The Collin County Observer

KDAF, Channel 33 reports that the Collin County Sheriff's $235,000 grant request to purchase 6 unmanned drones has been shot down by the FAA.

The Channel 33 story has a really cool video of a new Star Wars looking drone being tested in Miami.

Bill

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Sheriff's Department Forced to Ground Drone Plan

Dawn Tongish / The 33 News
June 12, 2009

Watch video report

McKinney - The Collin County Sheriff's Department hoped to put drones on patrol, but the proposal may be grounded because of a twist that officials just discovered. A good chunk of the county is in restricted air space because of DFW Airport, making it off limits to the drones.

That is disappointing to McKinney Grandfather, Tommy Guynes. He would have liked to see the unmanned aircraft in the skies over Collin County, helping to keep the community safe. "We need to use all the technology we can to battle the evil that is in this world", says Guynes.

Officials with the sheriff's department hoped to add 6 of the remote-controlled drones, like those used in war zones like Afghanistan, to patrol from high in the sky. Authorities applied for a $235,000 government grant to make the purchases that would have been spread out over many police departments in the county.

But, Major Mike Anderson learned of the air space issue, Friday. "The FAA puts these controls on and that would include most of the Southwest corner of the county, along with much of Lake Lavon and those are the areas where this would have been most beneficial. It does give you eyes in the sky because now we are relying on Dallas Police and DPS for a helicopter when a search is underway".

The drone proposal is not without opposition. Kiley Gamble says she doesn't want drones snooping overhead. "I feel like they would infringe on privacy, even if they are intended for good use". But, it could be just a matter of time until the drones are a reality. The Federal Aviation Administration is doing test studies with police in Houston and Miami, trying to find a way to make drones work in urban areas.

FAA officials say they do want to work with police departments, but a spokesman says it has to find a way to make sure the technology is reliable and safe for people in the air and on the ground. But, Collin County officials aren't completely giving up on the dream of drones. They hope one day you'll see a high-flying police tool, sharing the skies.

link to article and video....