Global InformationLaw Enforcement Support Office information
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) is a division under the United States Department of Defense (DoD) responsible for managing the "1033 Program", which transfers excess weapons, equipment, and vehicles from the United States Armed Forces to civilian law enforcement agencies. The program legally requires the DoD to make various items of equipment available to local law enforcement, ranging from supplies to materiel.[1]
LESO is a division of DLA Disposition Services, which is a subordinate command of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which is itself a division of the DoD.
Precedent legislation of the 1033 Program's concept has existed since the end of World War II. The modern program arose in 1990, when the U.S. federal government permitted the transfer of DoD resources to law enforcement for drug enforcement purposes.[2] In 1997, usage was expanded into other areas, including counterterrorism.[3]
As of 2020[update], 8,200 local law enforcement agencies have participated in the 1033 Program, which has transferred $5.1 billion in military material from the DoD to law enforcement agencies since 1997.[4] According to the DLA, material worth $449 million was transferred in 2013 alone. Though most media attention is placed on the materiel acquired from the 1033 Program—such as service weapons, ammunition, body armor, and armored vehicles—the items most commonly requested by law enforcement through the program include clothing, flashlights, medical supplies, sandbags, sleeping bags, and electrical wiring.[5]
LESO and the 1033 Program have been criticized by the media, the ACLU, and the NAACP out of police militarization concerns;[6] by both Democrats and Republicans following the use of 1033 Program equipment during the Ferguson unrest; by the DoD Office of Inspector General in 2003;[7] and by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which uncovered mismanagement within LESO.[7] Proponents of the program argue the equipment acquired from LESO protect police officers and civilians, may be necessary at any time in the event of a terrorist attack or mass shooting, and are not heavy military weaponry such as armed combat vehicles.[8][9]
- ^ "Shedding Light". Defense Logistics Agency. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "What is the federal LESO/1033 Program?". Dover Post. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ Pub. L. 104–201 (text) (PDF), H.R. 3230, 110 Stat. 2639, enacted September 23, 1996.
- ^ Poynton, Aaron. "Military & Civilian Resources: Doing More With Less" (PDF). Domestic Preparedness. Domestic Preparedness Journal. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Rupp, David Mastio, and Kelsey. "Pentagon weaponry in St. Louis County: Updated Column". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Dennis Wagner (19 May 2012). "Pinal Sheriff's Office stockpiles, prepares to sell military equipment". The Republic. Gannett, azcentral.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan. "Pentagon defends program supplying military gear to Ferguson police". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ Bruce, Becky. "Fraternal Order of Police defends 'militarization'". KSL Radio. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.