OCTOBER 8--FLIR Systems Inc. (Portland, OR; www.flir.com) has been selected to participate in a technology-transfer program sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and administered by the US Army's Electronic Proving Ground. The goal of the program is to make the latest technology available to state and local law-enforcement agencies, who otherwise would not be able to procure such technology due to limited budgets, to assist them in the war on drugs. The program, operated by the ONDCP's Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC), was established by Congress in 1998 to help state and local law-enforcement agencies access the latest in counter drug technology and training as part of the US government's counter drug efforts.
The aim of the CTAC's technology-transfer program is to identify emerging new technologies that can best improve officer safety and aid in criminal apprehension. This transfer of infrared (IR) camera technology means law-enforcement personnel nationwide will have a brand new tool to help them see what the naked eye cannot: through foliage, complete darkness, fog, or in many other areas where criminals hide from the law. Infrared camera technology will also help to minimize police-officer exposure to dangerous situations, allowing them to peer around corners, into ceilings or attics or other difficult environments with minimal bodily exposure to the line of fire.
FLIR's new ThermoVision Scout IR camera was selected over numerous other competing technologies for inclusion in the list of approved products. The ThermoVision Scout incorporates the latest in IR imaging technology, offering superior tracking and apprehension capabilities for a wide variety of law-enforcement and security applications. Hand-held, lightweight, and ruggedized, the ThermoVision Scout is ideal for search and rescue, patrol and SWAT operations. The camera is based on FLIR's new "E Series" imaging platform, with a range of up to 1200 ft.
