The 1033 Program

[HONDO74]

In the United States, the 1033 Program transfers excess military equipment to civilian law enforcement agencies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1033_program

The 1033 program was instituted per Bill Clinton's 1997 National Defense Authorization Act,

As of 2014, 8,000 local law enforcement agencies participated in the program that has transferred $5.1 billion in military material from the Department of Defense to law enforcement agencies since 1997. According to the Defense Logistics Agency, material worth $449 million was transferred in 2013 alone.

The Los Angeles School Police Department has also received excess military equipment, including 61 assault rifles, three grenade launchers, and an MRAP vehicle. Ten School Police Departments in Texas also participate in the 1033 program, in total acquiring 25 automatic pistols, 64 M16 assault rifles, 18 M14 battle rifles, 15 vehicles and tactical vests.

[robert.]

That's better then a coffee pot or hammer.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

That's better then a coffee pot or hammer.

Cheaper than those DoD hammers, too!

[healey36]

Saw some video the other day of cops motoring around in black M1117 armored cars, probably received via this program. Seems a bit over-the-top to me.