Tyler Whetstone

twhetstone@jacksonsun.com

The town of Parsons, with a population of about 2,400, has received more than $4.2 million in surplus military equipment since 2011.

The items include Humvees, forklifts, tractor-trailers, wreckers and M16 rifles, according to documents from the Law Enforcement Support Office, or LESO, which manages the military surplus program for the federal government.

Dale King, who serves as police chief and fire chief in Parsons, said the equipment is used to help support his departments and protect the town.

A review of LESO documents by The Jackson Sun shows that police and sheriff's departments in Tennessee received more than $63 million in military surplus items in 2014, more than double what they received in 2013. In The Jackson Sun's 13-county coverage area, departments have received more than $10 million worth of equipment this year alone.

The value placed on the surplus equipment is based on the cost when it was purchased by the military, so the actual value may be less.

The practice of arming local police departments with heavy military equipment has received scrutiny since police in Ferguson, Missouri, responded to protesters this summer with armored vehicles and automatic rifles. President Barack Obama called for a review of how local law enforcement agencies obtain and use heavier military equipment.

"There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement, and we don't want those lines blurred," Obama said. "That would be contrary to our traditions."

Stephen Watts, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Memphis, said departments appear to be over-preparing for a perceived threat.

"Is it overkill?" he asked. "I would be on the side of saying yes it is."

But police chiefs and county sheriffs across the region say the military surplus program offers them the opportunity to get specialized equipment they couldn't afford otherwise. In many cases, they say, the equipment prepares them for situations such as natural disasters or violent confrontations and allows them to better protect their officers and constituents.

How it's used

Among other items, Parsons has received seven tractor-trailers that are worth more than $1.1 million, two large "truck, vans" — large militarized trucks that can be used as a command post that are also worth almost $250,000 — and two wreckers worth more than $260,000. King's police department, which has nine officers, also has 20 M16 rifles.

"I don't possess any of the major military equipment," King said. "We don't utilize that. What we use is some of the heavy equipment and stuff for transportation. I stay away from heavy armor stuff."

King said the tractor-trailers he has are used for transporting other equipment when needed as well as to haul water for the fire department. The wreckers have yet to be used, King said, but they will be used to haul vehicles that are repossessed by the police.

Jackson has received the third most gear in the region behind Parsons and Selmer. In May, Police Chief Gill Kendrick signed off on a request for a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or a MRAP.

Kendrick said it would have been "unreasonable" to ask the City Council to purchase such an expensive piece of equipment. The MRAP the city received was valued at $733,000 by the military.

The MRAP will be used mostly for natural disaster situations, but it could be used in situations where a threat is heavily armed, Kendrick said.

Jackson police Lt. Mike Siler said the ultimate goal is to protect citizens.

"We're not trying to emulate the military; we understand we're not the military," Siler said. "But at the same time, we also understand the fact that it's our responsibility to not only serve the citizens of Jackson, but to also protect our officers the best we can."

Small towns

Elbert Baker, the LESO state coordinator for Tennessee, said many small towns don't have enough money to provide the type of equipment available through the military surplus program, which helps them do their jobs better.

King, the Parsons police chief and fire chief, said he has to operate on a tight budget. The thinly stretched officers also serve as the city's first responders in any incident in the city limits.

"Equipment stuff (from LESO) relieves a lot of that," he said. "That money can (then) go to something else."

King uses his Humvees as all-in-one emergency vehicles. He has a fire hose mounted on one, and all carry everything they would need for anything from a police chase, to a car wreck, to a natural disaster.

Selmer, which has a population of about 4,541, has received over $2.7 million in supplies since 2012. Assistant Police Chief Kim Holley said that the department has items so that it is prepared for emergency situations that could happen. This explains why Selmer has received 50 fire extinguishers, 50 universal first-aid kits, 50 flashlights and 36 water canteens.

All of it was free.

Selmer also has four Humvees, two dump trucks and two tractors. Holley said that those pieces of equipment are rarely used but are available in case there is a disaster.

