Bill Nelson: Law Enforcement Needs Better Equipment

Noting that 11 police officers have been killed in the last week, including four from Florida, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wrote to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, asking him to consider better equipment and technology for U.S. marshals and other law enforcement personnel.

In light of the recent killings of four police officers in Florida, I am writing to request that you determine whether members of the U.S. Marshals Service regional fugitive task forces should have the use of hand-held radar devices that provide sense-through-the-wall surveillance, or other appropriate new technology, like thermal-imaging cameras, wrote Nelson. Sadly, these four officers were killed while on manhunts for dangerous fugitives in Miami and St. Petersburg.In the St. Petersburg gunfight, the suspect was hiding in the attic of a house. In the exchange of gunfire, a deputy U.S. marshal also was wounded.

My staff has informed me that the expanded use of appropriate technologies for agents on these federal task forces law enforcement officers whose duties include serving warrants and apprehending wanted felons -- could greatly shift the odds to the good guys, before they have to enter a building where a fugitive is hiding out, added Nelson. Please consider my request as part of your review of the recent killings of these law enforcement officers. I would like to know whether we should offer legislation to create a pilot program for use in limited circumstances involving the apprehension of fugitives believed to be armed and dangerous.

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