they must be spending to much time in the sun - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

*TSTONE* · 04-20-2005, 11:08 AM

SWAT Monkey! a Natural for a Television Show

49 minutes ago Oddly Enough - Reuters

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Send in the SWAT monkey.

It's not an order police commanders are accustomed to giving, but that could change if an Arizona police department follows through on a proposal to train a capuchin monkey for high-risk police operations.

A Special Weapons and Tactics veteran from Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, has researched the possibility of landing a $100,000 federal grant to fund a pilot program to train one monkey.

"Everybody laughs about it until they really start thinking about it," Sean Truelove told the East Valley Tribune, a local newspaper. "It could change the way we do business."

Major city police departments in the United States use paramilitary SWAT teams for hostage situations and in situations involving heavily armed criminals.

Truelove, who declined an interview request from Reuters, told the newspaper that the idea came to him in a dream about 18 months ago.

The test monkey could be trained to unlock doors and search buildings for police on command, Truelove was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The capuchin monkey is considered one of the smartest primates, known by many for its decades-long association with organ grinders. The monkeys weigh three to eight pounds (1.3 kg to 3.5 kg) and live for 15 to 20 years.

Capuchin monkeys, native to southern central America, have been used to help disabled people, and are able to perform such tasks as retrieving items, serving food and opening and closing doors.

The Mesa, Arizona police department issued a statement saying: "We have always encouraged our department members to seek creative and innovative ways to improve public safety in our community."

But the department also said the idea of training a capuchin SWAT monkey had not been cleared by the department's executive ranks.

A representative from the nation's largest association of SWAT officers also could not resist poking a little fun at the proposal.

"I've always heard you can train a monkey to do anything," said Steve Smith, a board member of the National Tactical Officers Association when reached at a convention in Nashville. "Does this mean he's going to have on little black fatigues?"

SPORT4.0 · 04-20-2005, 11:38 AM

I wonder how many Tax$$$$dollars of the great Arizonians are being put to good use on this one!

*rfuree11* · 04-20-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDakota

I wonder how many Tax$$$$dollars of the great Arizonians are being put to good use on this one!

$.017

jeff96 · 04-20-2005, 12:18 PM

great arizonians....are you joking? I am

*TSTONE* · 04-20-2005, 12:18 PM

Did we learn nothing from watching Planet Of The Apes?

04-20-2005, 11:08 AM	#1
TSTONE Giddy up! Oakland County, MI 97 Mountaineer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,245 Vehicle Specs	they must be spending to much time in the sun SWAT Monkey! a Natural for a Television Show 49 minutes ago Oddly Enough - Reuters PHOENIX (Reuters) - Send in the SWAT monkey. It's not an order police commanders are accustomed to giving, but that could change if an Arizona police department follows through on a proposal to train a capuchin monkey for high-risk police operations. A Special Weapons and Tactics veteran from Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, has researched the possibility of landing a $100,000 federal grant to fund a pilot program to train one monkey. "Everybody laughs about it until they really start thinking about it," Sean Truelove told the East Valley Tribune, a local newspaper. "It could change the way we do business." Major city police departments in the United States use paramilitary SWAT teams for hostage situations and in situations involving heavily armed criminals. Truelove, who declined an interview request from Reuters, told the newspaper that the idea came to him in a dream about 18 months ago. The test monkey could be trained to unlock doors and search buildings for police on command, Truelove was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The capuchin monkey is considered one of the smartest primates, known by many for its decades-long association with organ grinders. The monkeys weigh three to eight pounds (1.3 kg to 3.5 kg) and live for 15 to 20 years. Capuchin monkeys, native to southern central America, have been used to help disabled people, and are able to perform such tasks as retrieving items, serving food and opening and closing doors. The Mesa, Arizona police department issued a statement saying: "We have always encouraged our department members to seek creative and innovative ways to improve public safety in our community." But the department also said the idea of training a capuchin SWAT monkey had not been cleared by the department's executive ranks. A representative from the nation's largest association of SWAT officers also could not resist poking a little fun at the proposal. "I've always heard you can train a monkey to do anything," said Steve Smith, a board member of the National Tactical Officers Association when reached at a convention in Nashville. "Does this mean he's going to have on little black fatigues?" __________________ “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, pork rhines in one hand, bottle of jack in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

04-20-2005, 11:38 AM	#2
SPORT4.0 Wannabe Elite Explorer Bismarck ND 95 Sport Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 688 Vehicle Specs	I wonder how many Tax$$$$dollars of the great Arizonians are being put to good use on this one! __________________ Sport 4.0, 5-speed, 4x4

04-20-2005, 12:18 PM	#4
jeff96 Wannabe Elite Explorer Fayetteville, NC 03 Ninja 636, 96 Ex Sport Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 839 Vehicle Specs	great arizonians....are you joking? I am __________________ Those are just extra parts honey...don't worry about it.....

04-20-2005, 12:18 PM	#5
TSTONE Giddy up! Oakland County, MI 97 Mountaineer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,245 Vehicle Specs	Did we learn nothing from watching Planet Of The Apes? __________________ “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, pork rhines in one hand, bottle of jack in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”