Wisconsin agencies have $28M in surplus military gear

Wisconsin police agencies have acquired more than $28 million of military gear from the Pentagon during the past decade, including mine-resistant trucks, night-vision goggles, assault rifles, grenade launchers and a helicopter.

Records from the state's Department of Military Affairs, obtained by Gannett Wisconsin Media under Wisconsin's public records law, show that more than 67,000 military-grade items were given to 219 agencies since 2004.

The program, known as 1033, was authorized in 1990 as part of the nation's war on drugs. Another piece of legislation approved in 1997 broadened its use, and equipment transfers escalated again after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks due to counter-terrorism efforts nationwide.

Local police pay for maintenance and transportation of the gear, which still is owned by the federal government.

President Barack Obama called this week for a sharp separation between the armed forces and police departments following a forceful police response to the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. Obama also said it may be time for a review of the transfers that have ballooned to a reported $5 billion since 1997.

In Wisconsin, a large number of law enforcement agencies, both large and small, continue to take advantage of the 1033 transfers.

In Portage County, the sheriff's office ordered up two dozen M-16 rifles, 40 camouflage coats, and a four-wheel-drive, diesel ambulance. Portage County Chief Deputy Dan Kontos said the department uses the former ambulance as a mobile command post, and he said the rifles are mandatory equipment.

"If I didn't get those rifles from the 1033 program, I would have to go out and purchase them on my own, which we would do," he said. "We'd have to spend considerably more, a considerably larger amount of tax levy dollars."

In Wausau, the Police Department received a couple of televisions, radios and a trash bin. The Marathon County Sheriff's Department didn't get anything.

But in Brown County, the sheriff's department received a massive mine resistant ambush protected military surplus vehicle in April. It only had to pay $3,900 to have the vehicle, valued at about $700,000, shipped from Texas, said Lt. Dan Sandberg, commander of the Brown County Sheriff's Office SWAT team.

He noted a December incident in Fond du Lac when a heavily armed man opened fire on police with a small arsenal of weapons, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle that would have penetrated most unarmored police squads.

"That's the only kind of vehicle that will protect you from something like that," Sandberg said about the mine resistant vehicle. "People now have .50-caliber rifles ... and we have to be prepared for something like that. I hope this MRAP sits in the garage for nothing more than training. I hope we never have to pull it out."

Juneau County, population 26,631, has a sheriff's department that acquired nearly $3 million in equipment since 2004, the most of any police force statewide.

Milwaukee's Police Department, by comparison, has acquired about $600,000 in equipment, including M-16 rifles and combat boots.

Juneau County Sheriff Brent Oleson said several boats have proven helpful, along with night-vision goggles for deep woods missing-persons searches. The pinnacle of the acquisitions, though, was a hulking mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored truck.

"We used it just two days ago serving a drug warrant where we suspected the individual would be armed," Oleson said. "I know these are in the spotlight after Ferguson and the president wants a review, but I hope to heck they don't go away."

Criticism of program mounts

The American Civil Liberties Union has raised alarms about growing police militarization.

In Wisconsin, ACLU representatives say the events in Ferguson and recent truck transfers to Appleton and Neenah have raised eyebrows and the discussion may have hit a turning point.

"Ordinary people are debating this across the state," said Chris Ahmuty, ACLU's Wisconsin executive director. "Some of the equipment is useful, but you have to ask: What has it gotten you? All this military equipment?"

Ahmuty said his group plans to push Wisconsin legislators in the upcoming session to consider adopting more oversight regulations for SWAT deployments.

The riots in Missouri have rekindleda debate in Congress about reforming the program. One measure that would have cut off funding for the transfer of some of the surplus equipment and weaponry failed to pass the House in June. Six of eight House members from Wisconsin opposed the measure, including GOP Reps. Reid Ribble of Sherwood, Sean Duffy of Wausau and James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls.

Sensenbrenner said this week that he stands by that vote, although he would welcome a review of the program.

"If there is surplus equipment, state or local governments should have access to it if there is a legitimate need," he said. "However, I do feel the program should be more focused."

Duffy said any such debate should be public through traditional congressional committees and hearings.

"State and local law enforcement have a responsibility to protect their communities and they should have access to additional resources when extenuating circumstances warrant it," he said. "That said, if there is to be a conversation about reforming the program, it should go through a traditional committee process."

Republican Rep. Tom Petri of Fond du Lac and Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Madison were the only two who voted for the measure. An aide for Petri did not return messages and an aide for Pocan said the congressman was unavailable.

Not all equipment is weaponry

Manitowoc's Police Department received about $80,000 in equipment in the past decade, including a four-wheel drive truck, tables, chairs, cabinets and computers. The department did not ask for any high-powered weapons or armored trucks. The county's SWAT team already has a tactical truck, said Robert Barbier, a department training lieutenant.

"We didn't really feel the need to go doubling up on all that. A lot of the equipment that they have available, it's humongous, it's battlefield equipment," Barbier said.

Barbier said the combination of squeezed budgets and free equipment makes acquiring the equipment an easy decision.

"When you can get it for next to nothing when state budgets have been cut so bad, you're almost crazy not to take advantage of these programs," he said.

The state's Department of Natural Resources also has taken advantage of the program for non-military-style equipment.

Records show the law enforcement arm of the agency received a fleet of 34 Kawasaki dirt bikes worth about $6,500 each.

"The motorcycles get us access into forest lanes and gravel roads that could tear up another vehicle. Plus we don't put miles on our other trucks," said Todd Schaller, the DNR's chief warden. "Most of our equipment has been clothing, backpacks and emergency response-type stuff."

Sheriffs defend program

The Wood County Sheriff's Department has received at least 43 .45-caliber pistols, 20 M-16 semi-automatic rifles, 8 M-14 assault rifles and a 1-1/4 ton Humvee through the 1033 program.

Patrol Division Lt. Shawn Becker said the acquisitions have been useful for day-to-day operations and saved taxpayers big money.

The rifles would cost the department $600 to $1,000 each otherwise, and are needed for law enforcement. Becker dismisses critics.

"I understand that's their opinion, but we have to look at it from a perspective of safety considerations for all of our officers," Becker said. "Unfortunately, you see it all the time where people are getting — cops, law enforcement officers — are getting hurt, killed, and we want to provide whatever we can to keep them safe."

— Nick Penzenstadler: 920-996-7226, or npenzenstadler@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @npenzenstadler

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For an interactive database of more than 67,000 individual items acquired by 219 police agencies in Wisconsin since 2004, visit stevenspointjournal.com.