It was 2019, and not 2018, when they were purchased. They were given to the officers on the ground level to make that decision. They did, and I believe, probably, inappropriately. There could have been a better way, but they were working in an environment that didn't have the NTOP process, and that process, which is in place now, would minimize those things from going awry as you described.
On May 9th, 2022. See this statement in context.