Unmarked Helo Employs Latest Surveillance Technology

It looks like any other one of the countless helicopters that take to the air over New York City on any given day... but it's what's inside that sets the chopper apart from the rest.

The Associated Press reports the New York Police Department recently started to use an advanced surveillance helicopter, designed by Bell and contractors for counterterrorism operations as outlined by NYPD specifications. 

The unmarked chopper -- simply named "23" in honor of the number of NYPD officers killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001 --  is outfitted with a package of sophisticated surveillance and tracking equipment powerful enough to read license plates, or scan pedestrians' faces, from distances up to a mile and a half away.

The $10 million helicopter employs a high-powered robotic camera mounted on a turret mounted on the nose of the aircraft. The camera has infrared night-vision capabilities and a satellite navigation system that allows crews to focus on a location automatically by typing in the address on a computer keyboard.

The systems aboard the helicopter have the ability to transmit the footage from the camera to ground command centers or even wireless hand-held devices, giving police a tactical "see-but-avoid-being-seen" advantage.

"No other US law enforcement agency has anything that comes close," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

The chopper, used to sweep landmarks and other potential terrorist targets, is a part of a multi-million dollar department-wide effort to employ cutting edge technology to combat terrorism.  Other initiatives include the deployment of hundreds of "dirty bomb" detecting radiation monitors, license plate readers at bridges and tunnels, and a network of closed circuit television cameras throughout the lower Manhattan business district.

Some civil rights advocates in New York City are worried about the departments push to become an "ad hoc spy agency" in their eyes.

"From a privacy perspective, there's always a concern that 'New York's Finest' are spending millions of dollars to engage in peeping tom activities," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union to the Associated Press.

Police reassert city residents have nothing to fear. "Obviously, we're not looking into apartments," said crew chief John Diaz during a recent flight. "We don't invade the privacy of individuals. We only want to observe anything that's going on in public."