Anchorage Police Department Getting Military Grade Armored Vehicles

According to a recent report from KTUU, the Anchorage Police Department (APD) is taking receipt of two mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs). But what a local police department needs mine-resistant vehicles for is anybody’s guess.

According to APD Police Sergeant Shaun Henry, the vehicles are freebies, costing Anchorage nothing save maintenance expenses. He contends that the vehicles would be used sparingly in situations where criminals have barricaded themselves inside buildings.

And just where are these free armored vehicles coming from? Apparently, with the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from the Middle East, the Department of Defense is giving away the MRAPs to qualifying local law enforcement agencies.

Of course, this begs the question as to why civilian law enforcement requires heavily armored military equipment. Across the nation, many are justifiably worried about the increasing militarization of local police forces.