UPDATE (Monday, 2/11): Yesterday, the Daily Express, a British news outlet, reported that the LAPD was using drones in its search for ex-cop Chris Dorner. I reported on this, though I also pointed out that it might not be true. Upon further investigation, it turns out there is no evidence to back the Express article.
CNN reporter Nick Valencia tells me that that every agency from DHS to US Customs and Border Patrol has denied deploying drones to help with the manhunt. And Mashable has published an excellent piece debunking the drone rumor.
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The LAPD-led manhunt for Chris Dorner just took a turn for the creepy. According to the Daily Express, aerial drones may have been deployed to assist law enforcement in their search for the 33-year-old ex-cop suspected of killing three people over since last week.
Yesterday, as a task force of 125 officers, some riding Snowcats in the rugged terrain, continued their search, it was revealed that Dorner has become the first human target for remotely-controlled airborne drones on US soil.
A senior police source said: “The thermal imaging cameras the drones use may be our only hope of finding him. On the ground, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Asked directly if drones have already been deployed, Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz, who is jointly leading the task force, said: “We are using all the tools at our disposal.”
The use of drones was later confirmed by Customs and Border Patrol spokesman Ralph DeSio, who revealed agents have been prepared for Dorner to make a dash for the Mexican border since his rampage began.
He said: “This agency has been at the forefront of domestic use of drones by law enforcement. That’s all I can say at the moment.”
This wouldn’t be the first time drones have been used by US law enforcement. In fact, more and more police agencies throughout the country are attempting to add drones to their increasingly militarized arsenals.
Sill, if this is true it’s a significant move on the part of law enforcement because aside from a handful of known instances police use of drones on US soil has been mostly a hypothetical.
Though the drones being used are likely unarmed (the Express refers to them as “spy drones”) their use could set a new precedent for domestic policing and surveillance. And not to sound alarmist but we have to consider the highly unlikely though totally plausible scenario where police choose to take Dorner out with an armed drone (we’re all thinking it so why not say it out loud). I don’t see this happening for a number of reasons but without proper regulations drones can be slippery slope.
so what if they use drones to find this POS killer? So what if they kill him with a drone; better that we risk more innoccent deaths of LEOs?? Instead of whining about a “slippery slope”, why not figure out what YOU can do to help police cage this animal? ie. RT REAL news alerts, etc.
February 10, 2013 at 5:42 pm[…] See Also: Christopher Dorner Becomes 1st Human Drone Target on US Soil […]
February 10, 2013 at 7:24 pmIt’s seldom I agree with the straight “law and order” people, but please, get over the hissy-fits over all drones. As an observation and search device, it’s great. It can hover over an area for days, use thermal, ultraviolet, multiple kinds of imaging in support of the search. There’s no evidence of Hellfires on it, and they’d have to be real careful about remote justice, but in some circumstances, it might be better to use it to save the lives of officers and/or hostages. Because there has to be a protocol worked out for drone-involved shootings.
February 11, 2013 at 2:13 am[…] are being used for tracking here in the U.S, but not yet as lethal weapons. On the other hand, the (ex post?) rationale of Sec. […]
February 11, 2013 at 7:07 amDid someone REALLY just ask, “SO WHAT IF THEY USE DRONES….” !?!?!?!? So what? First of all, this man has been convicted of NOTHING. AT. ALL. The organization (LAPD) accusing him of these things has been terrorizing people left and right for YEARS and getting away with it due to their filthy corrupted leaders. We don’t know the details of ANY of this. There is NO transparency with the LAPD. What you’re getting (even from the wonderful independent news sources who are working their butts off around the clock to dig up details) is most likely the tip of an iceberg.
Using drones on US soil (armed ESPECIALLY) to find a man who isn’t even a criminal yet (i.e. hasn’t been convicted of anything) is clearly not to protect the public. The LAPD has fired a gun 2 separate times during the manhunt and injured 2 innocent people (luckily the 2nd incident didn’t harm anyone) firing shots with NO WARNING. You think they are in this to protect the public??? They are clearly looking for this man because of what he knows. (Or even worse, using him as an example to have the public think there’s an acceptable use for drones on US soil against US citizens.)
We are letting our government (Local on up) take our rights as citizens of a “free” nation away from us without question. Okay, so even if this man killed 3… What makes him any more dangerous than any other killer of 3? Have you heard of using (armed) drones for any other killer? No. You know why? Because these people don’t give a S*** about YOUR life. The people “threatened” in this case are THEM. So they’ll protect THEMSELVES. And they’ll stop at nothing to do so. Do you see a pattern??
Please take the time to ask yourself WHY — Why does LAPD want to silence Mr. Dorner so badly? Why does LAPD need to protect itself if it’s been doing right? What motive does Mr. Dorner have to go above and beyond to sabotage a company who fired him? Why would he go to these lengths if he could just go find another job somewhere?
This man has a history of valor and honor. Believe me, he could’ve gotten a job many many places. He has an honorable discharge from the military as an OFFICER. He has a college degree. He is a very intelligent man. He returned a bag of $8,000 he found in the road in 2002 to police for a church it belonged to. He is a man of integrity and honesty who has a history of protecting the voiceless and weak.
LAPD is an organization who relies on power, force, secrecy, cronyism rather than meritocracy, fear tactics, and money. This man has no reason to hurt people when he’s never done so before. LAPD has no reason to not vilify him– if they tell you the truth you sympathize with a man who is on a mission to bring their behavior to light. Then, their power structure, corrupt and rotten at its core, crumbles. Their top dogs have to stand up in front of us and admit what they’ve done. The empire falls… These men have blood on their hands and money in their pockets. They will stop at nothing to retain the fear driven power they’ve got.
Please take the time to read the manifesto and case file if you haven’t. Please read about the other cases coming to light regarding the corruption and criminal behavior of these officers. These are not the good guys. I don’t think murdering anyone is the answer, but I do understand why he chose this route. He is essentially sacrificing himself to surface this awful behavior. If we don’t stand up together as citizens and demand honest leadership and values then this man dies in vain just like everyone before him that he’s trying to protect.
(Sorry for the long comment, and thank you for such amazing articles, author. It’s my first time reading, and I will definitely follow from now on!)
February 11, 2013 at 8:40 amSome of you people need to learn how to READ!!!! It’s says they are using a drone (which is a flying remote-controlled camera) to find him! It says NOTHING about executing him. Learn reading comprehension people!!!! Guess what… It’s the same as police cameras on light poles except these can be maneuvered through air to find this guy faster!!!
“The thermal imaging cameras the drones use may be our only hope of finding him.
February 11, 2013 at 3:43 pmDroning In A Sea Of Love
http://amicuscuria.com/wordpress/?p=8838
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March 22, 2013 at 5:45 pm