So, is Whitcomb just unaware of what they'd received or does he not consider armor plating from the military to be militarized gear ?

@1 If you're talking about the bulletproof vest plates, that's standard issue police/security equipment. Without them the vests don't stop bladed weapons.

Looks kind of benign to me, if that is the full list. Seems all to be defensive, utility, or for basic recon. The rifle sights may raise an eyebrow, but they are just sights. I do not know how those trucks were equipped, but they have been returned, apparently.

Thanks for doing some digging and fact finding Anna. There is such precious little of that at The Stranger these days.

What about the riot transports that they own? Just because it's not surplus military doesn't mean that it's not military. Not included on this list is the military stuff they paid for.

I applaud the departments apparent transparency here, and am proud to live in a city where such transparency is expected and received. However, I'd be much more interested to know the details of the SPD's other inventory. How big is the stockpile for items such as tear gas grenades, flashbangs, bean bags, bubber bullets, gas masks? Do they own any active denial equipment, such as water cannons, sound cannons, or a microwave ADS?
How many of these outfits do they own?
http://web.kitsapsun.com/news/99december…

Whitcomb can call the SPD gear anything he wants, but images like this (from May Day 2014) sure look militaristic to me.

Not really a different subject, but its an error of omission that the SPD, among others, received funding from several agencies not related to the 1033 program, including
1) NSA funding to install the mesh network downtown, and
2) received funds for a drone program which was quashed once revealed.
3) funding for cell phone interception/base station devices.

Now, this public person wants to know, what else do they have up their sleeves?

I thought there was gonna be tanks...where's the tanks!?

If they have all this stuff why aren't they using it more?

I would be having Humvee patrols in South Seattle every night starting at 10 pm until the crime rate drops to average.

You can't create peace through intimidation. Trust and prosperity are what's needed in neighborhoods with crime.

>muh militarized police

Holy shit those fascists have a metal utility cabinet at their disposal! How sinister!

@11 JBITDMFOTP