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.