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Back in September I wrote a post regarding the increasing prevalence of spy cameras in our society. Did we ask those who work for us to place these cameras all around the cities in which we live? How many even know about them? Just because law enforcement and other agencies can do it, does not make it right. By what right does government think they can spy on innocent citizens, other than government now seems to have the mind set that we are all guilty of something; if only we can be caught at it. Further, studies have shown time and again that these spy cameras are not cost effective and do not deter crime, let alone whatever else government is trying to deter or monitor.

Now we hear that Houston police have started testing unmanned aircraft and have endeavored to keep the event secret. Why do you think they are trying to keep it secret? Government repetitively employs the, “but now it is operational so we will have to continue the program” ploy. They hope that once a program achieves momentum that it becomes very difficult to discontinue. And it usually is.

When testing the plane was caught on KPRC Local 2 cameras the Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo of the HPD (Houston Police Department) said, “I wasn’t ready to publicize this. We still haven’t even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media.” Montalvo is a bald face prevaricator, or incompetent. Personally, I believe she is attempting to dupe the public since she told reporters that the unmanned aircraft would be used for “‘mobility’ or traffic issues, evacuations during storms, homeland security, search and rescue, and also “tactical” uses. Montalvo also admitted that the plane usage could include covert police actions and she was not ruling out someday using the drones for writing traffic tickets. Also, according to the article, “HPD is hoping to begin law enforcement from the air by June of 2008 with these new aircraft.” THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE “WE STILL HAVEN’T DECIDED HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD ON THIS TASK” … now does it? Do you want an Executive Assistant Police Chief who does not tell the truth to you? I mean, this is the police for heavens sake! Why do the citizens of Houston put up with this BS? You better control them, or they will control you.

When South Texas College of Law Profesor Rocky Rhodes expressed concerns regarding privay, HPD personnel tried to justify it with no one has objected to our helicopers and their cameras and that the press had even better cameras. Trying to cover the fact that the unmanned drones had much more powerful cameras, and were unmanned. Oh, BTW, spy cameras mounted on posts cost some $30,000 while these spy drones cost up to $1 million, each. Want to bet they will be asking for more tax money!

Citizens, you better wake up. You are paying your captors for your own captivity.

The KPRC article (includes video) entitled, “Local 2 Investigates Police Secrecy Behind Unmanned Aircraft Test” follows:

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.

Houston police cars were surrounding the land with a roadblock in place to check each of the dignitaries arriving for the invitation-only event. The invitation spelled out, “NO MEDIA ALLOWED.”

HPD Chief Harold Hurtt attended, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and dozens of officers from various police agencies in the Houston area. Few of the guests would comment as they left the test site.

News Chopper 2 had a Local 2 Investigates team following the aircraft for more than one hour as it circled overhead. Its wings spanned 10 feet and it circled at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Operators from a private firm called Insitu, Inc. manned remote controls from inside the fleet of black trucks as the guests watched a live feed from the high-powered camera aboard the 40-pound aircraft.

“I wasn’t ready to publicize this,” Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local 2 Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.

“We still haven’t even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media,” Montalvo said. “But since, obviously, the media found out about it, then I don’t see any reason why just not go forward with what we have so far.”

Montalvo told reporters the unmanned aircraft would be used for “mobility” or traffic issues, evacuations during storms, homeland security, search and rescue, and also “tactical.” She admitted that could include covert police actions and she said she was not ruling out someday using the drones for writing traffic tickets.

A large number of the officers at the test site were assigned to the department’s ticket-writing Radar Task Force. Capt. Tom Runyan insisted they were only there to provide “site security,” even though KPRC cameras spotted those officers heavily participating in the test flight.

Houston police contacted KPRC from the test site, claiming the entire airspace was restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police even threatened action from the FAA if the Local 2 helicopter remained in the area. However, KPRC reported it had already checked with the FAA on numerous occasions and found no flight restrictions around the site, a point conceded by Montalvo.

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.”

HPD Assistant Chief Vickie King said of the unmanned aircraft, “It’s interesting that privacy doesn’t occur or searches aren’t an issue when you have a helicopter pilot over you and it would not be used in airspace other than what our helicopters are used in already.”

She admitted that police helicopters are not equipped with cameras nearly as powerful as the unmanned aircraft, but she downplayed any privacy concerns, saying news helicopters have powerful cameras as well.

HPD stressed it is working with the FAA on reviewing the technical specifications, the airworthiness and hazards of flying unmanned aircraft in an urban setting. Future test flights are planned.

The price tag for an unmanned aircraft ranges from $30,000 to $1 million each and HPD is hoping to begin law enforcement from the air by June of 2008 with these new aircraft.

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The image used in this post was obtained from HERE and is basically unaltered. This article is copyright © 2007, by Gary Shumway. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and distribute it electronically and in print, other than as part of a book and provided that mention of the author’s web site www.redpills.org is included. (Email notification is requested.) All other rights reserved. Gary Shumway is the author of Winging Through America and SCUBA Scoop.