COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - It turned into a bank robbery straight out of the videos. 4 masked, heavily armed guys opening hearth inside and outside a Wells Fargo branch on Two Notch street ultimate November.
It brought a swarm of Richland County officers to the area. As they looked for the suspects, bystanders may see and listen to some of the police helicopters overhead.
What most might also not have viewed turned into a plenty smaller, quieter aircraft: a battery-powered, remote managed, video-equipped mini-chopper.
it be compact adequate to fit in a vehicle trunk however in fact no longer a toy.
"We had suspects going at the back of a residence and which we could not clear except we had the precise helicopter and the special response crew respond, so we in fact deployed this and checked the rear of the house before the deputies definitely replied," noted Deputy Marcus Kim, the helicopter's pilot.
Kim also helped alter it for surveillance use and is regarded considered one of legislation enforcement's surest operators.
"after we want whatever thing short and quick, we can install this," stated Kim. "i will get on scene quicker than the specific, the real helicopter that we have. we will set up this a lot sooner and we can in reality see basically the accurate equal aspect a real helicopter can see from there."
And Kim can see plenty. donning a special pair of goggles, he can watch are living video of anything else in range of the copter's nostril-installed camera, which issues civil libertarians.
Victoria Middleton is govt Director of the South Carolina ACLU chapter. She and the country wide corporation say cameras that may commute basically anyplace raise severe questions on privateness and constitutional rights.
"We're very involved about them probably getting used for mass surveillance of the colossal majority of legislations-abiding residents," noted Middleton.
"I suggest there is no doubt that it could serve a valuable aim in search and rescue, in fire protection cases, in pursuing criminals and resolving crimes," endured Middleton. "We're simply very involved about invading people's privateness. We're worried about surveilling definite communities since it can be that communities of color or other definite neighborhoods are available in for more surveillance than others."
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has heard feedback like those because his branch acquired the RC helicopter greater than two years ago.
"We're going after these americans who're breaking the legislations," spoke of Lott. "and that is the reason what or not it's going for use for. it's going for use to retailer people's lives. it's going to be used to arrest dangerous guys. it is what we're going to use it for. We're no longer going to be peeking into anyone's windows, seeing what they're doing. Or in the back of closed doorways. it really is now not what it's designed for."
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