Donald Trump backs return of military weaponry to police forces

• Tanks and military-grade weapons recalled by federal government in 2014
• Republican nominee tells Ohio meeting he would return ‘military equipment

Jon Swaine and Ben Jacobs
Monday 22 August 2016 22.51 BST

Donald Trump said on Monday that, if elected president, he would give back to police departments the controversial military equipment the Obama administration forced them to return.

Speaking with police officers in Ohio, the Republican presidential nominee indicated he would reverse a recall of tanks, heavy weaponry and other equipment carried out by the federal government after the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri.

During discussions at a fraternal order of police lodge in Akron, Trump was asked by one questioner if he would return “military equipment” to law enforcement, according to a pool reporter who observed the event.

“Yes, I would,” said Trump, who added that the current situation facing law enforcement was “ridiculous”.

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