MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Sheriff John Urquhart has ‘no beef’ with Trump military surplus decision

Aug 30, 2017, 5:21 AM | Updated: 11:21 am

police...

Police in Ferguson were criticized for their military-style response to protests in the wake of the Michael Brown shooting. (AP)

(AP)

While King County Sheriff John Urquhart has been vocal in his opposition to some of President Donald Trump’s decisions, there is one move he has “no beef with.”

President Trump recently revoked executive order 13688, which was signed by President Obama. That order limited what surplus equipment law enforcement agencies could purchase from the military.

RELATED: Urquhart says Trump’s pardon is “unconscionable”

“I don’t have a beef with President Trump lifting that order,” Urquhart told Seattle’s Morning News. “But if it’s used incorrectly; if it’s used to militarize police, and we know what the public thinks about that, then that’s a bad use of surplus military equipment.”

The militarization of police has been a controversial issue across the nation as police agencies get access to military grade weapons and vehicles. It has raised questions about the relationship between police and the communities they are to serve and protect. While Trump’s decision to reopen the supply line from the military to police is a welcome move, Urquhart is cautious about what police should have available to them.

The surplus military program was something that King County previously benefited from. But Urquhart said he knew there was a line between what to buy and what should stay within the military.

“We took great advantage of that,” Urquhart said. “The sheriff’s office got cold weather socks. We got file cabinets. We got a snowcat that we use for search and rescue operations. And frankly, we got rifles from that as well. After I became sheriff I sent almost all of those rifles back – we didn’t need them, we didn’t want them.”

“But we never got any armored cars,” he said. “We never got any MRAPs. We never got any truly military gear from the federal government. The reality is it’s not the gear that you get, it’s how you use it. If you keep it in a warehouse until you get that school shooting; until you have that sniper barricaded in a building, then that’s fine. It’s how the police agency uses that equipment.”

MyNorthwest News

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

11 minutes ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

53 minutes ago

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

2 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

12 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

13 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

15 hours ago

Sheriff John Urquhart has ‘no beef’ with Trump military surplus decision