Apprehending criminals may be easier for the Story County Sheriff’s Office, due to what some have labeled a controversial device, known as a thermal imager.

Lt. Rick Rewerts of the Story County Sheriff’s Office said the thermal imager is a hand-held device that senses heat and generates what is called a “real-time” image.

“Anything that’s alive generates heat and this tool shows you a picture of something that is generating heat,” he said.

“We plan on making it available to patrol and investigative personnel for use in any application that may warrant it,” said Capt. Gary Foster of the Story County Sheriff’s Office.

He said possible uses for the device include apprehending criminals, conducting building searches, searching for evidence and locating indoor marijuana growing operations.

“We felt as though a piece of equipment like this may assist us in various aspects of the job including drug cases and anhydrous ammonia thefts related to manufacturing methamphetamines, and other types of criminal incidents,” Foster said.

Critics of the device said it violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to be free from all unwarranted searches and seizures.

“Our belief is that technology is moving faster than the privacy law,” said Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. “[A thermal imaging device] definitely collects information that is not readily available.”

Jonathan Mullin, co-president of the ISU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said this type of surveillance seems to be in direct conflict with an individual’s basic rights.

“Our Bill of Rights guarantees the right to be free of unwarranted and unwanted government intrusion into one’s personal and private affairs, papers and possessions,” he said.

Foster said the Sheriff’s Office will not use the device as the sole reason to have probable cause.

“We would have a suspicion that someone is having a growing operation and use it as a part of probable cause to get a search warrant,” he said.

“We are certainly cognizant of citizens’ rights and [we] will operate in accordance with the law.”

Sgt. Mike Johns of the Ames Police Department said they do not have a thermal imager, but is confident Ames police could borrow the imager.

“We don’t really have a use for equipment like that on a daily basis,” he said.

Thermal imaging devices are widely used by fire departments to gain visibility while fighting fires.

The Ames Fire Department has two thermal imaging devices.

“We use them for search and rescue and to differentiate hot and cold,” said Ames Fire Chief Clint Peterson. “It helps us identify people in a smoke-filled environment, and helps find the actual fire area in an environment where visibility is zero.”

The Story County Sheriff’s Office received their imaging device through a grant.

“It would not have been possible to purchase this device without the grant,” Foster said.