Stimulating The Militarization of North Texas Police
From the U.S. Conference of Mayors wish list of all the things mayors across the country want the federal government to fund in the name of “stimulus” comes my own selection of some of the dodgier requests from North Texas cities. It starts on page 293, and my short list here is just a taste of the absurdity.
- Frisco wants $125,000 for an armored vehicle and $200,000 for a mobile command vehicle. You know, for all that gang tank warfare going on up in Frisco.
- McKinney wants $5 million for SWAT toys and stuff.
- North Richland Hills wants $51,000 for volunteer patrol volunteers. Let’s throw in $10 for a dictionary so they can look up the word “volunteer.”
- Irving wants $5 million for biometric scanners, digital cameras, RFID scanners — nothing Big Brother there.
- Grand Prairie wants $1.25 million for nicer landscaping around the public safety building.
- And finally, Arlington is really gearing up for urban warfare. Arlington wants $1.6 million for SWAT toys including more equipment for those deadly but camera-friendly no-knock raids, $56,000 for military grade carbines, $625,000 for unmanned aerial surveillance drones, and $130,000 for “covert ops.”
That’s just the choicer stuff. Take a read. And let me know what’s economically stimulating about any of this.
UPDATE: Per reader Bear, here’s a link to the mayors’ tin cup list that’s more interactive, if you don’t like PDFs.
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21 Responses to “Stimulating The Militarization of North Texas Police”
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Hey, I have a friend up in Maine who runs a plant that makes those BIG gun thingees for helicopters. Might be able to get these municipalities one wholesale. IJS
Have they considered surplus sales? might get something a little cheaper
http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/Tanks_Trucks_Jeeps_for_sale.htm
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_milveh_guide.php3
http://www.militarytrader.com/article/WWI_Tank_rolls_again/
http://www.armyjeeps.net/
Trey, there’s a better list here:
http://www.stimuluswatch.org/
This allocation says it all about the “Stimulus Package”
http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/8982
[...] Garrison looks at the stimulus wish lists of cities in Texas, and finds lots of toys for cops: • Frisco wants $125,000 for an armored [...]
[...] “stimulating” too … as Balko puts it, “Any Taxes You Pay Can and Will Be Used Against You.” Trey Garrison looks at the stimulus wish lists of cities in Texas, and finds lots of toys for [...]
peterk wrote: “Have they considered surplus sales? might get something a little cheap”
You’re missing the point – they don’t need these at all.
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
[...] Read it. [...]
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
Hey, Arlington really needs that stuff before the Cowboys get to town.
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
[...] for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: • Frisco wants $125,000 for an armored vehicle and $200,000 for a mobile command vehicle. You [...]
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
Militarizing Police Depts. With Your Bailout Money…
George Orwell, call your office !
Lone Star Times | If prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, then city mayors follow a very close second. In fact, it occurs to me they may be the spiritual offspring of the aforementioned liaisons. Whene…
There was only one state missing from the line of hopeful looters: New Hampshire!!!
[...] The United States Conference of Mayors has assembled the most ridiculous and repulsive example of government excess I think I have ever seen. Here is a PDF file of the document which stretches to 344 pages. One of the most alarming features of this civic gluttony is the gift list request for funds to buy military SWAT assault equipment for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: [...]
[...] for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison: • Frisco wants $125,000 for an armored vehicle and $200,000 for a mobile command vehicle. You [...]
[...] for police forces like the examples offered here by Texas blogger and Reason.com contributor, Trey Garrison:Frisco wants $125,000 for an armored vehicle and $200,000 for a mobile command vehicle. You know, [...]