Bringing The War Home

Bring The War Home

Critics of the Vietnam War have often warned that the technology of Vietnam would be brought home and used by domestic police forces. That prediction appears to have come true.

The conference of the International Association of Police Chiefs in Washington, D.C., last week featured $3 million in the latest police equipment, much of it perfected for use in Indochina.

One of the popular items on display was the "Star-tron." This is a device that looks like a giant pair of binoculars; it enables police officers to peer into dark alleys or into windows and dark rooms ; without being seen.

Even more awesome was the $80,000 V-150 emergency vehicle which is, for all practical purposes, an armored tank. The V-150 is plated with quarter inch steel, powered by a Chrysler 361 V-8 engine, and travels 50 miles an hour on land and three miles an hour through water. Each mermber of the V-150 crew is equipped with an M-16 rifle. The Louisiana state police department already has a V-150 in operation.

-ZODIAC