"Most of the stuff we got, not something that we use every day, but a lot of the stuff is going to be used for disasters," Holley said. "We wouldn't want to drive them around all the time, but four-wheel drive and such are used occasionally. Before (we) would have to borrow something.

"That's the kind of stuff we really need," Holley continued. "It stretches our budget to get that stuff, and it actually supplements what we buy and helps out."

LESO

LESO functions as an online storing house of military supplies, some used and some brand new, that are no longer needed by the military. Local police offices across the country can register to use LESO for a fee that ranges from $400 to $1,000 a year. The pieces of equipment are assigned values equal to their cost when they were first purchased by the military.

Offices put in requests for equipment, and if they are selected, LESO will give them the equipment free of charge. The only expense for the department is for transporting the equipment.

According to Baker, 88 percent of LESO's equipment nationwide is considered "non-controlled," or nonlethal, and can be anything from boots to desks to trashcans.

The other 12 percent is considered "controlled" or lethal property such as Humvees, firearms, helicopters and armored trucks.

The larger items are oftentimes considered "controlled" because the government doesn't want a department to be able to sell a Humvee, even a scaled-down version of a Humvee, to individuals who could use them for harm, Baker said. Also, he said that some of the older equipment has certain parts that cannot be disposed of normally due to levels of radiation in paint or materials used in the frames.

"It's not going to be like going to Sam's or Walmart or something, and you can't get everything you want the first time or even the first year," Baker said. "It varies with what's in the system and what's in the world and all sorts of things."

Baker said that departments must write up a justification for why they need a piece of property and what exactly it will be used for in order to even be considered for the property. King, for instance, has a dump truck, two forklifts and a road grader, but he is planning on constructing a gun range and a defensive driving course that he will use the equipment to build.

Nonlethal items drop off an office's inventory listing after a year. After a year, departments are in ownership of nonlethal items. The federal government allows departments to get rid of items, sell them or repurpose them. However, they must keep track of every item considered lethal, and if they are not using the lethal items, they must return them.

"You have to realize that the federal government is not buying this equipment with intent for local property to use," Baker said. "(They) have a choice — they can either destroy this equipment (or give it to police) because they can't sell this on eBay to an average citizen."

Sometimes the equipment is in various stages of repair, and it can be hard to determine whether it is even usable, Baker said.

"A lot of times you get this stuff you don't know what you're getting until you get it," Holley, the assistant Selmer police chief, said. "We've got a big truck, $200,000 that's really too big, but you've already got it so it's just parked right now. So at some point in time that will probably be something that we turn back into them."

Future

With both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over, military supplies such as MRAPs and Humvees are no longer being used. And because some local governments may face budget cuts, programs such as LESO more than likely will continue to expand as LESO has in Tennessee since 2008, when approximately $431,000 worth of equipment was given out.

More gear isn't always a good thing, some experts warn. More gear and supplies can make it harder to serve the communities officers have been sworn to protect.

For police departments to change their perception in the communities that they serve, they must learn to communicate, said Brian Donavant, associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Tennessee at Martin and a former police officer in Memphis and Gulfport, Mississippi.

"It's the day-to-day operations that really count," Donavant said.

"The problem they've had is they have not been very good in communicating and building relationships with the community they protect in the meantime," he said. "You can't wait until you have a critical point for you to have communication."

Stephen Watts, from the University of Memphis, said regardless of communication, a more militarized police force is not helping communities.

"The idea where the police department is part of the community, of the community, they have a role in helping communities become safe, stay safe," Watts said. "If police become (more) militarized, that role has lessened."

The Tennessean's Tony Gonzalez contributed to this report.

Reach Tyler Whetstone at (731) 425-9629. Follow him on Twitter @tyler_whetstone

What to know

Police and sheriff's departments in The Jackson Sun's 13-county coverage area received a total of $10,159,640.62 in registered equipment from LESO in 2014, and a total of $14,818,606.14 since 1996.

The following is a partial list of the items received, including lethal items, items received in large quantity and the more expensive items.

