SPRINGFIELD -- During a speech held Monday in Camden, New Jersey -- a community that seen a recent reduction in high crime rates -- President Barack Obama spoke of a changing role between local police departments and the communities they serve.

Obama held Camden police up as an example of a department that represents well the work of community policing. He also called on departments nationwide to modify the role they play in their communities to ensure there isn't an "us versus them" mentality and seeks to limit certain types of military-style equipment that could contribute to this thought process.

"We've seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like there's an occupying force, as opposed to a force that's part of the community that's protecting them and serving them," Obama said. "It can alienate and intimidate local residents, and send the wrong message. So we're going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield that is not appropriate for local police departments."

Through an executive order, he banned federal departments from giving local police across the country military equipment or the funds to purchase such items.

The banned equipment includes: tracked armored vehicles, grenade launchers, ammunitions of .50-caliber or higher, weaponized aircraft, certain types of camouflage uniforms and bayonets. The ban on these items took effect immediately.

Several police departments in Western Massachusetts have received military-style gear or funding to purchase such equipment through federal programs in past years.

In the late 1990s, the West Springfield Police Department received two M79 grenade launchers and seven M14 rifles through the Department of Defense.

The M79 grenade launcher (pictured above) is a single shot, break-open weapon with rifled barrel. West Springfield police received two in the late 1990's through a federal program.

The Department of Defense excess property program, commonly known as the 1033 program, allowed the Secretary of Defense to transfer excess DoD equipment and supplies to state and local law enforcement agencies.

The program has given more than four billion of military equipment to police departments across the nation since it began in 1997.

Of the grenade launchers, Chief Ronald P. Campurciani said they have never been used in the field nor will they ever be. "I cannot think of a scenario where we would employ those weapons," Campurciani said in 2014. "They're so old and antiquated," Campurciani added, of the technology.

West Springfield was the only department in Massachusetts that received grenade launchers. Most sought rifles, according to request records.

Westfield obtained 15 M14 rifles and 19 M16 rifles through the program. Monson received three M14s and three M16s. Springfield was given four M14s.

The Pittsfield Police Department purchased a special-response armored vehicle in 2012 for $294,000 through a grant from the U.S Department of Homeland Security.

The vehicle features bullet-proof windows, a heavily armored exterior and an attachable battering ram. At the time of the purchase, police said it could it could be used as a rescue vehicle or in a variety of dangerous situations for Berkshire County police, including armed standoffs or drug raids.

The executive action does not ban such police departments from using previously acquired equipment nor does it ban them from buying the equipment from private sellers using local funds. It requests departments reconsider purchasing or using such gear.

"The idea is to make sure that we strike a balance in providing the equipment, which is appropriate and useful and important for local law enforcement agencies to keep the community safe, while at the same time putting standards in place," said Cecilia Munoz, the White House director of domestic policy, in a conference call with reporters.

Obama's speech coincided with a report released Monday by a White House Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The report calls for police to embrace a "a guardian- rather than a warrior" mentality. It also recommended employing a diverse police force and use of body cameras.

The Justice Department created a $20 million grant program to purchase body cameras for law enforcement.

Local officials have debated having police officers wear body cameras. The Springfield City Council voted unanimously Monday to support a non-binding resolution calling on city officers to wear body cameras.

Currently, Springfield police officers do not use body or dashboard cameras. Police union leadership have argued against implementing them in recent years.

Further north in the Pioneer Valley, several departments use cameras. Amherst and Northampton police departments installed cameras in their police cruisers two decades ago. Amherst police have tested out body cameras in their department but have yet to wear them in the field. Captain Jennifer A. Gundersen said they're waiting on more guidance from the legislature on the issue.