So how long before police start using drones to snipe active shooters??

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:11:15 -0400

Given the unprecedented (in policing) use of a robot to blow up last night's shooter (something I'm wholly on board with, he needed to be put down, and no more cops needed hurting to do it), do you think this moves us closer to police drones having the ability to snipe criminals? Would you be on board with that, or is that too much? What say you, RP members?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2016 5:13 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:13:33 -0400

SN Greg Wright I fear that the drone wars are closer than most realize.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 8 at 2016 5:15 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:15:36 -0400

Give them time, they'll come up with a way to do it.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jul 8 at 2016 5:19 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:19:19 -0400

SN Greg Wright - Interesting concept. It's kinda like RoboCop meets the Terminator. Drones? Granted the technology is available. However, at what price tag? And how many drones would it take to satisfactorily patrol a major metropolitan area. Yet, I can envision drones being employed by SWAT, or the like, to monitor suspects... Hey, this is actually very "Big Brother." But, I'll bet taxpayers will be on-board sooner than one might think. Interesting concept... very interesting.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2016 5:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:23:56 -0400

They don't shoot out of choppers so why would they use drones?

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jul 8 at 2016 5:25 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:25:35 -0400

In cases like last night I don't really care what they use. Much better than getting more cops killed and less likely to cause collateral deaths than a shoot out downtown.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 8 at 2016 5:31 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:31:33 -0400

I suppose artillery would be out of the question...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 8 at 2016 5:32 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:32:40 -0400

I concur with your point about the "use of a robot to blow up last night's shooter" SN Greg Wright. Using real-time surveillance for potential explosive protests such as Black Lives Matter makes sense. I wouldn't advocate lethal drones at this point but surveillance drones capable of monitoring heat, electronic and heat signatures from unexpected places make senses.
This is a challenging situation which reminds me of when JFK was shot by a sniper. A whole host of changes were made to security protocols for presidential motorcades, appearances and itinerary as well as how the Secret service would be used before during and after an appearance.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jul 8 at 2016 5:35 PM

Cpl Mark A. Morris — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:35:11 -0400

Good afternoon,
In Guardian's of the Galaxy they had drones with automatic fire. The ROE appeared a bit loose in the movie.
M. Morris RVT

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jul 8 at 2016 6:33 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 18:33:46 -0400

We take out terrorists with drones. So the next step would be police drones taking out bad guys. I can already hear the uproar over that possibility...lol

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jul 8 at 2016 7:36 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 19:36:24 -0400

Same thing as a robot....Works for me anytime....

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jul 8 at 2016 8:47 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 20:47:24 -0400

As time goes on, men become more powerful and technology advances faster than before. Killer drones--out of your control--are inevitably coming.

Used to be that even the most powerful man could only affect people within his physical grasp, and his power projection was limited to his walking speed.
The village protected itself by developing power-sharing arrangements, like fiefdoms and democracies.

Now it's pretty easy for a man to kill others hundreds of yards away, and he can move his killing power from place to place as fast as Jet Blue can take him there.
The nation protects itself by monitoring the population and keeping armed police at the ready everywhere you might go.

In perhaps our kids' generation, a man will have the power of remote control WMDs, and will be able to project that power around the world through the Internet.
How will society protect us then?

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2016 11:02 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 23:02:00 -0400

Police shootings are, at its core, based on a fear reaction. If you take the danger away, most of the shootings will stop. The fear many cops have are generated by a perpetual narrative that black men are dangerous. This is stereotyping based on self preservation and that will not changed until the perception goes away. If you can insert technology to reduce this danger, I would be all for it.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 8 at 2016 11:12 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 23:12:11 -0400

@SN Greg Wright SN Greg Wright We must always bear in mind the Blue Lives matter!

Response by SPC Kirk Gilles made Jul 9 at 2016 12:23 AM

SPC Kirk Gilles — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 00:23:44 -0400

Good question. The issue may be about Due Process By Robot. The family of Mr Johnson has already stated he was "Murdered" by the robot.
This concept is related to Traffic Radar guns. Cops who use radar may get this. We must visually estimate the speed of the car in question. Then we can look at the radar speed as a back up. That's how it is intended anyway. Reason? We, the People, are not ready to let the Machines decide yet. It's still a people process. Are we ready for the machines to decide? Can't put it back in the box.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made Jul 9 at 2016 7:27 AM

SSG Roderick Smith — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 07:27:40 -0400

SN Greg Wright, it will be a long time before that happens. The only platform that exists right now with that type of capability is very similar to your run of the mill EOD robot, but instead of robotic arms, it is fixed with a small arms weapon platform. Its like a CROW system on tracks.

Airborne drones would have to fit into small areas to make them viable. And while a fayher/son duo recently debuted a personal creation with a Glock mounted on it, its accuracy is highly questionable/nonexistent. Plus, that style and size of drone is incredible easy to take down. You would essentially just be giving the subject another weapon. There would be concerns of weight, optics, cameras, armor...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2016 12:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 12:34:19 -0400

It is my opinion the police were at war with a sniper, killing every white police officer he could. It was a war. It was similar to wars where the sniper is killing anyone in sight and a gun ship is called in to kill the sniper before there were many more soldiers killed. The police made the right decision. They were tired of this guy killing the police. Drastic measures call for drastic actions. I thought it was a clever thing to do. It ended the siege and that was the purpose of using the robot.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jul 9 at 2016 12:38 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 12:38:26 -0400

Should be another tool added to the toolbox for some police departments.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 9 at 2016 2:31 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 14:31:48 -0400

I'm a Geek CTOSN, There is a reason I chose our Field, I'm down with about any Technology.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 11 at 2016 3:04 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:04:27 -0400

SN Greg Wright Why not? Whatever it takes to get trash like this off the streets and protect our policeman and civilians alike! I say do it!

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made Jul 13 at 2016 1:40 AM

PFC Stephen Eric Serati — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 01:40:56 -0400

There r Pros &Cons.

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made Jul 13 at 2016 2:15 PM

PFC Stephen Eric Serati — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:15:21 -0400

The Police were out gunned period,that could be fixed without the use of a killer robot.The UN wanted to ban killer robots,and now we have opened a door that not only every Nation but corporations,gangs,anybody with the means will exploit.I would warn you this is the next evolution in warfare.With that said Im all into AI and Robotic technology and using it in peaceful endeavors,passing legislation regulating the use of this technology,teaching them ethics,and morals.Hypothetical:a Human Infantry squad against a Robotic Infantry Squad able to adapt and maneuver in any terrain without sleep,or routine problems associated with the human condition,access to the World Wide Web instantly,superhuman strength and healing capabilities taught to think.I advise CAUTION.

Response by PO3 Ron Hinton made Mar 1 at 2017 12:59 PM

PO3 Ron Hinton — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:59:48 -0500

The government will have to pay millions nationally for equipment and training to use it. Unless there is martial law then it won't happen