{"id":2043,"date":"2022-03-25T10:42:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T15:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iowappa.com\/?p=2043"},"modified":"2022-03-27T12:07:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-27T17:07:33","slug":"spring-cleaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iowappa.com\/?p=2043","title":{"rendered":"Spring Cleaning"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States are stepping up to donate equipment to Ukraine.\u00a0 Most of the donations are body armor vests and helmets, both made of a bullet-resistant material.\u00a0 I know of no other bullet-resistant material other than Kevlar, but the equipment could be made from other synthetic materials manufactured by other firms.<\/p>\n

The Kevlar equipment being donated has outlived its use.\u00a0 Kevlar guarantees its product for only five years because the material can deteriorate as moisture, heat and other atmospheric factors weaken the material.\u00a0 After that time, mostly because of liability, law enforcement agencies must upgrade and purchase new tactical equipment and destroy outdated equipment.<\/p>\n

The protective vests and helmets being sent to Ukraine are those that were destined to be destroyed. I suppose the intention is noble, but isn\u2019t it a little like sending a dozen jars of mayonnaise to the food bank because the \u2018best by\u2019 date stamped on the side was six months ago?\u00a0 The mayo is probably still good, but once the jar is opened it won\u2019t take long to spoil. Similarly, with equipment that was intended to be destroyed, isn\u2019t the likelihood that it will not withstand the expectations of Ukrainian soldiers?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to dissuade what appears to be an altruistic gesture of law enforcement agencies across America, but the donation of otherwise useless equipment brings up a question that so many local and state governments should address.\u00a0 For instance, the City of Des Moines Municipal Code allows the procurement administrator to \u201cdispose of surplus property not deemed suitable or appropriate for sale by such means as the procurement administrator deems appropriate.\u201d\u00a0 That language is so broad you could drive an armored personnel carrier through it.\u00a0 And some local jurisdictions have one.<\/p>\n

For years, the federal government made excess government equipment available to states, counties, and cities at no cost (or a minimal shipping and handling fee).\u00a0 Some of that equipment included mine-resistant trucks, grenade launchers, utility trucks, rifles, night vision goggles and other gear.<\/p>\n