Arlington Texas PD Wants to "Dispel Rumors" About Unmanned Helicopters Violating Civil Liberties

What do they plan to use them for? Candy drops?

The Arlington Police Department got a lot of folks' attention when it was revealed that after two years' worth of testing it had received the Federal Aviation Administration's OK to fly two remote-control helicopters. The department insisted the RC choppers would be used to photograph crime scenes and search for missing persons, among other routine operations. But civil libertarians aren't convinced.

Which is why Arlington has launched a website intended to assuage the fears of those convinced those are drones sky high to keep an unblinking eye focused on their every coming and going. Says the press release announcing the site, "It is important that we dispel rumors and help the public understand that maintaining individual privacy and protecting the civil liberties of all our citizens is of paramount importance to the department."