Adamsville Police Department

Total: 6 items, $1,920

6 .40-caliber Glock Generation 3 pistols

Benton County Sheriff's Department

Total: $305,620.61

Highlights: 20 .38-caliber revolvers, $1,791.40

25 .45-caliber automatic pistols, $1,467.75

10 life preserver vests, $4,639.20

7 M14 rifles, $966

2 M16 rifles, $988

1 computer system, $49,900

3 utility trucks (Humvees), $132,152

Bolivar Police Department

Total: 28 items,$136,338

4 M16 rifles, $480

21 .40-caliber Glock Generation 3 pistols, $6,720

3 utility trucks (Humvees), $129,138

Bradford Police Department

Total: 2 items,$998

2 M16 rifles

Bruceton Police Department

Total: 2 items, $196.71

1 M14 rifle

1 .45-caliber automatic pistol

Carroll County Sheriff's Department

Total: 55 items, 1,308,955.08

Highlights: 10 .38-caliber revolves, $895.70

3 cargo containers, $32,010

14 M14 rifles, $1,932

16 M16 rifles, $7,984

6 utility trucks (Humvees), $423,695

1 power plant mounted trailer, $53,500

1 mine resistant vehicle, MRAP, $733,000

1 ambulance truck, $30,691

Chester County Sheriff's Department

Total: 2 items, $998

2 M16 rifles

Decaturville Sheriff's Department

Total: 4 items, $363,771

3 utility trucks (Humvees), $288,493

1 cargo truck, $75,278

Decaturville Police Department

Total: 45 items, $1,048,988.93

Highlights: 1 motorized road grader, $67,724

3 diesel engine generators, $49,200

3 lawn mowers, $9,300

1 truck tractor (semi-truck), $86,203

2 cargo truck, $209,252

3 dump trucks, $243,142

3 utility trucks (Humvees), $155,006

Dresden Police Department

Total: 11 items, $804.39

9 .45-caliber automatic pistols, $528.39

2 M14 rifles, $276

Dyer County Sheriff's Department

Total: 13 items, $1,186,706.92

Highlights: 1 dishwasher, $25,707.85

1 mine resistant vehicle, MRAP, $733,000

1 cargo trailer, $8,954

2 cargo trucks, $209,252

2 utility trucks (Humvees), $131,752

Dyer Police Department

Total: 9 items, $2,880

9 .40-caliber Glock Generation 3 pistols

Dyersburg Police Department

Total: 4 items, $1,274

2 M14 rifles, $276

2 M16 rifles, $998

Gleason Police Department

Total: 1 item, $499

1 M16 rifle

Hardin County Sheriff's Department

Total: 11 items, $23,550

1 Land Rover Defender, $18,560

10 M16 rifles, $4,990

Haywood County Sheriff's Department

Total: 20 items, $2,760

20 M14 rifles

Henderson County Sheriff's Department

Total: 10 items, $4,629

1 M14 rifle, $138

9 M16 rifles, $4,491

Humboldt Police Department

Total: 1 item, $121,670

1 full tracked, low speed, tractor

Huntingdon Police Department

Total: 2 items, $51,154

1 diesel engine generator, $12,102

1 utility truck (Humvee), $39,052

Jackson Police Department

Total: 92 items, $1,048,728

3 Bell OH-58 helicopters (not all are operational), $276,870

1 mine resistant vehicle, MRAP, $733,000

14 M14 rifles, $1,932

74 M16 rifles, $36,926

Madison County Sheriff's Department

Total: 26 items, $12,974

26 M16 rifles

Martin Police Department

Total: 6 items, $2,994

6 M16 rifles

McKenzie Police Department

Total: 20 items, $50,557

16 M14 rifles, $2,208

3 M16 rifles, $360

1 utility truck (Humvee), $47,989

McNairy County Sheriff's Department

Total: 2 items, $83,774

2 utility trucks (Humvees)

