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Are Drones Being Used to Hunt Accused Calif. Cop-Killer — the ‘First Human Target’ on U.S. Soil?

Feb. 11, 2013 9:03am Liz Klimas

Editor’s note: Further reports have U.S. Customs and Border Patrol saying drones are not being used to look for Christopher Dorner. We’ve included an update at the end of this post regarding this new information.

With the manhunt for fugitive ex-police officer Christopher Dorner — a man wanted for the slayings of three people — heading into day eight, reports are that the police department will be using “all tools at our disposal,” which includes drones.

Drones Reported to Be Used in Manhunt for Christopher Dorner

This image provided by the Irvine Police Department shows Christopher Dorner from surveillance video at an Orange County, Calif., hotel. (Photo: AP/Irvine Police Department)

The U.K.’s The Express reported that Dorner was the “first human target for remotely-controlled airborne drones on US soil.” Here’s more on what officers revealed about the use of drones in this case:

A senior police source said: “The thermal imaging cameras the drones use may be our only hope of finding him. On the ground, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Asked directly if drones have already been deployed, Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz, who is jointly leading the task force, said: “We are using all the tools at our disposal.”

The use of drones was later confirmed by Customs and Border Patrol spokesman Ralph DeSio, who revealed agents have been prepared for Dorner to make a dash for the Mexican border since his rampage began.

He said: “This agency has been at the forefront of domestic use of drones by law enforcement. That’s all I can say at the moment.”

The question over the use of drones to find Dorner, who has a $1 million reward on his head for information leading to his arrest, comes as the use of such equipment has been at the forefront of public discussion after a leaked memo revealed the Obama administration’s approval of using drones against U.S. citizens, provided they are “senior operational” leaders of Al Qaeda or “an associated force.”

The hunt for Dorner began after he shot to death an assistant women’s college basketball coach and her fiance in their car in Irvine, Calif., on Feb. 3. Police later learned the woman was the daughter of a retired Los Angeles police captain who represented Dorner in disciplinary hearings that resulted in his dismissal from the force.

Three days later, police discovered Dorner’s manifesto of his thoughts about the police department and public figures such as President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the president of the NRA.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officer Ken Owens searches a home for the former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Sunday, Feb. 10. (Photo: AP/Jae C. Hong)

By Feb. 7, Riverside police were chasing a man thought to be Dorner, which resulted in one cop being grazed by a bullet. Two officers were ambushed by the man after he evaded the other officers during the chase. At this time the man killed one Riverside police officer and the other is critically injured.

The hunt over the weekend had officers in the freezing, snowy San Bernardino Mountains where Dorner’s footprints were lost near the site where his burned out truck was found. Helicopters with heat-seeking technology were deployed in the mountains near Big Bear.

As for the use of drones, the Department of Homeland Security has long been using UAVs overseas in combat zones for both surveillance and lethal strikes. More recently, DHS has been using drones for surveillance on U.S. soil, especially at the borders. Weaponized drones to be used in strikes against American citizens who have ties to terrorist organizations has only recently come to light and is spurring conversation regarding whether it is constitutional. When it comes to local police departments’ use of drones, more law enforcement across the nation have been acquiring the equipment for surveillance purposes. The FAA recently released an updated list of who has applied for drone authorization approval in the United States, thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

From what was said by officers regarding the use of drones in the manhunt for Dorner, it appears they will only be used to locate and not to take down the suspected killer. As for Dorner being the “first human target” of drones in the U.S., this isn’t necessarily the case. For example, a judge allowed the use of drones for surveillance of a citizen who was accused of stealing cows in North Dakota.

Watch this local news report regarding the manhunt and the reward offered:

Update: As we stated earlier in this post, Dorner would not technically the first man to have drones hunt for him in U.S. soil, but Gawker pointed to an interview with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol by Mashable, which state the use of drones in Droner’s case is not correct:

“Reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are being used are incorrect. CBP UAS are not flying in support of the search,” a spokesperson from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Mashable via email.

The statement from the CBP comes as others had already cast doubt on the original report’s claim.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: Gizmodo)

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Comments (33)

media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:06am
If he wanted to live with the bugs, he would have never left the military, sooner or later he will come out of hiding, or comit “suicide” since the depression of not being able to show his face in public will eventually haunt him to death?

He is way better off surrending then trying to live with that?

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DefyTYRANNY
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 6:19pm
The legos are falling into place quickly. It’s every few days now.

