Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick invited NJ Advance Media to discuss the 1033 program from a law enforcement side Watch video
In the days following NJ Advance Media's article that took a look at the military surplus items doled out to local enforcement agencies over the last two years and the local oversight of the federal program, we've received a mixed response from the public.
From our readers we've heard, on one hand, that many don't have an issue with local agencies receiving surplus equipment where the taxpayers are often only paying for the shipping and upkeep on the items.
Others said they believe that military items, specifically heavily armored vehicles, have no place in the state.
In addition, two New Jersey lawmakers, state Sen. Gill (D-Essex) and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Teaneck), said they were "alarmed" by the current process and asked the state Attorney General for the guidance given to local law enforcement and municipalities.
Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation in 2015 adding levels of public approval to the federal program that started in the late-1990s. The State Police oversees the process in New Jersey.
Gill -- who led the fight for more state transparency for the program in 2014 -- and Johnson wrote a letter to the Attorney General, which was given to NJ Advance Media. Part of which reads:
We respectfully request you provide our offices with all formal or informal guidance the Office of the Attorney General and/or the State Police have provided to local law enforcement and local governments regarding the 2015 law, including but not limited to any adopted regulations related to implementation of the law. Finally, please provide a list of all municipal and county governing bodies that have filed their resolutions opting into the program with the State Police, as well a copy of each resolution.
As a way to address some of the public's issues following the story, Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick, who was interviewed as part of the initial story, invited NJ Advance Media to his department Thursday to further discuss the 1033 program from a law enforcement side.
Kudrick, whose department was audited last year by an out-of-state official and found in full compliance with state and federal regulations, took us through some of the supplies obtained by the agency, as well as inside the 13-ton mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP.
Watch the full exchange below:
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.