED...." That would be a far more accurate representation of what happened.
The program is run by DLA, not "The Pentagon." It's basically a giant yard sale. Of course, "The Pentagon" sounds more dire. Overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1033_program
And here's how YOUR (and that is a generic your--as in your, and your, and you over there, you too, and my, etc.) local police department can "play" in the disposition program:
http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/leso/pages/1033programfaqs.aspx
It seems to me that LOCAL communities are using "school protection" as a "law enforcement" hook to get more toys for their police departments--not that "The Pentagon" is handing this stuff out without anyone even asking for it. After all, the transfer costs are shouldered by the receiving entity, and they're not inconsequential.
Responsibility for acquiring this material devolves TO the local governments who have this idea that bigger is better. Citizens need to look at who in hell they're electing as their local mayors and town managers and city councilors-- and who those idiots are hiring to run their police departments ---- because those are the people who are spending local taxpayer dollars to participate in this stupid program.
Some of the responders to the article have already figured that out:
saminchicagosaminchicago
21h
Wait a minute, in Texas in 2011, they cut $5 Billion from schools. Thousands of teachers lost their jobs because the state just couldn't afford them. They've made subsequent cuts. And now I'm to understand that they CAN afford a full SWAT team in the small town of Edinburgh, Texas (Population: 81,000). Seriously? You can't afford teachers but you can afford a SWAT team? How utterly messed up are your priorities in education when you do this?
ronikTPM prime memberronik
21h
These vehicles are free, except for the $5000 shipping costs, plus the cost of maintenance and road damage from their massive weight. Why pay for more teachers that mean smaller class sizes when you can get a mine-resistant vehicle and grenade launchers. San Diego schools claims its going to be used for 'Search and Rescue". Uh huh.
DButchDButch ( replying to dustbunny44 )
2h
Uncle Sugar (US Taxpayers) already bought them. The program
makes them available for "free" to LE agencies with a real broad
definition of LE and no need to justify much of anything - which is
why little teeny towns in the boonies and school districts
(apparently) can request these things.
The local LE agency is responsible for delivery costs, which can be
pretty hefty for something like an MRAP. The local LE also has to
handle maintenance and repair costs - and you don't get the parts
for those things from the local auto parts store. I read recently that
one agency got two so they can cannibalize one for parts as
needed.
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