Within the next few weeks, Walton County has to return some of its equipment to the federal government and Sheriff Joe Chapman is not particularly happy about it. However, he doesn’t see that he has any option.
“It’s an executive order from the president, so there is nothing we can do,” Chapman said. “We have to have it back this month. We’re taking off the equipment we put on it now and then we will send it back.”
In the light of the San Bernardino attack this week, Chapman said it makes no sense to have to return equipment that could help keep officers safe while combatting such threats, but he doesn’t believe there is anything that can be done about it. Some people have offered to write letters, but Chapman doubts that it will make any difference.
“I don’t think that the president cares what we have to say here in Walton County,” he said. “They’re more than welcome to try, but I believe it will fall on deaf ears.”
Chapman said the program was one that enabled small departments without the resources, such as WCSO, to obtain surplus military equipment. There was no cost to Walton County taxpayers to obtain this equipment. WCSO obtained an armored personnel carrier through the program a few years ago. It is this equipment that has to be returned. WCSO also has a Mwrap vehicle, but it does not have to be returned.
“It is only track vehicles that we have to send back. This one has rubber tires so we can keep that one. It makes no sense. It is only track vehicles, grenade launchers and bayonets,” Chapman said. “I believe the only reason the president is doing it is because of Ferguson.”
President Barack Obama issued the order when concerns were raised about the militarization of police and law enforcement agencies following the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.
Chapman said the equipment has been used on two occasions, once in 2012 to assist a stand-off when a suspect was holed up in a home in Loganville and shooting at police and another time in Atlanta when the Federal Bureau of Investigation had requested it as back-up in a RICO case involving a motorcycle gang. The suspect was killed in the Loganville case and Chapman said it was not required in the RICO case. The equipment does not have guns mounted, it is an armored carrier that protects the personnel being transported inside it.