- An American police force is planning to sign up a monkey
to reinforce its elite special operations team.
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- Members of the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit
in Mesa, Arizona, believe that a capuchin monkey, dressed in a bullet-proof
jacket and equipped with a two-way radio and video camera, could prove
an invaluable reconnaissance tool.
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- The SWAT team's commander has agreed to a feasibility
study into the use of a capuchin monkey. Sean Truelove, a SWAT officer
who builds and operates reconnaissance robots, has applied for a £53,000
federal grant to fund the four-year monkey project. Capuchins have already
been trained to be companions to quadriplegics, performing tasks such as
serving food, turning off lights and brushing hair. Mr Truelove said the
same training could prepare a capuchin monkey for police intelligence work.
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- He said the monkeys, which weigh only 3-8lb and whose
puzzle-solving skills are enhanced by tiny, dexterous human-like hands,
could unlock doors, search buildings and find injured people upon command.
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- Their size could allow them into places that officers
and robots could not reach, such as attic rafters, he said. "Everybody
laughs about it until they really start thinking about it. It would change
the way we do business."
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- Mr Truelove is prepared for potential opposition from
animal rights groups and insists that the capuchin would not be sent into
action if "the threat level is too high". Gloves for its hands
and feet would protect it from broken glass.
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- Just as he has never known a suspect to harm a robot,
he predicted that criminals would be "too stunned" by the capuchin's
appearance to hurt it.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005.
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- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
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