Obama bans some military-style equipment to police

President Barack Obama said he banning the government from providing some military-style equipment to local police departments and putting stricter controls on other weapons and gear distributed to law enforcement, in a surprise announcement nine months after officers in riot gear dispelled racially charged protests.

The announcement comes after the White House suggested last year that Obama would maintain programs that provide the type of military-style equipment used to respond to demonstrators last summer in Ferguson, Missouri, because of their broader contribution to public safety.

But an interagency group found “substantial risk of misusing or overusing” items like tracked armored vehicles, high-powered <g data-gr-id="17">firearms</g> and camouflage, which could undermine trust in <g data-gr-id="16">police</g>. 

With scrutiny on US police only increasing in the ensuing months after a series of highly publicized deaths of black suspects nationwide, Obama also is unveiling the final report of a task force he created to help build confidence between police and minority communities in particular. The announcements come as Obama is visiting Camden, New Jersey. 

In previewing the president’s trip, the White House said that effective immediately, the federal government will no longer fund or provide armored vehicles that run on a tracked system instead of wheels, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, firearms or ammunition of .50-caliber or higher, grenade launchers, bayonets or camouflage uniforms.