Actions

From mine resistant trucks to a lawnmower: see what your local police received from the military

Posted at 9:40 PM, Apr 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-20 09:22:37-04

Power drills, parkas, rifles and sniper scopes: these are among the thousands of military surplus equipment that local law enforcement agencies across New York State have received over the years.

The heavy-duty equipment is handed out as part of the United States' 1033 Program.  

Click on your county in this interactive map to see what military surplus equipment your local police jurisdictions received.

 

Between 2012-2017, the Town of Hamburg Police Department has received $1.66 million in military surplus equipment, according to federal data analyzed by 7 Eyewitness News.  Notably, it was given a mine resistant vehicle, designed to withstand IEDs in war.  The value of that vehicle is estimated at $658,000.

The 2010 Census estimates that the Town of Hamburg has a population of approximately 57,000 residents. 

In 2017, Hamburg police also received six pieces of "thermal sight."  Military.com describes thermal sight as that which helps snipers "see through heavy fog or sand storms to find and kill their targets."  Each of these pieces of gear are valued at $12,512.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Greenburgh Town Police Department, and Suffolk County Sheriff's Department received mine resistant vehicles between 2016 and 2017.

A few jurisdictions across New York State have received helicopters.  In March 2017, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department received a flight trainer helicopter valued at $833,400.

In May and July 2017, the Niagara County Sheriff's Department received two observation helicopters.