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Local 2 Investigates Police Secrecy Behind Unmanned Aircraft Test
Click 2 Houston ^ | November 21, 2007 | Stephen Dean

Posted on 11/24/2007 1:02:06 PM PST by stevie_d_64

WALLER COUNTY, Texas -- Houston police started testing unmanned aircraft and the event was shrouded in secrecy, but it was captured on tape by Local 2 Investigates.

Neighbors in rural Waller County said they thought a top-secret military venture was under way among the farmland and ranches, some 70 miles northwest of Houston. KPRC Local 2 Investigates had four hidden cameras aimed at a row of mysterious black trucks. Satellite dishes and a swirling radar added to the neighbors' suspense.

Then, cameras were rolling as an unmanned aircraft was launched into the sky and operated by remote control.

(Excerpt) Read more at click2houston.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; censorship; covertaction; donutwatch; faa; houston; marthamontalvo; mediablackout; paramilitary; policestate; privacy; privatecontracts; revenuetickets; texas; wastefulspending
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1 posted on 11/24/2007 1:02:09 PM PST by stevie_d_64
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To: stevie_d_64

I was probed I tell you. This black saucer landed and took me aboard...


2 posted on 11/24/2007 1:04:55 PM PST by live+let_live
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To: stevie_d_64

Interesting...I recall earlier this year that the Houston Police Department somehow was “flush” with an extra $60 million plus dollars in the budget that everyone from beat cops, to the upper eschelon desk jockeys were pleased to know they had on hand...

And everyone media, police, public and local government were looking to see new classes of recruits and more cops on the street and overtime that would be covered by this money...

I have a pretty good “gut” feeling that the money went to go buy these toys...

The calls will start Monday...


3 posted on 11/24/2007 1:05:36 PM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: stevie_d_64

Just as long as it isn’t a black helicopter.


4 posted on 11/24/2007 1:07:21 PM PST by Glennb51
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To: stevie_d_64

It would have been fun to attempt to jam the RPV’s control signal. Would rapidly make it apparent how robust the signal is and whether there were autonomous piloting capabilities. Probably uses both advanced digitized frequency skipping and spread spectrum along with autonomous recovery capability, at least in the military versions.


5 posted on 11/24/2007 1:07:56 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurtureā„¢)
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To: stevie_d_64
What's the over/under on some crack dealer shooting the first one down by spring?


6 posted on 11/24/2007 1:08:45 PM PST by Viking2002 (Waterboarding the Left every chance I get.)
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To: live+let_live

7 posted on 11/24/2007 1:10:15 PM PST by Toddsterpatriot (What came first, the bad math or the goldbuggery?)
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To: Viking2002

Slim to none...The crackheads around here are a bit..ohhhh...dumber than a bag of hammers...

And they couldn’t hold a bead on anything unless it had a yellowish rock of crack in its hand...


8 posted on 11/24/2007 1:12:09 PM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: stevie_d_64

http://www.insitu.com/

You have to really wonder why...

Even though we know the answer...

The more they keep pushing back the edge of the envelope and no one questions just the expendature of funds to this stuff, much less the interusiveness of it...

The Assistant Police Chief (or Captain in charge of some stupid thing or department) really showed her true poop when she mentioned that its no more intrusive than a helicopter flying around doing the “same” thing...

Not that I have anything to hide, but they have no reason to look!


9 posted on 11/24/2007 1:17:10 PM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: steve86

It is possible it is controlled from satellite, but I doubt this domestic version is.


10 posted on 11/24/2007 1:17:34 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurtureā„¢)
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To: stevie_d_64

It’s beginning to remind me of “The Minority report”...


11 posted on 11/24/2007 1:18:26 PM PST by Dubh_Ghlase (In the land of Clinton, where the shadows lie...)
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To: stevie_d_64
Shouldn't require much testing, just enough to familiarize the civil servants with its capabilities and see if they want to write the check. The Marine Corps has been using these Scan Eagle UAVs for several years and one of them captured exculpatory video of the Haditha Marines. Much cheaper to operate than a chopper as well.
12 posted on 11/24/2007 1:18:57 PM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: stevie_d_64
HPD leaders said they would address privacy and unlawful search questions later.

South Texas College of Law professor Rocky Rhodes, who teaches the constitution and privacy issues, said, "One issue is going to be law enforcement using this and when, by using these drones, are they conducting a search in which they'd need probable cause or a warrant. If the drones are being used to get into private spaces and be able to view where the government cannot otherwise go, and to collect information that would not otherwise be able to collect, that's concerning to me."

Can already hear the ACLU keyboard keys clicking away for a Court Challenge.

13 posted on 11/24/2007 1:19:43 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: stevie_d_64

Not sure if the local PDs should have drones with Hellfire missiles.


14 posted on 11/24/2007 1:21:14 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: SandRat
Here's hoping the ACLU and,not incidentally,lovers of freedom and privacy, can put a stop to snooping L'il Brother Blue.

Do you really think they won't find it more productive to use these things to spot previously overlooked building code violations,pretty girls sunbathing,"suspicious" gardens,pretty women sunbathing,that classic car in the back of the lot you're planning to fix up,ordinary girls sunbathing,kids treehouse,ugly girls sunbathing,etc.

15 posted on 11/24/2007 1:29:51 PM PST by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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To: hoosierham

I think you got the whole sunbathing issue covered there muh man! ;-)

But you are right...


16 posted on 11/24/2007 1:32:20 PM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: stevie_d_64

bookmark


17 posted on 11/24/2007 1:37:01 PM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/Ron_Paul_2008.htm)
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To: stevie_d_64
The Assistant Police Chief (or Captain in charge of some stupid thing or department) really showed her true poop when she mentioned that its no more intrusive than a helicopter flying around doing the “same” thing...

Just curious - how is this different than a video equipped helicopter?

18 posted on 11/24/2007 1:40:40 PM PST by kingu (No, I don't use sarcasm tags - it confuses people.)
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To: kingu
Cost of operation is much cheaper than a manned helicopter.

UAV is smaller and quieter,so less likely to be noticed.

If kept below controlled airspace,no need to file flight plans and other public records.

Little UAV could drop really low and peek in windows looking for terrorist and other persons of interest(like an electronic peeping Officer N. S. Friendly.

Like the cowardly commandos who rush to join SWAT ,there will be voyeurs in blue rushing to sign up for UAV duty.

The Constitution was written so that government might be restrained from doing all those things which are possible for government;unrestrained government is not compatible with freedom.

19 posted on 11/24/2007 1:49:20 PM PST by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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To: stevie_d_64

So maybe you posters can help me figure out the difference between a patrol car and patrol plane doing law enforcement? Both enforcements are done outside in public space.


20 posted on 11/24/2007 1:56:14 PM PST by Release
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