Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2008 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) CROOKS CAN'T HIDE SASKATOON -- Not even the cover of darkness can protect crooks from cops now. The Saskatoon Police Service's eye in the sky is about to become sharper with the addition of a thermal imaging camera to the police plane. It allows police officers to spot a suspect running at night through backyards or a hidden grow operation. "It certainly helps us pinpoint people moving," said Chief Clive Weighill. "It's a very, very good tool for us." Marijuana grow operations are hidden from the naked eye, but they generate heat. "When you fly over a (grow-op) house, it lights up like a candle and we can tell if there's something very suspicious going on in that residence," he said. The city is loaning the police service $300,000 to buy the camera, but ultimately all but the interest will be paid by Saskatchewan Government Insurance. SGI has agreed to pay the service $60,000 per year for five years after the force sent it a written proposal. It's not clear how soon the force will have the camera. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake