Posted: 10/30/2011 12:04:57 PM EDT
| Local paper is reporting that the S.O. got a drone, complete with thermal imaging on a $500,000.00 grant from the feds. Let the fun begin. |
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Quoted: Local paper is reporting that the S.O. got a drone, complete with thermal imaging on a $500,000.00 grant from the feds. Let the fun begin. Air support with FLIR exponentially increases the capabilities of law enforcement to apprehend fleeing criminals/fugitives––especially in a heavily wooded area like Montgomery County. Probably cheaper than operating a helicopter equipped with FLIR––especially when the Feds pick up the initial tab. If you believe it to be a waste of taxpayer money then blame the Feds for giving it away. |
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If you believe it to be a waste of taxpayer money then blame the Feds for giving it away. I do, and I do. These local governments will always take a freebie. Time and gravity are likely to make it a moot point. These freebies from the feds are like the free rock from your local dealer. Except these junkies are spending your money. $$$ Pilot training $$$ Control room for piloting the thing $ Insurance for when it lands on someone's house $$ Some place to store it $$ Maintenance costs Meineke probably doesn't work on them $$ Repair parts They don't come from Autozone $$$$ Replacement costs because once we have one we couldn't ever do without |
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If you believe it to be a waste of taxpayer money then blame the Feds for giving it away. I do, and I do. These local governments will always take a freebie. Time and gravity are likely to make it a moot point. These freebies from the feds are like the free rock from your local dealer. Except these junkies are spending your money. $$$ Pilot training $$$ Control room for piloting the thing $ Insurance for when it lands on someone's house $$ Some place to store it $$ Maintenance costs Meineke probably doesn't work on them $$ Repair parts They don't come from Autozone $$$$ Replacement costs because once we have one we couldn't ever do without That's my chief complaint. Having worked around local government, I've seen the model for this. This is like the entry level gadget, and logical end of it is a real helo with all the trimmings. The sheriff's name is sure to be emblazoned somewhere on the aircraft. |
| I agree with the usefulness of the helicopter in a law enforcement matter, however I can't help but notice the amount of grants and trinkets the Fed is handing out in regards to spycraft, air surveillance and drones that can be used as weapons platforms. We didn't see this before and it's rather unsettling when you look at it nation-wide. It's almost like they're setting up a grid for a police state. Declare martial law, nationalize the use of the drones they provided via their grants and arm them? Sorry, I just can't help but see that. |
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at least they are open about it this time.
http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/14659066/detail.html |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: If you believe it to be a waste of taxpayer money then blame the Feds for giving it away. I do, and I do. These local governments will always take a freebie. Time and gravity are likely to make it a moot point. These freebies from the feds are like the free rock from your local dealer. Except these junkies are spending your money. $$$ Pilot training $$$ Control room for piloting the thing $ Insurance for when it lands on someone's house $$ Some place to store it $$ Maintenance costs Meineke probably doesn't work on them $$ Repair parts They don't come from Autozone $$$$ Replacement costs because once we have one we couldn't ever do without Which is likely a hell of a lot cheaper than a manned helicopter. |
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Quoted: I agree with the usefulness of the helicopter in a law enforcement matter, however I can't help but notice the amount of grants and trinkets the Fed is handing out in regards to spycraft, air surveillance and drones that can be used as weapons platforms. We didn't see this before and it's rather unsettling when you look at it nation-wide. It's almost like they're setting up a grid for a police state. Declare martial law, nationalize the use of the drones they provided via their grants and arm them? Sorry, I just can't help but see that. LE has been getting DRMO'ed military equipment for most of the last century. Hasn't lead to a federal seizure of state and local police authority yet, but maybe my tinfoil isn't tight enough. |
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I agree with the usefulness of the helicopter in a law enforcement matter, however I can't help but notice the amount of grants and trinkets the Fed is handing out in regards to spycraft, air surveillance and drones that can be used as weapons platforms. We didn't see this before and it's rather unsettling when you look at it nation-wide. It's almost like they're setting up a grid for a police state. Declare martial law, nationalize the use of the drones they provided via their grants and arm them? Sorry, I just can't help but see that. LE has been getting DRMO'ed military equipment for most of the last century. Hasn't lead to a federal seizure of state and local police authority yet, but maybe my tinfoil isn't tight enough. This isn't exactly DRMO'ed military equipment... |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I agree with the usefulness of the helicopter in a law enforcement matter, however I can't help but notice the amount of grants and trinkets the Fed is handing out in regards to spycraft, air surveillance and drones that can be used as weapons platforms. We didn't see this before and it's rather unsettling when you look at it nation-wide. It's almost like they're setting up a grid for a police state. Declare martial law, nationalize the use of the drones they provided via their grants and arm them? Sorry, I just can't help but see that. LE has been getting DRMO'ed military equipment for most of the last century. Hasn't lead to a federal seizure of state and local police authority yet, but maybe my tinfoil isn't tight enough. This isn't exactly DRMO'ed military equipment... True, it's a federal grant which is also nothing new. After 9/11 the feds were handing out NBC/CBRN equipment like candy. LE has been using aircraft for decades––it's nothing new. The advent of UAVs just allows smaller agencies that don't have the money to operate manned aircraft to have similar capabilities that large agencies have had for decades. |
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I agree with the usefulness of the helicopter in a law enforcement matter, however I can't help but notice the amount of grants and trinkets the Fed is handing out in regards to spycraft, air surveillance and drones that can be used as weapons platforms. We didn't see this before and it's rather unsettling when you look at it nation-wide. It's almost like they're setting up a grid for a police state. Declare martial law, nationalize the use of the drones they provided via their grants and arm them? Sorry, I just can't help but see that. LE has been getting DRMO'ed military equipment for most of the last century. Hasn't lead to a federal seizure of state and local police authority yet, but maybe my tinfoil isn't tight enough. This isn't exactly DRMO'ed military equipment... True, it's a federal grant which is also nothing new. After 9/11 the feds were handing out NBC/CBRN equipment like candy. LE has been using aircraft for decades––it's nothing new. The advent of UAVs just allows smaller agencies that don't have the money to operate manned aircraft to have similar capabilities that large agencies have had for decades. Frankly thats exactly what it boils down to. Montgomery isnt exactly the small bumblefuck county that it was 30 years ago and its getting "not small" pretty damn fast. I think its the third fastest growing county in texas if i remember. On the topic of these drones, even if they require two operators at a command post in dispatch and a maintenance tech in the vehicle maintenance center, they will still be a hell of a lot cheaper than 4 hellicopter pilots at a minimum to cover shifts, a hellicopter thats maintenance intensive and a fuel hog, a hangar, ect. This thing isnt manned, so im sure that theres a hell of a lot less FAA regulations and safety inspections necessary for them. Basically im in support of MCSO purchasing drones on a 1-1 basis to take the place of a hellicopter which would cost the county. I would NOT be in support of them buying 15 drones with the money they saved on operating a conventional hellicopter and using the drones to somehow enforce speed zones, watch me skinny dip in the back yard, write me ticket for an off leash dog in the middle of nowhere, ect. But generally speaking MCSO seems to be comprised of good cops and i dont envision them misusing this technology like new your or new orleans PD might. |