Danger! Danger! Cops in the Evergreen State Can't Keep Track of Their Military Toys
It's almost a spectacular lede:
But let us be clear; Patricia Murphy's report for KUOW pertains primarily to two assault rifles, one each in two different law enforcement departments.
There are other problems and missing weapons; the Chelan County Sheriff's Department has reported a lost assualt rifle that had been received through the 1033 program, but believes the weapon was actually destroyed. The Ehlwa Tribal Police has also been suspended from the program, though the fact of ETP being a tribal force apparently means their 1033 participation goes through a different federal structure.
And if one lives in the Evergreen State, the implications can be chilling. The police, according to the State of Washington, have the right to shoot you to death, perjure the police report, and manipulate the physical evidence to support that perjury, and can reasonably expect to not face any criminal charges. Now they're apparently "losing" assault rifles?
Great. Just fuckin' great, guys. Yeah. We believe you.
____________________
Notes:
Murphy, Patricia. "Several Washington Police Departments Suspended From Surplus Program Over Lost Weapons". KUOW. September 4, 2014. KUOW.org. September 7, 2014. http://kuow.org/post/several-washin...s-suspended-surplus-program-over-lost-weapons
It's almost a spectacular lede:
State records reveal that in the past two years, four law enforcement departments in Washington state have been suspended from the military surplus program known as 1033.
But let us be clear; Patricia Murphy's report for KUOW pertains primarily to two assault rifles, one each in two different law enforcement departments.
The government program issues surplus military gear to state and local municipalities who show a need. Under the program, law enforcement agencies can apply to receive everything from Shop-Vacs to mine-resistant vehicles. All they need to pay is the cost of shipping.
Now some of the weapons have gone missing.
The East Wenatchee Police Department was suspended from the program in July last year for losing an assault-style M16 rifle. The rifle was eventually found in a locked locker that belonged to a sergeant at the department. The locker had not been opened or used for some time.
State records show the officer responsible for the weapon was found negligent by the department and was removed from duty as a firearms instructor.
The Grant County Sherriff's office was suspended from the program in May last year. They, too, were missing an M16 rifle. Sherriff Tom Jones wouldn't comment on the investigation since it's still open with the state patrol.
State records reveal that it's believed that M16 was stolen. Emails between the department and the state show that the inventory of weapons from the 1033 acquisition were stored on the third floor of the courthouse annex, which had previously been a jail. The weapons were stored in a cell.
At some point a detective attempted to open the cell and the lock wouldn't function. The detective thought the lock was broken so he cut it and replaced it. It wasn't until sometime later during an inventory that the department realized the rifle was missing.
At that point it became clear that a more likely scenario was that that original lock was not in fact broken, but replaced by someone who was trying to cover up a theft.
Now some of the weapons have gone missing.
The East Wenatchee Police Department was suspended from the program in July last year for losing an assault-style M16 rifle. The rifle was eventually found in a locked locker that belonged to a sergeant at the department. The locker had not been opened or used for some time.
State records show the officer responsible for the weapon was found negligent by the department and was removed from duty as a firearms instructor.
The Grant County Sherriff's office was suspended from the program in May last year. They, too, were missing an M16 rifle. Sherriff Tom Jones wouldn't comment on the investigation since it's still open with the state patrol.
State records reveal that it's believed that M16 was stolen. Emails between the department and the state show that the inventory of weapons from the 1033 acquisition were stored on the third floor of the courthouse annex, which had previously been a jail. The weapons were stored in a cell.
At some point a detective attempted to open the cell and the lock wouldn't function. The detective thought the lock was broken so he cut it and replaced it. It wasn't until sometime later during an inventory that the department realized the rifle was missing.
At that point it became clear that a more likely scenario was that that original lock was not in fact broken, but replaced by someone who was trying to cover up a theft.
There are other problems and missing weapons; the Chelan County Sheriff's Department has reported a lost assualt rifle that had been received through the 1033 program, but believes the weapon was actually destroyed. The Ehlwa Tribal Police has also been suspended from the program, though the fact of ETP being a tribal force apparently means their 1033 participation goes through a different federal structure.
And if one lives in the Evergreen State, the implications can be chilling. The police, according to the State of Washington, have the right to shoot you to death, perjure the police report, and manipulate the physical evidence to support that perjury, and can reasonably expect to not face any criminal charges. Now they're apparently "losing" assault rifles?
Great. Just fuckin' great, guys. Yeah. We believe you.
____________________
Notes:
Murphy, Patricia. "Several Washington Police Departments Suspended From Surplus Program Over Lost Weapons". KUOW. September 4, 2014. KUOW.org. September 7, 2014. http://kuow.org/post/several-washin...s-suspended-surplus-program-over-lost-weapons