Washington police departments likely to keep military vehicles
A ban on police use of armored military vehicles, or MRAPs, has been dropped from a proposed state law that would restrict some law enforcement procedures. Author: Drew Mikkelsen Updated: 6:38 PM PDT April 1, 2021
OLYMPIA, Wash. A move to prohibit local police departments from using military surplus equipment will likely be removed from a proposed Washington state legislation to limit some law enforcement practices.
House Bill 1054 puts restrictions on the use of tear gas by police, restricts chokeholds and neck restraints, and would limit when officers can chase after suspects.
The bill that passed out of the House also prohibited the practice of obtaining retired military equipment from surplus programs, specifically armored mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, known as “MRAPs.”