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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Missouri US Senator Claire McCaskill will chair hearings next week on what she calls the “militarization of police.”

McCaskill was critical of the police response in Ferguson  when armored trucks, riot gear and tear gas were used on the crowd. The hearing will review the Defense Department’s program that supplies surplus military equipment to local police.

The fraternal order of police defended the program, saying the equipment is needed to protect officers.