THERMAL IMAGING &
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS Thermal imaging can increase an officer’s vision and effectiveness, whether pursuing a fugitive, a lost boater, buried body, or evidence at an accident scene. It can even tip officers off to a crime before it happens. In short, they will see things they never would have seen before. A perpetrator, missing person, or abandoned vehicle can be spotted by officers before they are exposed to any danger! Thermal imaging also makes life easier in many of the less stressful but equally demanding areas of police work. Accident scene skid marks reveal many additional clues under infrared study. Hidden compartments in vehicles, stashes in walls, disturbed spots in the dirt — thermal imaging spots them even when the naked eye cannot. Time and time again, searchers equipped with thermal imagers have spotted a lost or missing person and saved a life that might otherwise have been lost. Police officers have spotted and apprehended hidden individuals countless times, usually managing to avoid the danger and risk inherent in any search or pursuit. It’s not always obvious is all of the other ways in which a thermal imager can contribute to public safety and become an indispensable tool. Disturbed Surfaces Thermal imaging can be a policeman’s best friend when it comes to sniffing out hidden contraband. Disturbed or altered surfaces that may appear unchanged to the naked eye will look disturbed in infrared. Officers can use thermal imagers to survey walls and floors for hidden compartments that may contain drugs, money, or other contraband. Even meticulously-repaired seams in sheetrock walls, invisible to the naked eye, stand
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out when viewed with a thermal imager. Turned earth radiates heat differently than compacted soil, allowing officers to more efficiently and quickly find buried items such as money, weapons, or bodies. Environmental Concerns about the degradation of our environment have led the EPA and various state and local agencies to investigate and prosecute environmental polluters. Pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and waste matter radiate heat differently than the soil or water around them. Thermal imagers allow investigators to spot and then track such pollutants back to their sources. Flight Safety Nighttime flight operations are greatly improved by aircraft-mounted thermal imaging technology. Hazards such as power lines can be readily seen and identified with a thermal imager. While traditional aircraft-mounted systems can be prohibitively expensive, more affordable handheld units can be used when a window is opened or a door is removed. Fugitive Search “Hot on the trail” is literally the case when officers are armed with thermal imaging technology. Whether at night or day, even at dusk, thermal imagers can “see” fugitives. It makes no difference whether they’re hiding in foliage or dark areas, the fugitives still radiate heat that’s different from their surroundings and gives them away. Just as important, officers can spot and apprehend a subject without giving away their own location. With thermal imaging there are fewer surprises, and less need for risky blind sweeps. Helicopter surveillance is certainly effective, but without thermal imaging on board it loses much of its value at night. Hidden Compartments Illegal drugs, contraband, and even people are often transported inside hidden compartments in large vehicles. Thermal imagers can detect these hidden compartments even though they may be invisible to the naked eye. Marine Surveillance On the water, thermal imagers prove their worth time and time again. They aid nighttime navigation, help locate and track vessels, and are invaluable for undercover and stakeout operations. Their ability
