Did Party-Goers Spot a Miami-Dade Police Drone Spying on a Beach Party?
- Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:54am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
In 2011, the Miami-Dade Police Department received the first permit in Florida from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate unarmed drones as local law enforcement. The department was ready to unleash these drones earlier this year, but just what are they being used for? According to a video that’s surfaced recently, there’s talk at least one was spying on a beach party. But is that true?
(Related: Where are the 63 drone sites approved by the FAA in the U.S.?)
The YouTube video raises the question of whether the drones are being used to monitor a Memorial Day weekend party on Miami beach. In the video, a party-goer spots the drone and says, “That’s the police.”
Miami beach partygoers speculated this was a police drone, while others think it was a private, hobby drone. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
Is it, though? As previous media reports on the law enforcement drones note, such as one by the Miami New Times, the Miami drones are generally reserved for more drastic or potentially dangerous situations where monitoring with technology would be safer:
“We pretty much have to wait for a situation where we’ve got a shooter with a long rifle in a standoff,” says Sgt. Andrew Cohen, of the MDPD’s aviation unit. “That’s really the optimal situation we have to use this technology.”
Cohen said in a separate occasion to NBC Miami that the drones would not be “sneaking up on someone” and only used in limited situations.
Additionally, the two drones acquired by the city through a 2009 grant — a system worth $200,000 — have been described as looking like an office wastebasket. The drone seen in the recent YouTube video appears slightly different, which is not to say it is or isn’t one used by law enforcement, but that it should be noted private citizens could have been the ones operating it. One commenter even says he thinks it is a private “hobby quadcopter.” That’s certainly possible, as The Blaze has also reported on instances where the media has used drones to capture aerial footage. and private use is on the rise.
This drone was shown being tested by the Miami police. (Image: NBC Miami screenshot)
With more law enforcement units investing in drone technology, the FAA was tasked this year to create new rules that would open up the sky by 2015 for more military, private and civilian drone use.
Watch this footage of the Miami-Dade Police Department testing out its drones:
Fox News also reported today about the hacking potential some drone systems carry with them. It stated “with the right equipment, anyone can take control of a GPS-guided drone and make it do anything they want it to.”
Here is video footage of what was allegedly a police drone taken over a Memorial Day beach party in Miami (Note: The drone makes about a short appearance at 3:30 into the clip. The majority of the clip focuses on bikini-clad partygoers and fancy cars cruising the strip):
(H/T: Gizmodo)
Update: Miami New Times reported the police department spokesperson saying the drone seen hovering over the beach was not of the MDPD. The spokesperson even said they aren’t authorized to fly over a crowd of people like that and it would have been grounds for them to lose their certification.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 685 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 533 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 441 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 331 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 294 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 182 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (121)
Best_Patriot
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:55pmLOL, this site‘s idea of reporting is akin to an 8th grader’s! A disturbingly high percentage of headlines are questions. Why are you asking us questions? Shouldn’t you be doing some research and providing some answers? No wonder nobody takes Beck seriously. What a joke.
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:40pmRight, just like his prediction that Egypt would be run by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Basharr
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:48pmPerhaps provoking thought vs telling you “how” it is? I mean MSNBC tells people how it is and it is usually slanted or outright deceit. I like to make up my mind about the questions posed.
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:51pmHaha, Basharr, that’s a good one!
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:51pmWell you could go away if it doesn’t float your boat..
Report Post »A Lynn
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:55pmGBTV has 2.2 daily PAID viewers. If you mean nobody, as in YOU being a nobody, takes him seriously then you are right. However, at least 2.2 PAID subscribers DO take him seriously. Get your facts straight buddy because I can promise you Glenn Beck has his facts right.
Report Post »A Lynn
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:58pmBTW 2.2 million viewers was information posted by the Wall Street Journal as of March 2012 and that figure has continued to grow ever since.
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 4:20pm2.2 million lost sheep, apparently! BA-A-A-A!
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 4:55pmPoor BEST_PATRIOT, the sad part about your post is you really don’t get it do you? Or do you? Is this you Nancy??
