A predator doesn't seem like the right tool for the job. Something smaller and shorter legged (and cheaper) would be better. It would be under the control of local BP agents, not some remote "Surveillance section". Plenty of those sorts available. Some not much larger than a hobby model airplane, but still able to carry IR or Video cameras, with the required downlink.
I agree, for years the mainstay of the BPs flight operations has been light helicopters. They are versatile, relatively cheep to fly and can get down in the weeds and work traffic.
One of the best things they can do is to put a group down with their high intensity spotlight. The aliens have nowhere to run and try to brush up and hide from the light and it gives the ground agents time to go in and arrest the group.
That 14 million dollars spent on one UAV could have purchased a fleet of 6 to 8 new helicopters and provided much more coverage.
I guess its the same at DOD, they are always complaining that they dont need any more C-130s but congress keeps buying them anyway. Beltway BS.