Victoria Police to create a drone squadron.

[skippydiesel]

In truth there are many occupations that entail heightened risk - farming has one of the highest , mineral extraction, oil rigs, emergency services, construction of all sorts, etc etc. What about the poor buggers in Qld cutting artificial stone, going down with silicosis?. The police volunteer, just like nearly every other worker - it suits them & the authorities to place them on a pedestal, but in my view they are little different from any other worker.  I feel sorry for all those who end up killed or injured at work or have their lives cut short,  suffering terribly befor death claims them, due to work related disease - not just the cops.  

 

 

[Tasmag]

In truth there are many occupations that entail heightened risk - farming has one of the highest , mineral extraction, oil rigs, emergency services, construction of all sorts, etc etc. What about the poor buggers in Qld cutting artificial stone, going down with silicosis?. The police volunteer, just like nearly every other worker - it suits them & the authorities to place them on a pedestal, but in my view they are little different from any other worker.  I feel sorry for all those who end up killed or injured at work or have their lives cut short,  suffering terribly befor death claims them, due to work related disease - not just the cops.  

 

Except you wouldn't call a stonr cutter when you needed help, but would be quick to critique any response that didn't fit your narrow view, and experience.

 

 

[onetrack]

There are 5 cops on the side of my Missus' family. FIL was a Superintendent (now deceased), BIL was Snr Sgt and occasionally Acting Inspector. His son has been a Drug Squad detective (you've probably seen him on TV leading drug busts), went back to being OIC of a suburban cop shop (by request) - then he got called on again to become a Liaison Officer, travelling to the U.S. to co-ordinate operations with the FBI, DEA and other major U.S. agencies.

 

You may have noticed some really major drug busts involving global drug lords in recent times, he was part of organising those busts. The Chinese Triads are the worst, they mainly operate out of HK, and the Chinese Police are often unco-operative with Western Police forces, for reasons you can well guess at.

 

The bottom line is, these blokes continually put their lives on the line. On the beat they are called on continually to break up violent fights, deal with drink and drug-affected offenders, and extremely violent offenders (who are nearly always armed today, and those offenders often harbour a vicious and murderous attitude, to anyone in a blue uniform).

 

To add to that, they have to deal with the overpowering and exceptionally dangerous chemicals when they (almost daily) find clandestine drug labs, have to deal with being knifed, bitten, spat on, abused, kicked and punched, on a nearly daily basis.

 

I'm a Vietnam Veteran and I've seen some sights people shouldn't have to see - but Police are exposed to violent and gruesome murders virtually weekly, all their working life - and the worst ones are the murdered children.

 

My BIL was attacked and bashed by a large group of Aboriginals when he was surrounded and outnumbered as he went to arrest an offender - a situation which often confronts most coppers when they have to make an arrest.

 

All in all, I would not be copper for $250,000 a year - and yet the base pay rate for a newly-instituted Constable in W.A. is $57,000 a year - about the same as a bus driver.

 

Don't criticise the Police - yes there are some dills amongst them, and a handful of corrupt cops - but as the old Pirates of Penzance song goes, "a policemans lot is not a happy one".

 

 

[skippydiesel]

Except you wouldn't call a stonr cutter when you needed help, but would be quick to critique any response that didn't fit your narrow view, and experience.

 

Narrow view ?? - you might like to rethink that observation.

 

I thought I had made my points clear - I am not against the police, only the  placing of them above the rest of the community and in doing so making them less accountable for their actions.

 

It is in the interests of Government to elevate the military & paramilitary (it is also in their interest) No one is suggesting that their work can not be denagerouse from time to time. It is however obvious from the record of work related injury & death that many other work environments are as dangerous (possibly more so) but these workers do not have their endeavours lauded by the authorities & media (propaganda). Why? because that work does not involve control of people. 

 

For the Government it is desirable that the police/military be placed on a pedestal - that way their actions will be subject to less scrutiny and the military/police themselves will be less inhibited/questioning about carrying out dubious actions/programs. 

 

A flow on effect of this (universal) philosophy, is the potential for corruption of our police for personal or monetary gain, their ability to kill in circumstances where sub lethal actions could and should have been implemented AND not be charged with murder/manslaughter (even be commended & promoted).

 

I think highly of any worker who is dedicated to his/her profession and  through their work supports the community (including the police). 

 

 

[skippydiesel]

 

Don't criticise the Police -

 

This sentiment is the one that horrifies me - It may be a fantasy view of life but to me no person or profession should be above criticism/scrutiny and accountability.

 

Reality may be different but this does not change my personal view.

 

 

[Frankus1aust]

Interesting...FGN is 4 NM south of YMEN and inside CTR.

 

The rules say a drone must not be flown:

 

• closer than 30 m to people — other than those helping to fly or navigate your drone
   
  
• over or above people at any time or height
   
  
• in a way that creates a hazard to another person, aircraft or property
   
  
• near emergency situations
   
  
• in prohibited or restricted airspace
   
  

 

Guess Police are exempt, hey?

 

There is the drone license which allows you to be exempt from those rules. You will also need to submit a flight plan and read the local Notams and list a Notam of your activities under some circumstances.