VideoRay
Purchased for Homeland Security and Inspecting Underwater Crime
Scenes in Minnesota’s Great Lakes Region
St. Louis County Sheriff's Office
Purchases Tiny Underwater Inspection Vehicle for Public Service
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The VideoRay recently tagged along with
a volunteer diver doing aquarium maintenance and feeding
fish at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, Minnesota. Pictured
is Alan White from the Great Lakes Aquarium.
Photo credit:
Lt. Tom Crossmon, St.
Louis County Sheriff's Office Rescue Squad.
Click for higher res version.
More product photos available in our gallery. |
Exton, PA, January 25, 2004 – The St. Louis County Sheriff's
Office and Sheriff's Volunteer Rescue Squad may be new to the world
of ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) but not new to the world of
human body and evidence recovery in underwater settings. VideoRay
announced today that the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office has
purchased a VideoRay to help in search and recovery efforts of
drowning victims, documenting underwater crime scenes, and as part
of a Homeland Security program for the State of Minnesota. The
Office purchased the VideoRay through a Homeland Security grant
with the State of Minnesota.
The VideoRay Pro
II model purchased includes a SeaSprite sonar
that can help navigate debris fields or submerged cars in poor
visibility conditions. The 8-pound VideoRay is equipped with a
video eye that sends a live feed to an operator who is on the dock
or a boat.
“
We are honored to be part of the technology that’s working
for homeland defense at the local and national level, in the US
and many other countries,” says Scott Bentley, president
of VideoRay. “Officials are equipping themselves with VideoRays
for underwater emergencies, inspections, and searches.”
According to David Phillips, Undersheriff at the St. Louis County
Sheriff's Office, the VideoRay was chosen for its affordability
and the high quality of its equipment. Phillips said it was important
that the ROV chosen was portable, easily operated, and affordably
maintained.
“
St. Louis County has approximately 840 lakes and the Port of Duluth
on Lake Superior. We never know where or when we may be conducting
a search, so we needed to be able to easily transport the unit,” says
Phillips. “Our research into ROVs also indicated that the
VideoRay units perform well in cold water environments and under
ice.”
“
The VideoRay also gives us the capability to add accessories that
we will utilize in Homeland Security applications,” says
Phillips, who states that four members of the staff are currently
trained to operate the VideoRay. Training was provided at the VideoRay
International Partner Symposium (VIPS), an annual event held in
November. Several other staff from the sheriff’s office will
be trained in coming months.
For more information, contact: David Phillips, Undersheriff,
St. Louis County Sheriff's Office
Duluth, MN, PH: 218-726-2339, e-mail: phillipsd@co.st-louis.mn.us
Contact VideoRay LLC • 400 Eagleview Blvd. • Exton,
PA 19341 USA • Phone: (610) 458-3000 • FAX: (610) 458-3010 • www.videoray.com
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