Despite scrutiny, agencies defend government surplus program

CEDAR RAPIDS — It wasn't that long ago that Kathryn Blake was able to do her job in relative anonymity.

Blake is secretary for the state fire marshal's office, but it's a part-time job within that position that has gotten her all the attention. She also serves as the state coordinator for the 1033 Program, a federal initiative created in the early 1990s that puts surplus Department of Defense property into the hands of law enforcement agencies across the county for little to no cost.

The program — and subsequently Blake — received relatively little public attention until Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9, riots ensued and law enforcement responded with riot gear, rifles and armored vehicles.

Suddenly, in Missouri, Iowa and across the nation, people wanted to know about one of the programs that was making that equipment available to law enforcement.

To say it caused a few headaches for Blake might be an understatement.

'I get phone calls, I do interviews,' Blake said. 'For an additional duty, this has caused me a lot of gray hair.

'Last year this time, I'm just trying to keep my program moving. All of the sudden, I'm defending this program.'

Despite the additional scrutiny, Blake is steadfast in her support of the program. She said it puts valuable equipment in the hands of officers that saves the lives of law enforcement and civilians alike.

Furthermore, the program isn't just for mine-resistant vehicles, rifles and other weapons. The program has also distributes office equipment and other non-offensive items.

'Everybody only sees the weapons,' Blake said. 'What they're not seeing is, in the state of Iowa, we have a couple of boats for water emergencies. We have ATVs, office equipment. They've received computers, filing cabinets, you name it.'

While law enforcement agencies in the Corridor have not acquired any boats or office equipment over the past 16 years — the period of time covered in data analyzed by The Gazette and supplied by the Iowa Department of Public Safety — officials with those agencies said the 1033 Program is a worthwhile initiative.

Blake said about 220 to 230 agencies in Iowa are enrolled in the 1033 Program, but only about 160 currently have property through the initiative.

Database: Explore the use of 1033 program in Iowa

According to 1033 Program data for Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Police Department has received one M16 rifle, a utility truck and three reconnaissance robots used by the department's hazardous devices unit. Sgt. Jeff Verschoore, of that unit, said three robots were requested so the department could build at least one fully functional robot from parts of all three.

'With the military surplus division, a lot of times this stuff is not complete,' Verschoore explained. 'It's got parts that are broken or stuff that doesn't work.'

Verschoore said the robot will allow bomb technicians to get an up-close look at a suspicious item without having to send an officer. The department paid 'a couple hundred bucks' to ship the robots to Cedar Rapids, but otherwise the department did not spend a dime.

Verschoore figured buying a new robot would set the department back about $8,000.

DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins said the department acquired 20 M14s and 20 M16s in 2007. Eventually, that number climbed to 90 M16s — one for each game warden in the state. Game wardens are fully sworn law enforcement officers.

Baskins said the officers typically are alone, in remote areas and respond to other crimes on mutual aid, when necessary.

'It's not just the fish and game stuff they have to deal with,' he said. 'Oftentimes, they're encountering meth labs, burglaries, wanted subjects ...

One of the unique things about our officers, on a daily basis for a good part of the year, they are dealing with people who are armed and loaded.'

Baskins said the department received the M16s for $5,000 through the 1033 Program. If they purchased them out of pocket, the tab would have been $95,000, he said.

The federal government officially remains the owner of the equipment distributed to law enforcement agencies. It also has strict guidelines regarding the acquisition of those items.

Requests for items go through Blake, who has the authority to approve or deny the request, though the federal government has the final say on the request.

In some cases, Blake's decision is somewhat subjective. She looks at the equipment a department is requesting, its size and if the request seems justified. If two departments are requesting a Humvee, for instance, Blake said the vehicle likely will go to the larger department with a greater need.

In cases such as a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle — or MRAP — of which there are 13 in the state, Blake said she'll look at the size of the department, the size of its jurisdiction, the population of the jurisdiction and the intended use for the MRAP.

She also considers whether the department has the fiscal ability to keep and maintain the equipment.

'Do they have the money to store this in a proper place? Do they have the money to maintain it?' Blake said. 'Gas isn't cheap when you have a vehicle that gets five miles to the gallon.'

With items such as rifles and handguns, weapon-to-officer ratios are maintained. Departments are allowed to have one M16 and one .45 caliber handgun for each officer, and one M14 for every two officers.

Departments that receive equipment through the 1033 Program are not allowed to trade or sell the items to other agencies and have to account for them annually or face suspension or expulsion from the program.

'When it comes time to (recertify), you get lots and lots of emails from Kathryn,' said Coralville Police Lt. Shane Kron.

His department has 11 M16s, which are used as patrol rifles, through the 1033 Program. He said Coralville also has used non-offensive government surplus equipment, such as night-vision devices or a heat sensor. Just last month, the department used night vision to nab a burglar.

'That's the kind of stuff we tend to get through 1033 and other government programs, things that are specialty equipment that we couldn't afford or justify for the few times we need it.'

While law enforcement agrees the program is useful, some choose not to participate.

'We just did not have a need to purchase any weapons under this system,' said Iowa City Police Capt. Jim Steffen. 'We've used other funding sources.'

Steffen said one concern is returning the equipment to the federal government once its usefulness has expired. That's something Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner can attest to.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office has about 65 M16s in its possession, though they are boxed up and waiting to be shipped back to Des Moines and returned to the federal government. Gardner said he pushed for the acquisition of the rifles beginning in 2006, but found the government-issued equipment to not suit his needs for a patrol rifles.

The M16s were not capable of being customized with a sighting or lighting system and, once the money was available, the sheriff's office went with a single-fire, AR-15 style rifle.

Still, Gardner praises the 1033 program.

'It was an inexpensive way to get necessary equipment into the hands of law enforcement officers,' Gardner said. 'There was a need for us to have rifles, but we didn't have the ability to pay for rifles.'

The 1033 Program is not without detractors. The Ferguson riots have led to protests against the acquisition of military-grade equipment across the country. Many have questioned the need for heavy-duty equipment, such as the MRAPs. In August, President Barack Obama said government surplus programs deserve a closer look.

'There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement, and we don't want those lines blurred. That would be contrary to our traditions,' Obama said a news conference.

Blake, who will be deployed to the United Arab Emirates with the Iowa Air National Guard in November, stands by the program.

'Law enforcement is already a paramilitary organization,' she said. 'Look at the structure of law enforcement and the military, they're very similar ...

We're simply equipping them with items that are justified in use in their mission.

'It's my job to make sure they know that equipment is available for their officers. I want to save agencies money. I want to make sure the law enforcement officers I work with are safe in their jobs.'