Gwinnett County commissioners agreed this week to allow the sheriff's department to accept a military-donated Humvee, weeks after President Barack Obama banned the transfer of some military gear to local police agencies.
The Humvee was not on the list of banned vehicles, said Chief Deputy Mike Boyd, and is not armored. The department does have one vehicle that would no longer be permitted under the new rules, but that it is allowed to keep.
“It’s important to note this is not an armored vehicle, there are no weapons attached,” Boyd said. “Our intended use is for off-road capabilities.”
He said the Humvee would be used to transport food during ice storms, as well as at job fairs, for recruiting and to educate children. It can help deputies avoid getting shot at in tactical situations, Boyd said.
The cost to repaint the vehicle and for any other alterations will be covered by drug forfeiture money.
Going forward, more governments will have to give permission before their law enforcement agencies accept military donations.
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