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1FreeVoice
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:26pm
I spoke with someone who told me the drones the permits are being considered for are too small/light to be armed. There is a bit of hysteria being whipped up that distorts the conversation. I agree we should not have armed drones. We already have helicopters that perform much the same function… at higher cost. It is far easier to block something questionable than to reign it in after it has been in place and problems develop. The police have caught plenty of bad guys etc. without these tools. Could the use of drones shorten the hunt for a criminal, and prevent him/her from doing more harm while at large? The argument can be made, but it is based on hopes that cannot be proved. Further, how free do we want our society to be? If we want more freedom, there is a price to be paid. Freedom or security… we could end up without either.

Do we want to live in a police state, with tremendous power in the hands of the supporters of the current regime? We already live in a country where the laws are selectively enforced. There are representatives passing laws to tax fast food because it is unhealthy… but they do not propose to tax escargot swimming in garlic butter which is just as unhealthy. Someone publicly violated gun laws on TV, and was not prosecuted. The double standards are blatant. The president is acting as a dictator/king and we are letting him get away with it. Why? For how long? Will it be too late when we finally get off our a***?

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lildrummerboy
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:59pm
ok this so lame..do we not see the continual use of crisis’ to clamp down on freedom..so this guy kills puts up a manifesto, which is very pro-Piers, pro-Obama and ANTI-NRA. really?!?. He now disappears. The other tools killed people and were caught. The results are the same, more gov’t crackdown. What about the so called Taliban sympathizer that was caught trying to bomb a bank to blame the tea party and in hopes to install a civil war…the gov’t is pushing and trying to provoke….they want martial law..please! call me what you want, i don’t care, but you can’t keep the blinders on for too much longer.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:31pm
This guy has lost it and now he is a murderer and must be taken down.

However if this scares the police when just 1 guy looses his mind they better get ready because if they try to enforce un-constitutional laws that will be enacted by the current president this guy will be mere child’s play compared to the civil unrest that will surely follow.

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Mapache
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:27pm
Funny, people act as if ‘drones’ has a mind of their own and are a scene out of Star Wars! A drone is simply and unmanned aircraft, sometimes armed, most time not. If allowed by law I am sure drones are being used with infrared lookdown capabilities to locate a warm body in a cold, wilderness terrain. Perhaps this use of drones may spur the state legislatures to look more carefully at the use and limitations that should be placed on drone use both at the State and Federal levels within the United States of America.

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woodyee
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:02am
LEFAUX_JEW said – “Police really rely on the decency of the public, when it gets so bad where this no longer happens in this country, than mob or gang rule will prevail.”

That all depends on who “the mob” or “the gang” are, doesn’t it? See this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X9JkSudCX4

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- LeFaux Jew
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:23am
  No not really.
  People don’t have a right to resist, thats what the court room is for.
  I was outspoken about the ATF and the WACO TX blunder as well as the FBI horrendous screw up in Ruby Ridge too.
  You self fulling prophecy addicts, are falling right into the plan.
  
  Report this comment
- LeFaux Jew
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:42am
  Also keep in mind that similar emergency situations have happened in this country where firearms were not confiscated. New Orleans hopefully learned something from this.
  I think some of there reasoning (could be argued faulty) was not to allow those weapons to fall into the hands of gangs of looters. In other parts of the country (such as LA riots as an example) it was firearms which allowed people to protects themselves and property.
  
  Report this comment
13th Imam
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:53am
Go to Seattle. The mayor said it’s a DRONE FREE ZONE

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RaydocX
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:51am
because there is a human being at the other end of the drone, i honestly do not see the big difference between drones and helicopters with their sun spots and FLIR…

Not saying they should just be up ‘scanning’ and certainly don’t believe they should be armed, but for focused/ dedicated pursuits, how is this not like the helicopters?

I’ll grant, there should NOT be recording when not in a dedicated pursuit.

and an aside, officer Owens would be better served with his sidearm out and the long gun slung if he’s going to go peeking in windows like that…

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- woodyee
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:59am
  Do you bother reading other folks comments? Just before you posted, WhatMeWorry wrote “but they should not allow an armed drone to do this or to fire at a US Citizen on home soil. Time will show if they use one to fire on him. ”
  
  THAT is what is on everybody’s minds, since the Gaybama memo’s were leaked.
  
