Tiny cameras soon to be among Chico police tools

[shanti]

(this is scary!) :scared:

http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135%7E25088%7E2291900,00.html

Tiny cameras soon to be among Chico police tools

By ARI COHN - Staff Writer

Tiny portable surveillance cameras, paid for by federal Homeland Security grants, soon will help police monitor crime-prone places in Chico.

Between eight and 10 of the cameras, which are less than one-inch-square and can be equipped with night vision, are expected to arrive at the Chico Police Department next week, said Tim Truby, a community services officer in the special operations division.

He said the cameras can transmit to a maximum range of 700 feet through walls, or up to 15 miles line-of-sight.

"We can have multiple locations," he said.

*snip*

[Heyo]

1. What, pray tell...

... is the planned use of these things?

I could see either good or bad in this depending on how they are used...

Heyo

[MadHound]

3. There is no good in this, the ramping up of our surveillance society

Quite frankly it has gone too far anyway, and the addition of even more intrusive, covert surveillance is an affront to our civil liberties. As it is, in any major city a person cannot go a block without their picture being taken, their movements being monitored. Now we're going to install even more? Not good friend, not good at all.

The purported use of these things is to combat graffiti vandals, anarchists and terrorist. But hey, if they happen a bust a dope smoker or a dozen, all the better, eh? Also, historically the term "anarchist" has been used as a catchall to describe virtually any leftist that the authorities want to demonize. Gee, that could very well include you and me friend, think about it.

A good book to read more on this subject is Jim Redden's "Snitch Culture"<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0922915636/102-1414191-9511336>

[Heyo]

7. A dope smoker...?

Thank God.. I feel so much safer.

It's nice to know that the police have already gotten ann the rapists amd murderers and theives off the streets, so that they can now focus their efforts to make sure nobody endagers our safety by sitting on his couch smoking a joint.

I just don't feel safe with those potheads out there. You know what that stuff does to people... a pot smoker is liable to kill a person in a blind rage and not even realize it, jump off the roof because they think they can fly... oh, and you know you might overdose and die the very first time you try it, and they're constantly trying to push it on little kids to get them hopelessly addicted...

:dunce:

The WoD is a SHAM.. and it's a CRIME.

Disband the DEA NOW!

Heyo

[gatlingforme]

2. Interesting, the camera has the ability to see thru walls>>>?

[shanti]

4. that's what the story says...

but a small community like chico needs these?? if chico has them, we can be assured that larger communities have them as well!

[gatlingforme]

6. That is scary. I really think this is going overboard, our privacy

is being violated much more than it ever has before. I wonder what the people think that live in the area where the cameras can see thru the walls, I would protest this to the hilt.

[Nomad559]

5. see thru walls

The camera cannot see thru walls, It can transmit a signal thru walls, up to a range of 700 feet.

[enki23]

8. i was wondering where they got "see through" from "transmit through"

yeesh.

think people. unless this camera is taking pictures on very different frequencies than visible light, the only walls it will be looking through will be made of glass. (or clear plastic, or acrylic, or... well, you get the picture. (or you will, if you aren't behind a wall.))