The Houston Police Department sought City Council approval Tuesday to again spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on surveillance equipment commonly known as a Stingray - a device capable of acting as a fake cell tower and forcing phones in the vicinity to indiscriminately give up call log and location information.

The department wants to use a $495,021 federal grant to purchase updated technology from Harris Corp., a request similar to ones the city has approved several times since 2007. This time, people are paying a bit more attention. The request comes as the infamously secretive Stingrays have entered into conversations about electronic privacy and constitutional rights nationwide, and two bills addressing their use have been filed in the state Legislature.

The HPD says the equipment is needed to "prevent acts of terrorism" and "apprehend wanted felons." The upgrade, including two pieces of electronic hardware, a laptop controller and related software, would replace an older model. Police have repeated assurances their Stingray use does not violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure and that they seek prosecutorial and judicial authorization beforehand, although Harris County prosecutor Bill Exley has said most in the District Attorney's Office are unfamiliar with the device. A nondisclosure agreement keeps much unknown about how Stingrays are operated.

During public comment Tuesday, activists butted heads with councilmen C.O. Bradford, a former police chief, and Ed Gonzalez, a former police officer.

"We don't need to spend half a million dollars on something police are unwilling to discuss," said Kevin Wambold, one of a few who had concerns about civil liberties.

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