Defense

Top Senator calls for review of military equipment use by civilian police

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to review a program that provides high-powered rifles and other surplus military equipment ...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

September 8, 2014 6:42 pm

< a min read

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to review a program that provides high-powered rifles and other surplus military equipment to civilian police departments across the country. The Senate’s second ranking Democrat on Friday said he has long been concerned about their use of military equipment and military-style tactics by local police departments. He said the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer gives “new urgency” to a review of the Pentagon program.