BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
The Perth Amboy Police Department relies on Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services for excess military property to enhance public safety in the city of more than 55,000 New Jersey residents.
The department obtained the equipment through DLA’s Law Enforcement Support Office, administered by DLA Disposition Services since 2009. The department has received items originally valued at more than $6 million through DLA’s excess property stocks.
The Congressionally-authorized “1033 Program” managed by LESO allows federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to obtain excess military equipment at no cost.
“We support reuse by warfighters first,” said DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon. After the armed services gets the opportunity to requisition any excess military inventory in DLA’s stocks, unneeded military equipment is then made available to eligible law enforcement agencies.
Recently, the Perth Amboy department used a snow melter, acquired through the LESO program, to clear streets after a snowstorm that left about 12 inches of snow on the city. The heavy, wet snow, combined with freezing rain and a deep freeze, made it difficult to clear streets.
“The most important thing for first responders is to get to where they need to go,” said Perth Amboy Police Chief Larry Cattano.
He said snow and ice made driving difficult and affected parking, hindering the passage of emergency vehicles and personnel.
The snow melter — a large trailer with a diesel burner and water bath — melts snow that is later dumped into storm drains. The process speeds snow removal and is more efficient than hauling tons of snow away in dump trucks.
“It just is a time saver, and even a manpower saver, at the end of the day,” said Lt. Joseph Sulikowski.
He explained that once the melter is up and running, it’s a one-person job. The city operates a loader to feed snow into the melter. This eliminates the need for dump truck operators to haul snow away, allowing that manpower to be directed to other missions in the area.
The department also acquired a used five-ton military vehicle that it converted for high-water rescues.
“We get a couple of areas in town that will flood, and they flood quickly,” Cattano said.
Cattano said his department has acquired several pieces of equipment through DLA and LESO.
“It’s always been used, and it’s always good,” he said.