Report Post »US-First
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 5:16pmGood reporting does ask questions. Good reporting also searches for truth not answers. Obama and his choom are full of answers but you couldn’t get the truth from them if it came with 1,000,000 gay votes. Obviously you like someone else finding the answers and then you just spew the Kool-Aid as if you know the truth.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 5:32pmWhen did really really fat become sexy?
Report Post »BenzinVasser
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 6:11pm@Neofan…Fat is still nasty in most books…LOL! Gawd..just imagine…never mind… blahgh! the cheesy sweat. oh god I said it, in that hot air….. with the fat rolls,rolling, sweating…. percolating. OK, I’m done now, I’m gonna go throw up. It must be a culture difference, sorry.
Report Post »koyettsu
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 6:20pmI don’t think you understand the way reporting is supposed to work? I would rather be given the information and make my own decision on that information. If you dislike this kind of reporting you might want to check out msnbc, cnn, nbc, new york times, etc.
Report Post »ronnie-sees-the-truth
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 6:36pmWe have to stand up for our rights, they are being trampled everyday. Next, they plan to arm these drones against US citizens! Imagine getting shot while camping or fishing. Maybe because you joine a 9/12 group or a tea party, or an OWS rally. This power should NEVER be given to the government against it’s own people. How do you know who will be in power next? http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/05/30/announces-plans-to-arm-domestic-surveillance-drones-missiles-139411/
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 7:55pmBetsy won’t go away. He/She/It enjoys being mocked and ridiculed. Hi Betsy.
Report Post »SaintzOfAk
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 9:35pmThe sins of Cain alive and well. A Lynn, you stated “Get your facts straight buddy because I can promise you Glenn Beck has his facts right”. I think what you meant to say is that Glenn Beck has Alex Jone’s facts straight you dumba$$…do your homework you drone.
Report Post »TACHYON
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:12pmThank you Best_Patriot. I too have noticed some bad journalism on this site. There are definitely some Godless leftist that write articles for the Blaze.
Report Post »gulph
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 8:35amThe format of the headline is fundamental to The Blaze reporting style. Where the reader is challenged to make up his own mind by examining not only the evidence in the story but any other news of the subject. The premise is that we must have our own opinion, formed by our own research, instead of accepting the spoon fed drivel offered by the leftist mass media.
Report Post »SocialistSlayer
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:44amWelcome to the new Amirka – A communist dream come true! The police are becoming like militarized nazis in this country!
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:24amA 12 gauge would take that thing out lickity-split!
Report Post »clemV
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:11amthe drone was made for a standoff with a guy with a long-gun…LOL – the drone will be shot down by a long-gun if the guy realizes it’s spying on him. We’ve lost our country already and you neo-cons are as much to blame as the ********.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 27, 2012 at 12:55pmAsking questions is-like-yuh-noe doeink resurch….I thunk!
Report Post »LoadDrive1
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:29pmYep…Time to get your “Goose gun out” and CHECK The pattern ;)
Report Post »THE MAD TACO
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:44pmHellayea,Duck bill muzzle buddy!
Report Post »TACHYON
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:15pmHell Yeah!!! An oldskool pigeon shoot!
Report Post »jackact
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:27pm…Probably Bill Maher looking for dates?
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:57amBill Maher? Good one!
Report Post »After reading this article, I’m even more opposed to drones than ever. Besides the Big Brother factor, drones can be easily hacked into & taken control of? Almost as disturning as Big Brother.
G-WHIZ
Posted on June 27, 2012 at 1:06pmHow-bout WE-the-People Hack their drones and reporgram to spy on them, even if the opposit is commanded. Or, how-bout, WE(…)le take-emover each ime they lawnch one and keep it dooin “loop-dee-loops” untill they run outa gass, or crash inta their own building.
Report Post »Sue Dohnim
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:23pmA homemade kit.. not Law enforcement…
Video from the quadcopter likely seen in video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Io8bpWANmY
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 6:00pmNew tool of peeping toms most likely.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 7:53pmNot all that peep are toms, and lots of peeps need peeping on.
