18 October 2011

Law enforcement technology bags a laser user


Be prepared to be impressed by the imaging and location technology this police helicopter employs after some dude on the ground decides to shine a green laser at the pilot.

Via Boing Boing.

14 comments:

  1. Wow, that was interesting! I saw a follow up of that video where they showed how blinding those lasers are to pilots. The guy who shined the laser at the helicopter was at a press conference and publicly apologized and took responsibility. That was refreshing.

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  2. Less than 10 minutes. Right. Removing from prank list in 3.. 2.. 1.. now.

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  3. Interesting that the laser didn't show up perceptibly on IR. The way most work is by pumping a crystal with an intense IR LED. The cheaper green lasers don't filter the IR out very well.

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  4. To be honest I am a little frightened by the imaging and location technology this police helicopter employs.

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  5. Agree with nolandda, I found the whole thing quite chilling. What I didn't understand is why they needed 10+ officers to arrest a non-violent suspect? I'll grant that the guy is a grade-A moron, but still ...

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  6. I also agree with nolandda. Watching that was kind of unsettling. That's why I blogged it.

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  7. Presumably they published this video because it *was* a very fast and overwhelming response to the incident. They're not going to show off videos of anything less. While lasering a helicopter may not be a violent act, it is dangerous to the crew, and it's interfering with the apprehension of a *real* violent suspect. That warrants a fast response in my book. I do wonder why they ended up with ten cops on the scene, though.

    The imaging is remarkable. Note to self, helicopters can now see in the dark.

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  8. @Skipweasel: Law enforcement makes use of forward looking infrared radar ("FLIR"), which operates in ranges which fall outside near-infrared (likely what visible light lasers will be emitting if poorly-filtered).

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  9. Of course it's violent. Why do you think he's doing it?

    The more cameras on the public, the better.

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  10. Google Carnivore, Altivore,and Echelon. Skynet is almost here.

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  11. I hate cops. From a managerial perspective, they look ridiculously incapable and not confident in their ability to take down 1 freakin guy--this is why they need 10 cops there

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  12. @Anonymous #1 - That argument is about the most egregious non sequitur I have ever had the displeasure of reading in these comments.

    Did it occur to you that it applies equally to anything ever done by humans ever:

    "Look at those children playing jump rope." -> Of course it is violent why do you think they are doing it?

    "Look at that guy taking pictures of the police." -> Of course it is violent why do you think he is doing it?

    The more cameras on the police, police stations, and interrogation rooms the better.

    In general one can assume a situation where the public is allowed to watch the powerful is a social good and a situation where the powerful are allowed to monitor the weak in secret is a social evil.

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  13. At last, marshall law will be enforcible. We will finally be safe at night!
    was...Anyone caught outside after curfew will be shot.
    will someday be...Anyone caught outside after curfew will be neutralized by drone missiles deployed by high altitude monitoring stations.

    Report violators of curfew: the lives you save may be your own.

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  14. Marshall Law is a series on the television here in Australia. You meant "martial" law.

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