New York Times – “Most U.S. counties have received at least some military equipment through a free Pentagon surplus program.”

• See also Tools of War in Counties Across the U.S. – “State and local police departments, like the one in Ferguson, Mo., get some of their military-style equipment through a free Defense Department program created in the early 1990s. Below are some examples of equipment obtained by agencies in a selection of counties.”
• Also this podcast: How G.W. Schulz got the Scoop On the Militarization of Police
• And this CRS briefer – The “Militarization” of Law Enforcement and the Department of Defense’s “1033 Program“. Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy;Daniel H. Else, Specialist in National Defense. August 20, 2014 (IN10138)