McComb, Oakland Sheriffs Welcome Trump's Order Allowing Sales Of Military Equipment

DETROIT, MI —Sheriffs in McComb and Oakland counties are applauding news that President Trump has signed an executive order that will enable local police departments to once again buy surplus tanks and other surplus military equipment from the federal government. But news of Trump's order was not welcomed by everyone.

Trump’s executive order voids an order signed by President Obama in 2015 ordering local departments to return the equipment in the wake of the riots with police in Ferguson, Mo., and elsewhere across the nation.

“I’m glad to see that law enforcement will still have access to this equipment to keep officers, deputies and the public safe,” said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham in an interview with the Detroit News. Wickersham was one of several police officials who criticized the Obama administration for taking back the military equipment. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

After Obama’s directive two years ago, the sheriffs and police agencies across the nation argued that they needed equipment such as the tanks for protection against large crowds. They said the guns had been removed from the armored vehicles, but they still provided a safe way to protect officers in a riot situation.

>> Military Sales To Local Police Resuming After Trump Executive Order

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard also welcomed the news and told the newspaper that essentially, taxpayers had to pay twice for the equipment, because local departments sought to replace what had been taken away by the federal government.

Meanwhile, supporters of Obama’s move—and now opponents to Trump’s undoing of the measure—say that putting the heavily armored, military grade equipment at the service of police is intimidating and gives officers too much power that can be used on American citizens.

Photo - In this May 2, 2012 file photo, law enforcement and other officials examine surplus gear at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state as they attend an information session for a program that distributes surplus military equipment to state law-enforcement agencies. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)