posted 04-19-2005 05:23 PM         

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OK,,,didn't have to look far. In my city of Mesa, Arizona:

Mesa police chief spurns monkey idea

Mesa Police Chief Dennis Donna does not see a monkey in the SWAT team’s future. The chief responded Monday to a Tribune article and multiple national news inquiries about a Mesa SWAT officer who asked the U.S. Department of Defense to fund a monkey for use in SWAT situations.

"The purchase of a capuchin monkey has not been considered by executive staff," Donna said in a news release put out by a Mesa spokeswoman.

The release said SWAT officer Sean Truelove had submitted an "inquiry" to the Defense Department to explore if the idea was workable, but the monkey had not been approved for the SWAT team and it was not part of an official police grant request.

Police spokesman Sgt. Chuck Trapani said, however, that Lt. Bob Gervasi, who heads the SWAT team, had given Truelove the OK to research the idea.

The Tribune obtained a copy of Truelove’s proposal which outlined the advantages a trained monkey would have over officers and robots in some situations.

It also put a price on the SWAT monkey program over four years: $100,000.

Trapani, the police spokesman, said reporters from national news organizations CNN and Reuters called him Sunday asking for the SWAT monkey scoop. For better or worse, the idea turned some heads.

"It’s great for these officers to come up with innovative ideas," Trapani said. But "it’s not even being considered."

Part of Truelove’s role with SWAT is to develop robotics and new ways the tactical team can do its job, Trapani said.

The original story published Saturday said Truelove put the idea to the Defense Department a little more than a year ago with the intent of using its benefits for Mesa’s SWAT team. The department has never responded to Truelove’s request.

posted 04-19-2005 06:57 PM         

quote:

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Originally posted by halicat:
i just don't believe this one..... what do they need the monkey for ?

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To go inside of buildings to search for victims, survivors, etc. They can also be taught to unlock doors from the inside and open up windows,,,,,very small hands.

Many wheelchair people are now using monkeys to do their needed functions.

quote:

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Originally posted by ALLEY CAT:
Many wheelchair people are now using monkeys to do their needed functions.

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So perhaps there is some truth to the saying, "When monkeys fly outta my buttttttt...." LOL!

posted 04-20-2005 07:14 AM         

quote:

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Originally posted by GenoTex:
It's the end of the world, I tell ya....... the end of the world!

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posted 04-20-2005 08:28 AM         

I've seen the uproar when a Police Dog gets killed in the line of duty, some people think it's more cruel to send a trained dog in than a person. I can only imagine what the animal rights people would say the first time a trained monkey gets shot and killed trying to keep a person from getting killed.

Oh, by the way, I'll be the first to admit we already have some trained monkeys working for us. Sometime I wonder how they ever got hired!

quote:

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Originally posted by halicat:
they need the monkey to throw feces at the media at crime scenes...

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They should hire a bunch of them and only teach one that trick because.............

Monkey see, monkey dooooo.........