The Sun Journal editorial encouraging Maine’s police departments to acquire more surplus military equipment leaves out an important point: tools of war belong in combat theaters, not in our neighborhoods (“Let’s go after surplus goods,” Aug. 5).

We agree that excess supplies, such as raincoats, should not go to waste, but the 1033 Program is not limited to clothes and computers. Recently, we read in the Sun Journal about the Lewiston Police Department’s new armored personnel carrier, which was first acquired by the Portland Police Department through the military surplus program. Thankfully, according to the LPD, this particular vehicle is not armed. But we know of police departments in this country that have acquired APCs equipped with machine guns.

Although those tools and tactics come free of charge to police, they may come at great cost to communities. Initial evidence shows that APCs and other military equipment encourage overly aggressive policing and provoke fear among the citizenry.

For now, little is known about the extent of military influence on police department personnel and what impact it will have on those communities. That is why we urge caution in any move by law enforcement to adopt military equipment or tactics.

Too many police officers are told they are soldiers fighting a war. Policing should be about protection, not combat.

Rachel Myers Healy, Portland

Director of communications and public education, ACLU of Maine