NEWS NEWS NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2014
MEDIA CONTACTS:
STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029
STATEMENT BY
CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S
ACTIONS TO REFORM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY SURPLUS TRANSFER PROGRAMS AFTER THE TRAGEDY IN FERGUSON, MO
NOTE: The following is a
first-person statement from
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri
“I applaud President Obama for his administration’s prompt and extensive review of the Pentagon’s 1033 military surplus transfer program and other similar programs that convey surplus equipment to local law enforcement agencies.
The preliminary findings of that review, as requested by myself and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D) Missouri shortly after the police killing of Michael Brown, Jr., substantiate many of our most urgent concerns about these programs, including repeated transfers from multiple federal agencies without coordination; inadequate training for local law enforcement agencies who receive the surplus equipment; and little or no oversight over how the equipment is used in the field.
This past August, I personally witnessed thousands of my unarmed constituents who, while peacefully exercising their constitutional rights, were targeted by local police wielding military sniper rifles equipped with night-vision scopes. That should not happen in America.
Some of the preliminary recommendations announced today include:
- ensuring that all equipment available for acquisition by law enforcement agencies has a legitimate civilian law enforcement purpose;
- including training requirements that address appropriate use and deployment of equipment; and
- broadening transparency of the 1033 and other agency equipment repurpose programs.
I also strongly support the President’s plan to create a $75 million matching fund to help local enforcement agencies equip their officers with body cameras. If widely implemented, that single change would not only establish real transparency when force is used during a police incident, it would also substantiate the fact that the vast majority of police officers carry out their duties with bravery and integrity. I am developing legislation to further that goal as an urgent national priority.
My hope is that all these efforts will spur a national discussion about how to achieve a fundamental shift in local law enforcement, away from military-style responses, and towards a more community-based policy.
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