Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's office to participate in excess military equipment program

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KNEP) - The Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office was approved to participate a excess military equipment program.

During its Monday meeting the Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners approved for the Scotts Bluff Sheriffs Office to participate in the Defense Logistics Agency Law Enforcement Support Office program. This program would allow for the Sheriffs Office to request any excess military equipment to be loaned to the agency at no cost.

Currently the Sheriffs office would only want to participate in acquiring new select-fire rifles. Sheriff Mark Overman told the board, “The new rifles would be in a safe they’re not going to be out driving around with anybody unless something happens and we need them.”

The program would allow for the Sheriffs Office to request other equipment including night vision, aircraft and armored vehicles. Overman told the board that equipment would not be on his list currently but if any of the equipment would be needed agencies across the panhandle and state have it and it would become available for the county to use in a matter of hours.

With this program not costing the Sheriff Office, it would require the office to return the equipment once it is done with it or to dispose it by giving it back to the military.