Ferguson's Police Got Free Military Gear Straight From The Pentagon

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The images coming out of Ferguson, Mo., in the last few days have been harrowing, and one element in particular has shocked those watching the events unfold. American law enforcement decked out in military fatigues, patrolling the streets in armored vehicles that look like they were plucked out of Afghanistan or Iraq.

And the thing is, they very well might have been. The Ferguson and St. Louis County police departments have both received equipment from the U.S. military through what's known as the 1033 program, a federal program that the American Civil Liberties Union says has been a key catalyst to the broader escalation of law enforcement force in the United States.

The 1033 program, which was approved by Congress in 1992 to help law enforcement fight the war on drugs and was expanded in 1997, allows police departments to request and receive refurbished military equipment from the U.S. Defense Department free of charge. That equipment can range from night vision googles to military-grade firearms and armored vehicles. The ACLU estimated in June 2014 that 500 MRAP vehicles, built to withstand roadside bombs, are now in the hands of American law enforcement.

Ferguson and St. Louis County, which has taken the lead in addressing the protests since the Saturday police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, have obtained equipment through the 1033 program. David Mastio reported for USA Today that Ferguson police had received two vehicles, a trailer and a generator through the program in November 2013. Newsweek reported Thursday that the St. Louis County police had been given nine utility trucks and two cargo trailers since 2012.

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