Commodore Perry (Armored boats added to DPS arsenal)

[douglas9]

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Department of Public Safety is unveiling a powerful new tool to fight drug dealers and human smugglers.

A new fleet of patrol boats is poised to join the battle along the Rio Grande and international lakes.

"This is what you call the bad boat. And indeed it is," said Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

McCraw and other DPS officials were on hand at Decker Lake in east Travis County on Thursday to show off the first of six “shallow water interceptors”. Each vessel costs approximately $580,000 fully equipped. The funding comes from the Texas Legislature and federal grants.

The 34-foot long boats feature armored glass and armored hulls, along with 900-horsepower engines. The vessels sport 4 machine gun turrets and state of the art night vision cameras.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/new-dps-boats-tools-in-drug-smuggling


4 machine gun turrets?

[sonias]

1. War games

The six boats will be deployed along the border in early 2012 according to the story. Lets just hope they really don't mean to start a war with Mexico. It's one thing if it's a defensive move against attackers who launch their attack first, it's quite another to shoot first into sovereign territory and hurt innocent civilians. I sincerely hope these DPS officers get enough quality training to keep us out of trouble.

I'm sure this was inspired by the missing husband case in the Rio Grande Valley.

:shrug:

[hobbit709]

2. Funny how they always have money for this kind of crap.

[ashling]

3. Are they bringing back the Texas Navy?

maybe they will issue letters of marque and reprisal - I can't wait for the minuteman navy :crap: