Policy Forum 

# Do American Police Departments Need Military Weapons from the Pentagon? 

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Date and Time 

September 12, 2014 12 - 1:30 PM EDT 

Location 

Policy Center with Foyer 

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##### Featuring 

Featuring **David Kopel**, Research Director, Independence Institute; **Mark Lomax**, Executive Director, National Association of Tactical Officers; and **Cheye Calvo**, Mayor, Berwyn Heights, Maryland; moderated by **Tim Lynch**, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute. 

Following the controversial use of military vehicles and weapons by the police in Ferguson, Missouri, President Obama ordered a review of federal programs that facilitate the flow of weaponry from the Pentagon to local police departments. These military transfers raise a host of questions. Do the police need armored vehicles, M‑16s, and grenade launchers to do their job effectively? Are the Pentagon programs adequately monitored? Should no-knock police raids be rare, or routine? Please join us for a wide-ranging discussion of modern American policing.

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