Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu Reportedly Ignoring Pentagon Rules in Plan to Sell Military Equipment

An Arizona sheriff has allegedly ignored a Pentagon rule, collecting millions of dollars’ worth of surplus military equipment that is intended for law-enforcement use and distributing some of the gear to non-police agencies.

During the past two years, the office of Sheriff Paul Babeu has received more than $7 million worth of Humvees, fire trucks, guns, defibrillators, barber chairs, underwear, thermal-imaging scopes, computers, motor scooters and other items, The Arizona Republic reports.

According to the paper, the merchandise – secured through the Defense Logistics Agency -- is made available to more than 17,000 police and sheriff's departments nationwide.  Last year, nearly $500 million worth of new and used items were distributed by the agency -- more than double what was requisitioned in fiscal 2010.

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