ACLU of Connecticut Urges Lawmakers to Rein In Police Militarization

Connecticut police are amassing stores of military equipment with virtually no public oversight, the ACLU of Connecticut has warned.

David McGuire, staff attorney for the ACLU of Connecticut, said, “The images broadcast from Ferguson Missouri of police forces deploying armored tanks into civilian demonstrations jarringly illustrated the pitfalls of a highly militarized police force. While we hope to never experience the violence that we saw on the streets of Ferguson, it is alarming that our public safety agencies are stockpiling equipment for precisely these types of events.”

McGuire added, “Does West Hartford really need a grenade launcher? If so, these local public safety agencies need to explain why and what they intend to use it for. The public has a right to ask.”

Since 2009, state and local police in Connecticut have acquired $12.9 million worth of military equipment, including military vehicles, automatic weapons and even a grenade launcher, through the Department of Defense 1033 Program. Some of the more than $3 million dollars distributed through the federal Justice Assistance Grant program to Connecticut police agencies is also spent on military-style equipment.

The bill would require police departments applying for controlled military equipment, such as armaments or military vehicles, to hold a public hearing and make the application available for review by the municipality's legislative body. This sorely needed discussion will allow police to explain why they need the equipment and for the public to ask questions. The bill would also require police departments to submit a detailed inventory of what military equipment is being stockpiled.

The proposed law also addresses another troubling contemporary law enforcement issue—the overuse of SWAT teams in Connecticut. The number of SWAT raids has increased 20-fold since the 1980s, to 60,000 a year.

This dramatic rise in SWAT team deployment can be at least partially attributed to the increased militarization of police addressed in earlier sections of this bill. Many police departments that have received heavy military equipment have been pressured by a “use it or lose it” mentality. Additionally there is no oversight or reporting around the use of SWAT teams in Connecticut.

This bill would require reports on SWAT activity to the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division within the Office of Policy and Management with details about the reason for each deployment; the location; the equipment used; whether entry was forced; the race, sex and age of each civilian encountered; any death or injury to any person or domestic animal; and a list of any controlled substances, weapons, contraband or evidence of crime found.

McGuire said, “We don’t doubt that there are times when SWAT deployments are necessary. We just need to make sure there is oversight so that it is not a first-resort—which we know is happening locally and nationally. We shouldn't kick down a door if knocking will suffice.”