  Report this comment
- RaydocX
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:10am
  dude, take a deep, calming breath.
  just before i posted, the post wasn’t there, just like mine wasn’t right after i hit reply.
  and yes, i do look at posts.
  
  i agree we should NOT allow armed drones up…
  but there are many claiming no drone should be up, and i will say again, how is that different from a helicopter doing the same thing, except it is a more stable platform without putting pilots at risk…
  
  try to have a happy rest of your Monday, Wood!
  
  Report this comment
Whatmeworry-never
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:45am
I understand using drones as recon and to use the heat seeing (FLIR) capabilities to hunt badguys but they should not allow an armed drone to do this or to fire at a US Citizen on home soil. Time will show if they use one to fire on him. This guy snapped and went nuts but he is going to be our landmark case for drone usage on citizens in the US borders.

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IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:34am
I figured this would be next and I hope and pray the outcome will come out with no one else being killed and that the killer gives up on his own soon without the use of a drone.

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LeFaux Jew
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:32am
Its the same thing with some of the moronic conspiracy people who keep saying that what are the cops going to do against a bunch of trained military people? Well a lot of cops come from trained military people already.
Most cops are not killed by them anyway, and it really makes no difference because when you take the oath your a target…any moron can kill a cop or another person if they want too, you don’t have to be a highly trained person to do it, and most of the time idiots do. Police really rely on the decency of the public, when it gets so bad where this no longer happens in this country, than mob or gang rule will prevail.

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:29am
.
We need a Drone Strike on the criminal in the White House……

It would be a better use of resources……

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- lildrummerboy
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:52pm
  you should be careful about your language..this could be construed as a borderline threat…
  
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BlackCrow
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:24am
This guy is either dead or safe in the arms of Obama’s people in some inner city jungle.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:19am
Use drones today to kill a cowardly murderer use them tomorrow to kill your political enemies,that’s where we’re headed and drone kills will be commonplace in the not too distant future.

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- momrules
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:37am
  Too true. There will be many who will applaud drone use to kill this man because *if it could save even one innocent life*.Some say we are on a slippery slope. I say we are at the bottom of the hill.
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:47am
  We’re getting close to the bottom and when the dollar collapses we will know true poverty and the evil that will be unleashed will be unimaginable.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:59am
  There is a considerable amount of irony in this case. The left who love the State, are now idolizing a villain that loves their Messiah, yet murders the agent enforcers of the Leftist State and their families, using tools they claim to abhor. Maybe if he, himself, is caught or murdered via drone, the left will then demand that drones be banned from use by domestic State enforcement. Thereby giving the right a victory in the individual liberty that they have been concerned about. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
  
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Zipit
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:18am
In the People’s Republic Of California? Why would this even be a Question?

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Tigress1
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:17am
This is too easy for the gov. to use this as an example supporting the use of drones. Beware!

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fastgen1
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:14am
Well the cops already have killed innocent people in the “blue pickup” They are here to serve and protect, so who was protecting the two ladies, Right!! Now it just shows you how quick the cops are to use drones to kill citizens. Remember this people, these cops will shoot you in a New York second, they are just as bad as our corrupt leaders, why do you think they have picked these psychological freaks to be cops, so they will shoot and ask questions later, just ask the ladies in the blue pickup, oh, ask the one that lived.

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American_Idle
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:13am
What a slippery slope we approach. Like taxes, this will only get worse…

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- paulusmaximus
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:27am
  True! Much more quickly then we even could imagine. How long before average Americans are the targets?
  
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SocialistSlayer
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:07am
Ha – this is funny —– He has the Corrupt Cops peeing in their pants !

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- DZ-015
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:19am
  Definitely not funny. The drones will not be armed; rather, their search capabilitys will be put to the test. Hope they help find this domestic terrorist before he kills again.
  
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- LeFaux Jew
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:24am
  Not really.
  Everyday a police officer puts on the uniform, they know it could be their last day.
  Does not matter if it is a prior military man, or some local yocal who kills them on the side of the highway while drunk and driving.
  There might be legitimate concerns with some of what Dorner said (Racism, brutality etc.) but the entire LAPD is not bad, and in his manifesto he stated he was getting back at them…and yet he kills an innocent woman and her Black fiance who is not even an LAPD cop, then a Riverside cop who is a former Marine?
  He is a deranged idiot who snapped.
  
  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=476846769030164&set=a.462153823832792.94531.238818532832990&type=1&theater
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:51am
  dude he can be the new actor for rambo.
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:52am
  LAPD must have a horrible reputation if they were made fun of by Family Guy which is a liberal biased show.
  
  Report this comment

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