Does Don Gorman admit we live in a police state now?

[Kat Kanning]

"The Exterminator" unveiled

[Sam A. Robrin]

They try so hard to keep grass from growing too high--and look at the tanks they get....

[Russell Kanning]

what does it do?

[Pat McCotter]

What is The Exterminator?

Sheriff's Department Introduces "The Exterminator" to Shame Suspects

Belleville, Ill.  – The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department has an innovative, low-budget way to fight crime. Park an unmanned, rebuilt armored truck, complete with video cameras, digital recorders and live streaming video, in front of the dwellings of troublemakers.

We call it, "The Exterminator," a 12,000 pound former armored truck donated to the Sheriff's Department by Garda Cash Logistics, one of the nation's largest armored car companies, through its Law Enforcement Partnership program.

Over the past year our truck received a total makeover. The Exterminator has a re-built engine and suspension, new paint and graphics, tires filled with hard foam that won't go flat, infrared surveillance cameras, a padlocked hood, a locked gas cap, and protective screens over the head and tail lights. Video from the four cameras is streamed live to computers at the Sheriff's Department. Investigators can even see live video on their smart phones!

All of the work was donated by corporate partners. The corporate partners who made "The Exterminator" possible are:

Garda Cash Logistics
Honeywell
Interface Security Systems
Signs 'N' Such
Kelso Auto Body

The Exterminator is not an undercover vehicle; it's deigned to be highly visible.  It sends a message. We will not tolerate drug trafficking, littered lawns, loud noise and other neighborhood nuisances. If you can't live peacefully with your neighbors – we will send "The Exterminator!"

The Exterminator will make its first public appearance on:

Tuesday, October 19, 2010
9:30 a.m.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
700 North Fifth St
Belleville, IL 62221

We hope you can join us.

Follow The Exterminator online:

www.TheExterminator.us

www/facebook.com/OurExterminator

www.twitter.com/OurExterminator

[Jim Johnson]

It may be armored but I'll bet the lens covers are not immune to spray paint.

It sounds like they are going to set it in front of someones house unattended. 

Pity the old truck for a fool abuses it.

[KBCraig]

I'm sure this will be targeted at drug houses, and other locales where unapproved recreation takes place. While I prefer the idea of visible deterrence as opposed to undercover operations followed by SWAT raids, I really can't support either method of government interfering with private commerce.

Spray paint might not get all the lens covers; I would assume any visible lens is a dummy. But the same kind of tarp they used to unveil it can be had for less than thirty bucks at Harbor Freight. Add some duct tape, and you've got a cloak of invisibility.

Some of the folks who might be targeted by this vehicle either are, or have connections to, some pretty enterprising chemists. Surely some of them will have access to powdered aluminum, iron oxide, and maybe a little powdered magnesium as a starter....

[Jim Johnson]

That's Illinois, don't they have wire taping laws preventing the type of thing that this truck is suppose to do?
I guess it would be alright to put cop watch vehicles at police stations and doughnut shops.

[CJS]

That's Illinois, don't they have wire taping laws preventing the type of thing that this truck is suppose to do?
I guess it would be alright to put cop watch vehicles at police stations and doughnut shops.

Illinois is one of three states that has criminalized audio and video recording of cops and others in the bureaucracy . A street vender who recorded a cop demanding brides is standing up to this abuse of power had said he has the support of the ACLU and hopes to take it to SCOTUS . So much for fair and equal protection under the law.

For what its worth Belleville is hardly a violent and dangerous city compared to some of the places we have up north . If that were used in the more dangerous places I think it would not last the night .

[Russell Kanning]

i guess the gang warfare will be more visible
can't you just see a non-government gang member shooting that thing with a bazooka

something like this outside cop gang hangouts would be cool

[John]

Don Gorman gets a bit of the credit for helping me move from a pretty solid minarchist outlook towards a more anarchist one.

[SethCohn]

I'm seeing him today and I will ask him. (grin)

[Lloyd Danforth]

You hear more and more stories about local police buying anti personal and crowd control devices. I think it was LA that wants or has Drones.

[Kat Kanning]

Thanks Seth. I'd be interested in his reply.

[SethCohn]

I was more than a bit distracted, and forgot.  I'll be seeing him again soon, and will have more time.