The Miami-Dade Police Department finally stands ready to launch their two Honeywell T-Hawk micro air vehicles, or MAVs, the next time a shooting standoff or hostage situation could use a bird’s eye boost, more than two years after acquiring the equipment.
“It has no weapons,” said Sergeant Andrew Cohen, one of the county’s 12 pilot officers. “It’s just a camera, basically a flying camera.” Cohen says the same device was sent to inspect nuclear reactors in Japan following the 2011 tsunami. He also says it will save officers’ lives. “You’re trying to minimize risk to any of our officers and equipment as well.”
Addressing privacy questions, Cohen noted that the devises were pretty noisy. “You’re not sneaking up on someone,” he said, emphasizing the MAVs will be used in limited situations where an aerial view in a tactical confrontation could prove helpful.
The agency received the MAVs in August 2009 thanks to a Department of Justice grant. Cohen said the entire system is worth about $200,000.
Source: NBC Miami