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North Dakota sheriff gets drone license
pioneer press ^ | 12-6-12 | ap

Posted on 12/06/2012 8:02:32 AM PST by TurboZamboni

The Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department has received a federal license to use a miniature helicopter drone as a law enforcement tool across 16 northeastern North Dakota counties.

The drone carries a camera and no weapons. It weighs 2 pounds and can easily be carried in a squad car.

The drone could have many uses, Sheriff Bob Rost said. Those could include finding lost children or escaped prisoners, monitoring a hazardous material spill or checking flood conditions, according to the Grand Forks Herald.

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


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; domestic; drone; spying
we have our eyes on you, comrade.
1 posted on 12/06/2012 8:02:36 AM PST by TurboZamboni
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To: TurboZamboni

I sure hope it doesn’t get shot down.


2 posted on 12/06/2012 8:06:04 AM PST by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Gone Galt, 11/07/12)
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To: TurboZamboni

Having lived in ND, I can say that it has a small population and lots of open space, which include the rugged badlands. The extreme cold weather they endure also makes it good sense to employ the use of a drone. It could be helpful in finding a person lost out in that bitter cold a lot faster.

IMO, a drone makes sense up there.


3 posted on 12/06/2012 8:06:57 AM PST by basil (Second Amendment Sisters.org)
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To: basil
You make a good point about SAR, but Grand Forks is on the wrong end of the state for badlands. The Red River Valley is so flat, the open ocean has more curvature (seriously).

The east side is the Liberal side, just look at the results of the last Senate election. Two major Universities (In ND, Moorhead State is in MN), one Air Base (GF), and no oil over there.

4 posted on 12/06/2012 8:16:32 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: TurboZamboni

Honestly, I hate to sound like a conspiracy nut, but these drones have me worried. It’s all well and good that gun sales are going through the roof, but I really fear the day when drones - armed drones - will be used against citizens in the name of “anti-terrorism”.

Think of the government in Waco, or with Randy Weaver on steroids. Now, through in an armed drone with thermal imaging capabilities and one can easily see the evil that the government could unleash. And there is no doubt in my mind that the corrupt MSM would be cheering such action on.


5 posted on 12/06/2012 8:34:23 AM PST by Obadiah (How do you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a muzzle flash?)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

A shotgun should do the trick.


6 posted on 12/06/2012 8:37:41 AM PST by Rennes Templar (Be positive: America is greater than Obama.)
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To: TurboZamboni

“When everyone has drones, drones will have everyone”


7 posted on 12/06/2012 8:49:54 AM PST by bigbob
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To: Smokin' Joe

Grand Forks gets darned cold, too—and a child can wander away from home in that area.

Other than Williston, which is experiencing a real oil boom right now, there just aren’t many large towns up there.

I also pretty much trust the governing bodies around there. I didn’t run in to many wild-eyed liberals while we were living there.

I still think that ND is one place where having a drone makes good sense.


8 posted on 12/06/2012 8:56:35 AM PST by basil (Second Amendment Sisters.org)
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To: TurboZamboni
"The Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department has received a federal license to use a miniature helicopter drone as a law enforcement tool across 16 northeastern North Dakota counties."

Why does a *county* sheriff need permission to operate in 16 counties?

9 posted on 12/06/2012 8:58:50 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: TurboZamboni

Just what we needed...........Barney Fife with a buzz-bomb.


10 posted on 12/06/2012 10:05:00 AM PST by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: Minutemen

It’s for the children. /sarcasm.


11 posted on 12/06/2012 10:42:05 AM PST by virgil
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To: TurboZamboni

Good way to find where the elk are hiding come hunting season.


12 posted on 12/06/2012 11:12:34 AM PST by fattigermaster
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To: basil
It could be helpful in finding a person lost out in that bitter cold a lot faster.

or coyotes, or a herd of white tails.....

13 posted on 12/06/2012 11:16:50 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon.....)
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To: Joe 6-pack
Why does a *county* sheriff need permission to operate in 16 counties?

He doesn't have legal jurisdiction in any other county except his own and he's the only one with the drone

14 posted on 12/06/2012 11:23:23 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon.....)
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To: Rennes Templar
The home version of this is gonna be a huge seller


15 posted on 12/06/2012 11:23:36 AM PST by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: Hot Tabasco
"He doesn't have legal jurisdiction in any other county except his own and he's the only one with the drone."

So the federal government can give him jurisdiction to operate in another sheriff's county?

16 posted on 12/06/2012 11:29:55 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: nascarnation

Could have some fun with one of these....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctsF8USk_nE


17 posted on 12/06/2012 11:32:38 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack
So the federal government can give him jurisdiction to operate in another sheriff's county?

Noooooooooo, just a license to fly that thing and he can make himself and the drone available to whichever county requests his services......

If you've got a better explanation then you've probably got access to a heck of a lot more info than this article cited.

18 posted on 12/06/2012 11:46:22 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon.....)
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