Report Post »Talent-Keyhole
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:16pmLots of trashy skanks in that video. Yechhhh. As far as you people talking about shooting one down. Don’t even try. First, it’s against the law or if not there and then, they will make it against the law so as to burn you. Next, remember that what goes up must come down (even Hollywood skanks like Miley), firing bullets into the air is bad ju-ju all the way around. Now let’s talk about Countermeasures. Recall your basic radio frequency DOPE (data on previous engagements) and you will find (by looking at the FCC data base) that, lo and behold, drone radio control frequencies are listed. Understand that the hobby ones are on common public frequencies. The police and para-military ones are on frequencies which are, well surprise, surprise, Vern, on channels authorized for the police, public safety and so forth. 1) find the frequencies and plug them into your hand held scanner (preferably with direction antenna) ; 2) listen for either tones or digital bursts when the drones are in your vicinity; 30 identify those tones or bursts as related to movement of the drone if you want to, but with digital signals it will be difficult without a spectrum analyzer. Next once you have the frequencies (a task of maybe 10 minutes) you can build a burst type transmitter using common hoby parts and usually modified hand-held frequency agile hobby radios such as those made by PuxXing, the ***** radio folks. And zap away.
Report Post »superpatriot2
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 5:07pmBINGO !!!!! You are correcto my friend. A lot of Hams have the expertise and equipment to over power the controllers signal, and nose dive these puppies right into an empty lot, or in Miami’s case, a canal or the ocean. Encryption ??? can also be overcome with a little effort. A lot of smart people out here people….Good post my friend.
Report Post »TACHYON
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:20pmThank you for the research opportunity. I’ll put away the bird spreader. Any specifics you recommend?
Report Post »Banter
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:14pmAt some point, the headlines will change to “party goers spot a drone spying on them, violating their right to privacy and illegal search and seizure, and SHOOT it down!”
Report Post »Madmilo
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:14pmEwww, Yuck, Why would anyone want to spy on them? Fat,ugly chicks.
Report Post »FedUpAlready
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 2:18pmLooks like they were making a anti-obesity film, I can’t imagine so many fat women, flaunting all that junk in the trunk, in public. YUCK! It’s Enough to lose your lunch!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:09pmSome of these things are essentially flying cameras and are not as big as the one’s you see the military use routinely. They fly very high and the common person will never notice or hear them…but they can see us. More ‘1984 Orwell’ crap.
Report Post »HYPNOTOAD
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:07pmYes sir, the blacks in this country are being oppressed. Did you see those cars? I can’t afford a car like that as much as I would like one. They all looked really stressed out and put down by the crackers didn’t they? White oppression and racism is a crock.
Report Post »Guitar Master
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:57pmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Could be a prank ??
Report Post »kingssman
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:56pmLets not over freak out at a camera mounted quadcopter. At public events like these where there’s lots of cameras and various magazines and media outlets all scramming to get the “best view” of the event, a sky cam is an ideal position to get quality shots of the crowd size and an unobtrusive view of the event.
Football has a goodyear blimp doing sky cam, it wouldn’t be long before news stations pick up on this remote camera operator for doing on site arial coverage rather than calling in the news chopper just to get an arial shot of an event.
Besides, how many amateur photographers put cameras on weather balloons and rockets to get a few high altitude snapshots?
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:18pmOh, my, I have a “Whammo” sling shot that could take that sucker down in a heartbeat.
I’d then offer to be sued by the Miami police for destruction of their property and sue them for infringing my right to privacy. This one goes to SCOTUS.
Don’t bet against my chances!!!!!
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:54pmThe government “eye in the sky” is growing more intrusive by the minute. They will soon (if not already) be peering into your back yard or your windows to make sure you aren’t committing crimes against the state. Meanwhile Obama and Holder will be scheming to undermine our way of life in ways similar to Fast and Furious. http://guerillatics.com
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:52pmI can’t wait for the first person with a good shotgun to blow one of these pieces of **** out of the sky. Either that or it will be the cause of a jet liner coming down. Watch and wait folks~
Report Post »Deibido
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:46pmCouple of well-placed 45 cal’s could drop it like a rock, drop it like a rock. Ooops!
