Why Trump erred in ending Obama ban on military equipment sales to local police

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to have the federal government resume providing local law enforcement agencies with surplus military equipment such as armored vehicles and high-caliber weapons is one more reminder that Sessions remains trapped in a 1980s war on crime mindset — except there’s no crime wave to justify it.

Sessions said Monday that President Donald Trump would use an executive order to end sharp limits on the weapons transfers imposed in 2015 by then-President Barack Obama after images from Ferguson, Missouri, showed officers armed to the teeth amid protests. “We will not put superficial concerns above public safety,” Sessions declared.

Here’s one example of what the top U.S. law enforcement official sees as “superficial concerns”: Millions of minority Americans believe that officers are more an occupying force than their protectors. Here’s another: The incorporation of armored vehicles into domestic police forces has led to a sharp increase in the number of SWAT-style military raids over even minor alleged crimes — leading to more botched raids that result in injuries, deaths and lawsuits. SWAT tactics also spur an “us-versus-them mentality” among officers, says former Missouri police detective Betty Taylor, which only reinforces minorities’ view of police as hostile occupiers.

A lack of firepower is not a huge problem preventing law enforcement from doing its difficult job. A loss of public trust in the police among millions of Americans is a huge problem. Unfortunately, the president and attorney general don’t see it that way.

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