Medina Police Department

Total: 14 items, $1,781.81

11 .45 pistols (3 automatic), $645.81

1 M14 rifle, $138

2 M16 rifles, $998

Middleton Police Department

Total: 58 items, $126,651.75

Highlights: 4 .45 pistols, $234.84

34 welded chains, $106.08

4 M16 rifles, $1,996

2 utility trucks (Humvees), $99,850

Milan Police Department

Total: 67 items, $75,065.90

Highlights: 15 laser pointers, $420

2 utility trucks (Humvees), $70,000

Parsons Police Department

Total: 601 items, $4,202,498.19

Highlights: 2 four wheelers, $11,390

2 binoculars, $30,120

2 compressor units, $56,681

1 crane truck, $71,650

1 ditching machine, $113,460

1 electronic shop, $152,644

2 forklifts, $54,327.20

1 road grader, $67,724

1 generator set, $50,000

1 scoop loader, $80,820

20 M16 rifles, $9,980

2 television monitors, $16,889.88

3 motorcycles, $19,554

2 low bed semi-trailers, $97,023

1 semi-trailer tank, $50,628

94 pieces of sheet metal, $140,322.26

2 full tracked tractors, $269,647

1 wheeled industrial tractor, $52,774

3 trailer mounted support systems, $297,910.47

1 tank trailer, $72,800

7 truck tractors (semi-trucks), $1,185,920

1 cargo truck, $5,000

1 dump truck, $82,602

4 utility trucks (Humvees), $208,500

2 truck vans, $246,517

2 wrecker trucks, $260,780

Rutherford Police Department

Total: 10 items, $57,455.33

3 .45 pistols, $176.13

1 M14 rifle, $138

3 M16 rifles, $1,497

2 shotguns, $144.20

1 utility truck (Humvee), $55,500

Scotts Hill Police Department

Total: 7 items, $1,811.13

3 .45 pistols, $176.13

1 M14 rifle, $138

3 M16 rifles, $1,497

Selmer Police Department

Total: 2,399 items, $2,788,317.81

Highlights: 40 barracks bags, $472.80

40 duffel bags, $942.40

50 gauze bandages, $135

40 bed blanket, $1,302

100 survival blankets, $928

40 sleeping mats, $356.80

50 rebreathing masks, $6,692

35 whisk brooms, $186.90

52 military cans, $1,561.11

50 water canteens, $497.50

14 digital computers, $101,760

4 cargo containers, $42,680

53 pairs of coveralls, $3,930.27

34 cold weather overalls, $1,470.98

6 snow camouflage parkas, $311.34

50 fire extinguishers, $7,069.50

50 universal first-aid kits, $4,541

50 flashlights, $437

4 diesel engine generators, $48,670

16 gasoline engine generators, $131,664

18 360 light kits, $209,502

192 pandemic preparedness kits, $39,431.04

1 trailer mounted kitchen, $145,000

50 field mess forks, $165

50 field mess knives, $188

50 field mess spoons, $160.50

40 modular sleep systems, $10,522

30 laptop computers, $39,753.50

36 light bar assemblies, $74,319.12

1 scoop loader, $58,890

3 M14 rifles, $414

3 M16 rifles, $1,497

1 power plant mounted trailer, $50,294

1 scooter, $5,376.51

2 self-loading container trailers, $145,094.08

1 semi-trailer tank, $50,628

116 snap hooks, $1,550.92

3 tents, $12,457.72

1 full tracked tractor, $90,375

1 wheeled industrial tractor, $110,000

6 cargo trailers, $52,864

3 truck tractors (semi-trucks), $561,797

2 dump trucks, $133,850

4 utility trucks (Humvees), $176,718

1 van truck, $111,395

Trenton Police Department

Total: 61 items, 1,033,185.64

Highlights: 2 four wheelers, $8,400

5 motion picture cameras, $25,190.35

1 excavator, $109,300

1 scoop loader, $84,804

10 M14 rifles, $1,380

1 semi-trailer low bed, $7,729

1 self-propelled servicing platform, $98,000

1 wheeled tractor, $16,000

1 full tracked tractor, $72,325

1 low bed trailer, $28,030.07

1 truck tractor (semi-truck), $142,132

2 dump trucks, $146,459

1 servicing platform truck, $74,753

3 utility trucks (Humvees), $207,646

Whiteville Police Department

Total: 3 items, $616.42

2 .45 automatic pistols, $117.42

1 M16 rifle, $499