US Police militarization continues
Posted on March 30th, 2008 by bile Categories and Tags: Uncategorized, 4th Amendment, Afghanistan, cameras, corporatism, crime, fascism, Florida, Honeywell International, Iraq, Juan Villalba, Law enforcement agencies, Miami, Miami Police, Miami-Dade Police, Miami-Dade Police Department, police, police state, politics, privacy, Technology, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. military, United States, US Police, warfare state, your rightshttp://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/business/drone.php
The Miami police could soon use cutting-edge flying drones to help fight crime.
A small pilotless vehicle manufactured by Honeywell International, capable of hovering and “staring” using electro-optic or infrared sensors, is expected to be introduced soon in the skies over the Florida Everglades.
If use of the drone wins U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval after tests, the Miami-Dade Police Department will start flying the 14 pound, or 6.35 kilogram, drone over urban areas with an eye toward full-fledged employment in crime fighting.
“Our intentions are to use it only in tactical situations as an extra set of eyes,” said Detective Juan Villalba, a police department spokesman.
“We intend to use this to benefit us in carrying out our mission,” he added, saying the wingless Honeywell aircraft, which fits into a backpack and is capable of vertical takeoff and landing, seems ideally suited for use by SWAT teams in hostage situations or dealing with “barricaded subjects.”
And the Miami-Dade police are not alone. Taking their lead from the U.S. military, which has used drones in Iraq and Afghanistan for years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have voiced a growing interest in using drones for domestic crime-fighting missions.
Not that the Posse Comitatus Act is really in effect anymore but many people still believe that the military can’t be used for policing domestically. Well those pushing for a fascist police state have figured out how to get around that. Make the police like the military instead.
And really… as if this will stop crime. It will only escalate it. Any crime it stops a petty thief has given up will be made up by the professionals in severity.
One Response to “US Police militarization continues”
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March 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
<sarcasm>All I know is that when I get mugged in Trenton I expect them to dispatch several drones to track down the culprit and then use air to ground smart missiles to destroy the block where the guy lives. I may not get my thirty eight bucks back but after hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of hardware are used I’ll get some justice!</sarcasm>