The Trump administration is preparing to restore the flow of surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. (Alex Brandon, File/Associated Press)WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is preparing to lift restrictions on surplus military equipment that can be passed on to local law enforcement agencies in spite of past concerns that armored vehicles and other gear were escalating confrontations with protesters. Most police agencies rarely require military equipment for daily use but see a need to have it available, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. Sessions has said he believes improving morale for local law enforcement is key to curbing spikes in violence in some cities. Consent decrees were a hallmark of the Obama administration’s efforts to overhaul certain law enforcement agencies, sometimes after racially charged encounters like the one in Ferguson.

Source: Washington Post August 28, 2017 00:23 UTC