Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LAUSD cuts ties to military weapons program
Listen
• 0:46
A student on his way to school walks past a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school on Feb. 13, 2009.
(
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
)
The Los Angeles Unified School District's police agency will no longer receive military equipment through a Department of Defense program, school Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines announced. The move follows controversy over grenade launchers and mine resistant vehicles the district obtained through the program, known as 1033.
Cortines wouldn't comment, but revealed the end of the district's participation in a June 19 letter to the social justice group Fight for the Soul of the Cities. The group received the letter this week, spokesman Manuel Criollo said.
The 1033 program provides surplus gear to local police at no cost. LAUSD had claimed grenade launchers and an MRAP armored vehicle, among other items, through the program.
But officials sent back the grenade launchers in September after they drew a flurry of criticism. Though it initially called the MRAP "life-saving" last fall, the district changed its tune and returned that, too.
Support for LAist comes from
Criollo called the effort to remove military equipment from L.A. schools "a struggle of attrition".
He said his organization was encouraged by the decision to withdraw from the program, but called on L.A. Unified to write a letter to the Department of Defense formally ending the relationship.
"They have a responsibility as an educational institution to say that militarizing our police is ethically wrong," Criollo said.
The LAUSD's force of over 350 officers is the country's largest school police department.
According to Department of Defense data released this month, LAUSD's police still have 61 rifles that were donated by the military in 2006. Together, those guns are worth $30,439.
Criollo said the agency should return those, too.
Related: An FAQ on the Pentagon's 1033 surplus program
Support for LAist comes from
The district did not respond to a question from KPCC asking if it will give back those rifles and declined to make anyone available for an interview.
Federal data show that a handful of other California school districts have received military gear, including in Oakland, Stockton and Kern. But only Baldwin Park school police have also received firearms.
Cortines' letter comes after the Obama administration announced new restrictions in May on the gear that can be transferred to local police through 1033.
Police at K-12 schools now face stricter restrictions than other law enforcement agencies, though a KPCC analysis found the restrictions will have little practical effect at schools or elsewhere.
In his letter, Cortines said that LAUSD's decision to withdraw from 1033 donations preceded the restrictions, though it does not say when that decision was made.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist