Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies undergo active shooter training

The mass shooting in San Bernardino has some law enforcement agencies on the Central Coast taking another look at training tactics. But, it’s also reviving a controversial topic – the militarization of law enforcement agencies.

“We’ve talked about it, we’ve already reevaluated some,” said Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Commander John Thornburg. “If we have any equipment needs to be handled because of that and the tactics that were used by the gunmen in that particular incident are addressed in this class.”

Just days after what happened in San Bernardino, law enforcement agencies are responding. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has been training for several weeks now. A lot of that equipment, secured through the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, which allows law enforcement agencies to get surplus military equipment for free.

“We’re talking $1,500 pieces of equipment,” Thornburg said. “When thrown together as a department, we would be very challenged to buy and/or the deputy would have to buy it on themselves.”

The Sheriff’s Office received Humvees, rifles, masks and clothing. The department even bought its own Bearcat. It came from the manufacturer, not the military and paid for with the help of government funds.

Other agencies like the Salinas and Del Rey Oaks police departments received Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP’s). Seaside Police received a light armored vehicle.

However, civil rights groups say law enforcement should be here to protect and serve, not combat. The ACLU says there’s a disproportionate effect on poor and minority communities.

“We’re all at risk,” said Michelle Welsh with the ACLU Chapter of Northern California. “These military tactics also expose people to greater danger. They are weapons. They are military weapons and they are designed for combat and that exposes the general public to greater danger for the police.”
While a 2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Report found this program does not pose a problem among law enforcement, the ACLU believes there should be public oversight.

“Public needs to be more aware of how these weapons are being obtained,” Welsh explained. “Where they’re being obtained and how they are being used, so I think more public involvement, more public education, more public knowledge would be very beneficial for all of us.”