Local agencies have purchased armored vehicles
Police agencies in San Diego County have bought close to $2 million in tactical and military-style gear since 2008, most of that for armored vehicles purchased using federal grant money by departments from Escondido to Chula Vista, state records show.
The outlay is twice as much as the value of the equipment law enforcement agencies have received for free under a similar federal program that has made national news and received scrutiny in Congress.
State records obtained by U-T Watchdog show that since 2008 local agencies have purchased armored vehicles, a high tech robot, mobile command center and other gear under section 1122 of the 1994 National Defense Authorization Act.
Six agencies — Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, La Mesa and Oceanside police and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department —have paid $1.9 million for gear since January 1, 2008, the records show. The sheriff’s department accounted for nearly half of the purchases.
By comparison, local law enforcement agencies got military-style gear valued at $932,323 under section 1033 of the defense act. That program gives away excess and surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies.