BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Excess property coordinators and officials from 35 states took part in the Defense Logistics Agency’s annual Law Enforcement Support Office training symposium held at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, Aug. 19-21.
The DLA Disposition Services-managed LESO executes 10 US Code 2576a, allowing for the loan of controlled property or donation of excess non-controlled Defense Department property to law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and its territories. Participating state governors each select a coordinator to serve as liaison and compliance officer for their state’s participants and as a conduit to DLA and LESO. Both new and seasoned coordinators regularly attend the training for the latest word on policy updates and best practices, and each year property end-users from the more than 8,000 participating state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies are invited to take part as well.
Kentucky State Police employee Bryton Turley began coordinating LESO participation for an estimated 160 state law enforcement agencies in April. He said the most helpful part for him was to simply meet face to face with coordinators from around the country and pull from their experiences as he grows into the role.
“I got a lot out of several of the presentations, and from the tips and tricks offered by the state coordinators,” Turley said. “Being brand new to the program, I’m just trying to learn as I go, and it was just a wealth of knowledge, all in one place.”
In addition to keynote remarks from top agency leaders like DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn and DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon, participants heard the latest on a wide variety of program topics, including online property screening, Program Compliance Reviews, aircraft, vehicle, and ammunition policy tweaks, and a sneak peek at potential future improvements meant to streamline administrative burden and increase overall equipment access for participants.
“We’re proud of this mission, we’re proud of the program and how we run it,” said Bunn, during opening keynote remarks. “It’s an outstanding example of how our mission to support America’s warfighters extends beyond the battlefield and into our nation’s local law enforcement agencies.”
Troy Robinette just began his new role as a program point of contact for the State of Utah’s surplus property agency in July. Robinette said he was completely new to the world of military excess and surplus property, and his eyes had been opened by the event to the breadth of possibilities LESO creates for his state’s customers.
“This is a great resource for our local police officers,” Robinette said. “I’m still learning about the program. The training was all really informative. It was good to learn about controlled property, use of the website, how to get information out of the system – that was all very beneficial for me, coming in new. Everyone here, if you have a question, they’re willing to help you out. I thought they were all very responsive.”
The states themselves provided presentation materials on making the most of military surplus access. Among the tips shared - the Texas contingent said all newly included law enforcement agencies in their state must attend an 8-hour course within six months of participation approval, half of which is devoted to an examination of rules and regulations, and the other half to online screening tool navigation. Texas reps said they had hosted more than 60 training sessions in a little over a decade, to classrooms ranging from 10 students to 60. They said new screeners for existing participants must attend the course, as well.
Keynote remarks on the final day were provided by Cannon, who talked at length about efforts to ease administrative burdens for smaller LEAs and thanked participants for helping provide that final link in the chain that puts taxpayer-funded equipment no longer needed by DOD to work for the communities who funded it.
“Let’s enable our law enforcement to do exactly what they’re being paid to do – protect and serve us,” Cannon said. “Without the state coordinators, we can’t do this. … Let’s continue to work, let’s try to get more LEAs in the program.”