Thread: L.A. Sheriff to donate equipment to Mexico, Thailand

L.A. County Sheriff's Department wants to donate equipment to Mexico, Thailand

Supervisor Gloria Molina proposes giving used holsters, helmets, gun belts, bulletproof vests, batons and patrol cars to Mexican and Thai authorities.

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
April 1, 2009

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department wants to donate used equipment, including helmets, holsters, gun belts, bulletproof vests, batons and patrol cars, to Mexican and Thai law enforcement, a proposal that county supervisors have taken under consideration.

Such donations are allowed by law if county officials can show they are in the interest of local public safety.

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On Tuesday, Supervisor Gloria Molina asked her colleagues to join her in directing Sheriff Lee Baca and William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive, to determine how much surplus equipment was available to donate to Mexican police to help them fight their government's war on drugs.

Molina did not say which Mexican law enforcement agency should get the equipment or how much should be donated, but she noted that the donation was in the interest of local public safety.

"The federal government has acknowledged as a nation, we jointly share in the responsibility for the growth in violent narcotic trade by creating a demand for illegal drugs," she said. "Public safety is of paramount importance to Mexico and Los Angeles County."

The sheriff is in talks with Mexican law enforcement to donate 2,400 leather gun belts and bulletproof vests, plus some patrol cars, spokesman Steve Whitmore said. "Don't forget Mexico is our closest neighbor, and they are facing some great challenges," Whitmore said. "We're not arming them -- we're providing belts and vests."

Whitmore said rampant corruption among many Mexican police forces made sending firearms or other weapons out of the question.

But we would try to help our neighbors," he said.

Whitmore said the vests are considered surplus because they "are still functional, and they perform their tasks above the minimal requirements, but they don't meet our standards. There's not a thriving market for a used vest, but the agencies that receive these are very appreciative. They are worth hundreds of dollars each to them."

The sheriff has drafted a proposal to donate 400 vests and gun belts, among other equipment, to the Royal Thai Police via the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Justice, to aid in counterterrorism and defense of U.S. military sites. Thai authorities requested used batons, but Whitmore said the sheriff is still considering whether to propose donating the weapons.

The proposal was the brainchild of Pote Pigilsawas, a retired Monterrey Park police lieutenant who approached several law enforcement agencies during the past year in search of surplus equipment.

In October, Los Angeles Police commissioners approved donating 2,000 used Kevlar helmets and 3,000 used Kevlar vests to the Royal Thai Police, and the county proposal is scheduled to be considered by supervisors' deputies Wednesday.

A few years ago, the sheriff donated 800 used vests to Iraqi police, and he is also considering a request to donate used computers to police in Pakistan, Whitmore said.

molly.hennessy-fiske @latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 3836.story

But we would try to help our neighbors," he said.

How about helping some of the law enforcement agencies in some of our more rural counties and/or towns? I'm sure many of them have small budgets and would be more than happy to accept police gear donations.

Supervisor Gloria Molina proposes giving used holsters, helmets, gun belts, bulletproof vests, batons and patrol cars to Mexican and Thai authorities.

First off, gloria molina is a card carrying member of la raza! In addition, haven't we done enough for mexico without giving items that are quite likely to end up in the hands of those very drug cartles and gangs that mexico ( as well as us) is fighting against!

Finally, great idea MW! Unfortunately, glorina molina is more concerned with mexico than her own country!