Governmental Body/Entity: Mesa County Sheriff's Office
Type of Drone: CLMax Engineering Falcon Unmanned Ariel Vehicle
Status: Active
General Location of Drone Activity: Mesa, CO
Stated objective/purpose of COA: The objective of our program is to create a higher standard of safety for members of our community by utilizing the CLMax Engineering Falcon Unmanned Ariel Vehicle in support of numerous Law Enforcement related functions which could include but are not limited to: Crash site related to interstate transport of hazardous materials Crash site related to railroad transport of hazardous materials Search & Rescue operations Reconnaissance in support of Law Enforcement operations
Effective Dates: 9/12/2011-9/11/2012
Comments: Mesa County has withheld significant information about how it wants to use its drone (see 2011 "COA_STATUS_DOCUMENT_redacted.pdf")
An excellent www site to explore below...several out there . This one also locates on an interactive map(see data above) the location of active drone efforts....and assists in finding legal countermeasures if you suspect one is being used in your area.
According to this www site there is a sheriff using a spy drone near Grand Junction (see above).......drones with any up duration carry highly flamable fuel and in the west are obviously forrest fire hazzards with attendant liability regardless who is using the devices.
Stated objective/purpose of COA: The objective of our program is to create a higher standard of safety for members of our community by utilizing the CLMax Engineering Falcon Unmanned Ariel Vehicle in support of numerous Law Enforcement related functions which could include but are not limited to: Crash site related to interstate transport of hazardous materials Crash site related to railroad transport of hazardous materials Search & Rescue operations Reconnaissance in support of Law Enforcement operations
Wow, that's about as specific as chucking a cow pie at the broad side of a barn. "Drone will be used for various and sundry Law Enforcement related activities... You know, taking aerial photos of the Sheriff's annual summer picnic, other stuff that we want to use it for..."
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
BTW.....the postings are open ans disclosed.....that is positive. There is a new industry addressing countermeasures to be used by industries and private individuals.....big business opportunity. ALL information between a drone and the controller is RF based......just like radio controled a model airplanes.....FCC controls the frequency bands but the info can be encrypted.....defeat via interfering with the intel signals (visual mostly).....good old fashion engineering fun....
Private parties must have liability insurance in most areas.....for good reason....fly one into a home by accident or a person......very risky....again a real threat is a poorly trained ground controller flying a fuel laden drone into a forrest......and to be sure the deputy dog cowboys will not necessarily be well trained.......add to that the issues the FAA have raised.......we are really a way from any concern.....but be prepared. IF it can happen....it will.