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:28pmIt looks small and fragile and was probably owned by an individual. Its still an area of concern though. Imagine a small drone with a camera that is controlled by a voyeur or just the neighborhood busybody. Our privacy would still be invaded even if its not the government doing it. Spying is spying whether it be government, corporate, or private.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:36pmAll too true.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:25pmThat looks like a “hobby quality” quadcopter. Very likely equipped with FPV (live video link) and flown by a pervert, teenager or a perverted teenager.
Difficult to separate the sheep from the goats but a 12 gauge with # 4 shot works equally well on either police or civilian quads. The military drones that are capable of delivering the same quality video while flying over 60 thousand feet are a bit more difficult top shoot down.
Report Post »Azalea
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:43pmWell, never knew what a quadcopter was until now, but I looked it up, and sure enough…the pic does look like one of them. Looks like a flying insect carrying a spider! ;)
Report Post »mjazzguitar
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:16pmMost towns have laws against discharging a firearm within city limits.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:24pmIt also appeared to be flying at a dizzying height of about 8 feet, and had large blinking lights. I wouldnt exactly call it “stealth”.
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:20pmMost likely a peeping Tom, looking to get a shot of some naked drunk girls to post to some website.
Report Post »savant
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:20pm$200,000 dollars for one of those? I am in the wrong business i built one for less than a grand and it will stay in flight longer than this. You can get everything you need at a hobby store and Radio Shack.
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:37pmMaybe we need some people to build anti-drone drones to shoot down other drones. I don’t think you even need to arm with firearms. You could use a compressed air spear type gun. I would love to see a discussion of the technical aspects of making amateur anti-drone drones on some hobby site.
Report Post »mjazzguitar
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 1:19pmMaybe something really cheap just to ram it.
Report Post »Then it would have to get some kind of defense mechanism. It would wind up like that tv show where people made remote control machines that destroyed each others.
momrules
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:20pmThere are currently 64 drone bases in the U.S. If you are interested in seeing a map of their locations click on * map of military UAV activities in the United States.*
I do not like these drones and their potential misuse in the hands of ANY government.
http://www.americablog.com/2012/06/revealed-64-drone-bases-on-us-soil.html
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:43pmnice links thanks
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:18pmA new form of skeet shooting.
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:12pmFloor Speech, Syria June 19 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=8rCvfwoRGMg&NR=1
Glenn Beck Doesn’t Want To Talk About Bilderberg
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr4V1ROQd4Q&feature=plcp
Mapache
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:08pmyes sir, send up my own little anti-drones in .308, 5.56 o5 .45
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:22pmI’m thinking 12G– PULL!
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:07pmI’ve never seen so many trashy skanky hoes in one video.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:20pmTrue.
Report Post »___
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:05pmblubber isn’t becoming
Report Post »Nathaniel Horn
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:35pmUgly cars. Fat, stupid people. Someone’s toy. Wow.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:59amshoot it down.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:08pmagreed.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:20pmI will.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:33pmCould be private. Could be in use for fraud or even as low as spousal fidelity issues. Perhaps one shouldn’t put oneself on display for the public eye and expect privacy. Expectations of privacy are worth a gander, but Indy please no Speedos for you either way.
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 4:27pmWhat place of privacy could you go to? Right now it’s in a house, so you’re blowing off the invasion, deep invasion of privacy these drones are posing. But let us say in five/ten years they have thermal imaging cameras and look through the walls for human heat sources; so now you’re not safe insisde (assuming they don’t just go up to the windows, or down chimney’s, or smaller drones [in the future] that go through doggie doors…).
How about when they also get HD quality video and can point a parabolic listening device and hear what you are saying in your house?
Just where do you go for privacy now? Don’t make excuses for this.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 7:48pmSo at a pimp and ho pool party get down you expect privacy? I have a bud that makes his own uav’s for fun, maybe to sell to uncle down the road. Shoot one, have at it. Check for a logo and try to see if it is live feed capable first.
Report Post »