SAN DIEGO, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Thanks to the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which gives military equipment to police departments and even schools, the San Diego Unified School District almost had a military vehicle for their emergency transportation needs. The program is known for supplying more than military vehicles, as seen by Los Angeles Unified School District's recent decision to return three grenade launchers. While the Los Angeles school district intends to keep its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armored vehicle, the San Diego school district has decided to give their vehicle back.

Reports indicate the school district paid for no more than the transportation costs for receiving the vehicle, which they intended to use as a rescue vehicle. Public outcry over the idea of the schools having military vehicles caused the school district to change their mind about keeping their MRAP.


"The safety and security of our students and schools is a top priority and we need to balance this priority with what the community's perceptions are on how we best serve and protect. This provides us an important opportunity to have a greater dialogue with our community about what is really a common goal – providing our students a world-class education and the academic, social and physical environments they deserve," Superintendent Cindy Marten said in a statement.

The school district will keep the vehicle until the government has decided where to transfer it to.