Columbus Police say new limits on military-style equipment will have little effect on the department.
The White House announced, today, the federal government no longer will fund some equipment, such as grenade launchers and weaponized vehicles. Other gear will face tight restrictions and will need local government approval for purchase.
The move was an effort to improve police and community relations following riots which erupted out of two police-involved deaths.
Police spokesman Rich Weiner says they're already doing that.
"If the division of police would ask for any money to buy equipment, it always goes through city council and through the mayor's office," Weiner said. "They will have the final say as to whether or not we will get that equipment. And we will always demonstrate and get it in writing why we would need that."
Weiner says the department does have some camouflage uniforms, which will be included in the new rules. He says they're used by SWAT teams.
The federal government no longer will fund or provide guns or ammunition of 50-caliber or higher. Police spokesman Rich Weiner says Columbus Police does not own any weapons of a 50-caliber.
"We have not relied heavily on this program in the past. The only thing that we use from the program that really benefited us were patrol rifles. And those rifles fall well below that .50 caliber range."
The federal government will implement tighter restriction on equipment such as wheeled armored vehicles which are like Humvees.
Weiner says the department owns two of them.
"We will continue to use them. Just recently in Mansfield, one of our vehicles was used in helping with that barricade up there. And actually there was a number of rounds fired at our vehicle."
Columbus Police did receive 350 military M-16 rifles through a military surplus program.
The new rules will allow police departments to obtain equipment no longer available through federal funds via a private companies.